Celebrating Change

According to Dr. Fasano, director of the Center for Celiac Research, over 60 million people will end up living g-free. Some of you may have celiac diseaes, but many more of you have an intolerance to gluten or a gluten sensitivity - a syndrome not even recognized by the medical community until five years ago. Because change is now the reality for so many, I thought today's post will be dedicated to helping one stay positive once they've received the diagnsois. Change is never easy and it often comes with fear and frustration. I know this all too well as I will never forget the tear-inducing trips to the grocery store. Or all those much anticipated gluten free goodies I made from scratch only to spit out and throw away in the trash after one bite, leaving me sad and starving.

From personal experience, I know how exasperating adjusting g-free living can be as well as how it's a reason to celebrate. Initially, you may be so exciting to finally know what is wrong with you and to have those crazy symptoms start to disappear that you embrace the g-free living lifestyle with enthusiasm and excitement. Then, after a few disasters in the kitchen and a couple times watching everyone else enjoy 'real' pasta, your joy turns to sorrow as you feel life just won't be the same again without gluten - ie, the stuff the good life is made of.

But I'm here to tell you there is hope! There is life after the diagnosis and the disasters! Life with a happy belly as well as delicious foods. It is my belief that learning to embrace g-free living begins in the mind as much as it does the body. Research has shown that symptoms of depression can increase as quality of life decreases in those who haven't adjusted to the change using positive coping skills. For these individuals, the grief over eating the last piece of 'normal' pizza sticks with them. Unfortunatley, they get stuck focusing on the negative aspects of g-free living and cannot move forward. So how does one learn how to cope well and not become a person who stays down and depressed? By taking steps in a direction that focuses on the positive aspects of the disease and learning to 'mind their mind.'

Coping well begins with chosing an attitude that is based on the truth and not driven by feelings. Feelings can lie to us and keep us in a state of mind that is not helpful or healthful. I think we all know that the more we focus on the negative, the worse we feel and the less energy we have to deal with life. Sometimes, our own minds become our own worst enemy. But the truth of living g-free is that you will have more energy, clearer focus, and a better quality of life. You won't feel sick and tired all the time and then be sick and tired of feeling sick and tired all the time. Life will become more enjoyable for you'll have the stamina to enjoy the things and people you love. And everything will become more vibrant as you'll begain to see things in color again.

While celiac disease is a life-long chronic illness that brings about many changes, it is an illness that is easily treated and controlled. So I encourage you to be like Mikey. Try it. You'll like it! And that's a reason to celebrate!