Food Allergy Anxiety Guide - Sneak Peek

EDITOR’S NOTE | In this Issue WELCOME TO OUR FIRST Allergic Living digital magazine. This special guide takes a deep dive into what I view as the single most pressing topic for our community today: the rise of food allergy anxiety. From past research, I knew the stress of manag- ing food allergies was exacting a big toll. But it was jolting nonetheless to see the outpouring of raw emotion and fears for children's health that followed a simple request. On Allergic Living’s social media channels I asked: “If you feel stuck in food allergy stress, tell us your story.” Consulting Editor Gina Clowes asked the same on her Allergy Moms Facebook page. The response that we both received was as huge as it was heartbreaking. As you'll see on page 8, the comments show a collective, gnawing stress and sense of isolation. “I fear losing my joy,” one woman said of life as an allergy parent. A recurring theme was the big one – the fear that a child could die of anaphylaxis. While tragedies are fortunately not common, the worst case remains the “what if” that haunts too many food allergy parents. The purpose of this e-magazine is to discuss the fears and the “what ifs” with honesty, without sugar-coating, and to begin to understand this phenomenon as its own anxiety disorder. Statistics bolster the idea of an emerging disorder. In new data from the FARE Patient Registry, about 90 percent of participating allergy clinics reported working with patients and parents suffering food allergy anxiety. Meantime, a recent online survey from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America found 81 percent reporting food-related fears. For this “Food Allergy Anxiety Guide,” Allergic Living investigates the strategies and treatment approaches that can help patients to strike a balance between appropriate caution and fear. We are fortunate to have psychologists and other licensed counselors sharing remarkable insights and exper- tise in these pages. Thanks to their collaboration, this guide serves as an unparalleled exploration of the roots of food allergy anxiety – and the ways it can be addressed. They bring us hope. GEOFF GEORGE BY GWEN SMITH 6 ALLERGICLIVING.COM