I teach Gluten Free Living and thriving classes all over. I always discuss with my class how difficult it can be to hear others make negative comments about what Gluten Free must be like. I have heard almost everything.

I have heard from others

“Oh I could never live like that, I would just die”

“Is that contagious? I mean, can I catch it?”

“How awful, you poor thing. It must be so hard for you”

Those of us who live Gluten Free can be surrounded by negativity. We hear what we can’t eat, or products we can’t use to others perceptions of what we can’t do. We tend to limit our social connections and outings for many reasons. The biggest reason is that we don’t want to bother anyone else with our problem. Sometimes, we just don’t want to go into a lengthy explanation or to have to worry about cross contamination. This weighs on us emotionally and can be a large hurdle to jump.

I teach my students to come up with positive affirmations or prayers to help cope with these struggles. I also suggest that they write down what the struggle is and find a solution. Most of the solutions to your struggle are to stop stopping yourself from living. Thoughts can get in the way of our wants AND our needs. I have seen time and time again how we can sabotage ourselves with our own insecurities by thinking that we would be an inconvenience or too much trouble. We don’t want to be seen as the “picky Eater” or pointed out as someone different. Our nature as humans is to fit into the pack; some of us want to go unnoticed while others SCREAM “HERE I AM”. No matter what your personality type is, we all want to be a part of a larger group and to feel secure in our settings.

Living & Thriving,

Rustie

www.celiacroads.com