3 Psychologist Insights for Navigating Coeliac and Mental Health During Christmas
Expert Juliette Thomson offers some practical advice for balancing coeliac disease and mental health over Christmas
Hey Gluten Free Fam,
Christmas time has arrived for another year!
While the excitement of seeing family, travelling and exchanging presents brings a lot of fun and joy for the holiday season, there’s clearly a level of anxiety for those of us living with coeliac disease. Not only are there practical issues that have to be managed, but your mental health is placed under added strain when it comes to preparing for meal time. Not everyone can plate up at the family roast like others can.
Thankfully we picked the mind of pyschologist Juliette Thomson for Episode 106 of A Gluten Free Podcast. The goal is simple - to give you 3 easy and actionable insights for navigating coeliac disease and mental health over the Christmas break. From her experience and expertise, there are a handful of strategies that will prove to be beneficial, no matter if you’re entertaining people at home or happen to be a guest elsewhere.
1) Offer Solutions, Not Problems
Juliette explained to us on the podcast that “some people may not be able to meet your food needs.” Christmas is a time for connection with the people we love. Coeliac disease can certainly complicate the day, especially if you’re around people who don’t fully understand your gluten free diet.
Juliette gives some great advice here: “Offer solutions, not problems.” If you’re heading to a Christmas event it’s up to you to communicate your own dietary needs. Think ahead in these scenarios. Ring the host and check what can be made safe for you. Could you offer to bring a plate and keep it separate from the gluten-containing meals?
2) Focus on Self Compassion
Accepting difficult situations can be hard, especially when we’re newly diagnosed with coeliac disease. Juliette expressed the importance of self compassion, acceptance and going easy on yourself during this time. “This is hard. This is challenging, and it’s okay if you’re finding it worrisome or stressful. Don’t try and reject your feelings on this. Have some compassion as you would with your best friend going through this.”
“When people lack awareness or they won’t take what you need seriously, it is not a reflection of your self worth.”
Remember to take some time for yourself during this time. If you need to do some exercise - do it. If you need to take yourself away and do some breath work - do it. If you need to take some time away from engaging socially - remove yourself until you’re comfortable to return.
If there are easy options or offers of help during this time - take them. Go easy on yourself and remember if you’re not in a good place physically or mentally, you can’t show up the way you want to for others.
3) Reframe Your Thought Process
Misinformation and ignorant conversations can rear their ugly head at this time of year. We don’t choose to be gluten free when we have coeliac disease but many hurtful jokes or comments can often be made from others, especially when they don’t fully understand our condition and dietary needs.
Juliette offers some great advice in these situations: “When people lack awareness or they won’t take what you need seriously, it is not a reflection of your self worth.” To combat the ignorant comments of ‘one bite won’t hurt’, ‘ that’s not a real disease’ or ‘you’re just being a fussy eater’ consider Juliette’s suggestion of framing the responses “How fascinating”, “How curious” and “How interesting”.
Although ignorant comments can be hurtful, engaging in them in an aggressive manner will only throw fuel on an already unwanted fire. If you don’t feel like engaging simply walk away or find an excuse to remove yourself from the conversation. However, if you’re in the right headspace to do so, use these moments instead as a way to help share information and awareness. You never know what planting that seed will do for that person. One chat at a time.
Take the time to listen to Episode 106 of A Gluten Free Podcast with Juliette Thomson in its entirety right here.
Wishing everyone a safe and wonderful gluten free Christmas!
