Why we need to talk about food allergies and mental health

27th April 2022

Why we need to talk about food allergies and mental health

When we talk about allergies, there’s obviously a huge focus on physical health. Symptoms that make people feel unwell, off balance, or that potentially put them in a life-threatening position. Because that’s how we mostly see allergies in our lives. News stories about anaphylaxis or how to avoid pollen.

But that’s only part of the story. There’s not as much focus as there needs to be on the mental health of people with severely limiting conditions, such as food allergies. They can easily take a heavy toll on a person. And we wouldn’t blame anyone who feels that way.

Food allergies and mental health

This isn’t an unknown phenomenon. There have been studies into this effect on people with allergies. Now, this isn’t to say that allergies lead to the development of serious mental health problems. More that people with an allergy are likely to experience higher bouts of anxiety or distress.

In children 8 to 16 years of age, those with food allergies were more likely to cope in an anxious manner. They also had higher separation-induced panic when their parents weren’t around. While it wasn’t diagnosed as a full anxiety disorder, having an allergy led to legitimate fear.

For teenagers, there was an increase in symptoms of depression. In one study, there was also a high occurrence of bullying. 24% of food-allergic teens had been harassed by their peers, with 21% reporting the bullying came from teachers and staff.

What can be done?

Thankfully, it feels like we’re seeing some change in the public perception of allergies. With too many news stories of young people dying due to preventable reactions, we finally saw Natasha’s Law come into effect last year. This makes it a requirement for food providers to put a full ingredient list on all pre-packaged food for sale.

Beyond that, we need more education in schools. We saw that bullying can be a problem for kids with allergies. There was a story in 2019 of a boy who died at school after classmates threw cheese at him. To those without serious food allergies, it seems like a harmless joke. After all, it’s just cheese. But we know that’s not the case. We need these stories to be taught across classrooms to show the devastating impacts of not taking it seriously.

This wouldn’t fix everything, nor would it stop those feelings of anxiety or depression, but it would do something to alleviate those fears. Any way we can ease that burden is worth it. So let’s make mental health a part of the conversation when it comes to allergies.

If you ever have any concerns about your allergies – food-related or otherwise – talk to an allergy professional. They’ll know the best course of action, and help you live as stress-free a life as possible. To get in touch with one of our specialists, you can reach out on 02031 433 449.

The link between food allergies and mental health

8th July 2020

The link between food allergies and mental health

We’ve dedicated thousands of words to talk about the risks of food allergies, both to adults and children. Multiple posts about the physical effects of a food allergy, how to avoid a reaction, and how to manage anaphylactic shock. But something we’ve never really talked about is how a food allergy can affect your mental health.

No matter how safe you keep yourself, the anxiety about your food allergy never goes aware. So let’s talk about mental health in you and your children, and how you can stay on top of it.

Mental health and food allergies

There are many concerning statistics around food allergies. Just look at some of them:

• 60% of people admitted food allergies affect food preparation.
• 34% reported food allergies affected their child’s school attendance.
• 50% of parents or caregivers admitted it affected their family activities.
• 58% said it affected their child’s ability to play at a friend’s house.
• 59% of parents said it affected any school trips.

As you can see, food allergies are constantly getting in the way of life. It’s something people can’t forget about. So it’s no surprise that 41% of people reported that food allergies had a significant impact on their mental health.

It can leave someone with a never-ending feeling of anxiety, maybe even leading to depression. Any physical symptoms, such as hives, can also play on the mind as it’s a painful reminder of your condition. Is it any surprise that, over time, it chips away at a person’s confidence? It’s not something any parent wants to see in their child.

What can you do?

It’s important to keep an open line of communication. Talk to your child about their allergy and let them know it’s something they can always talk about. Show them it doesn’t have to be just their burden.

It might be worth talking to an allergy specialist to see if they can refer you to someone trained to handle anxiety in allergy patients. They can teach you the methods you need to cope with anxiety.

In the meantime, do what you can to educate your child about their allergy and involve them in the cooking process so they can see what goes into their food. Show them their food allergy isn’t something to be feared, just something to be aware of. It won’t always be easy, but it can save lives.

We are dedicated to providing the best service to anyone with a food allergy or any other allergy they may have. If you have questions about a potential allergy, please contact us on 02031 433 449 or visit our website.