Food anxiety?

[ashleybakerr01]

Im not sure if it's food anxiety or just the fear of allergic reactions. But any time I eat something I'm so focused on it I'm going to have a reaction to it. I spend the next 2hrs watching myself to make sure I'm ok. It's draining at times. Ever since I had an allergic reaction to a medication one time about a year ago, it's gotten bad about almost everything. It's to the point sometimes I won't touch ANYTHING with my bare hands. Like I'll use my sleeves a lot. Idk how to overcome this, or what will help 😭And I'm just so tired this evening for what reason I'm not sure. Where I'm finally getting over COVID now I think, and it's just leaving me so very tired

[ashleybakerr01]

But I mean I can give myself THIS: I AM still eating and trying things again slowly, just over focused on it afterwards

[davidthecoder]

This is something I've also experienced. I used to love making homemade burgers, but around a year ago I slightly undercooked one and ended up getting food poisoning. When I realized what was going on, I actually had my first real panic attack. And of course felt like garbage for days because of the food poisoning.

Ever since then, I have eaten 0 beef. I might make some soon just to face the fear...

[ashleybakerr01 in reply to davidthecoder]

I understand that. I haven't ate actual meat in awhile because i choked on spaghetti before and just afraid of meat ..

[LadyZen]

My daughter had a severe allergy to Motrin, where we had to rush her to ER. She also has severe seasonal allergies and carries an inhaler. Even viruses will trigger hives in her. So we are always on high alert. What we do is always have chewable benadryl around. She carries a dose in her wallet, and I have some with me at all times. It should buy enough time to get help. The chewables are the best because it might be hard to swallow pills depending on the reaction. Just having a dose around might ease your anxieties. Allergies are serious, so I understand your concerns.

[Starrlight in reply to LadyZen]

This is great … we do the same always have Benadryl on hand to take before using an epi pen

feels good to have a plan in place

[LadyZen in reply to Starrlight]

It does. My oldest never had any major allergies, so it was a real learning lesson for us when the youngest turned out to.

[LoveforAll41]

I think that this is understandable ashleybakerr. You are caring for yourself in being cautious, and I think that is to be applauded. Would it help to track what you know you can eat and touch and branch off? This sounds like what you are doing, I think the exposure therapy in this way will help with time.

[ashleybakerr01 in reply to LoveforAll41]

It seems to in a way. It just takes awhile.

[mizzou7016]

I laugh at this only because I'm a germiphobe in some things....For the longest time I've been using personal protective equipment (gloves) for food prep with raw food....even when I was only cooking for myself...It's just become a habit due to my work environment...as for normal medication situations....I'm hardly ever taking new medications...so don't worry about that....only thing I'm really worried about right now is "eating my feelings"