Melody Stiles LCSW MSW MAC LCAC

I cannot count the number of people I have had contact with recently, either in person or through social media, that have made comments about how they’ve noticed they are having greater difficulty with being able to tolerate certain foods. Or that they are having some sort of allergic reaction and they think it might be to a particular food, chemical, or SOMETHING they are having regular contact with and they don’t know what to do.

All I can say in response is, “Welcome to the club”.

Unfortunately, many people, are finding increased difficulty with being able to easily digest foods the way they always have. Some people end up finding through years of medical testing and refusing to believe their responses are “all in the head”, that they DO, in fact, have food allergies.
Others aren’t as “lucky”. And for the majority of those people, the word “food intolerance” or “food insensitivity” becomes a label that feels sort of…I don’t know…wishy-washy. It feels as if the response isn’t “real” when that label is attached to your medical chart.
Increasingly, researchers are finding mounting evidence that people are NOT crazy. It is already known that (at last count) there are over 3 million Americans diagnosed with Celiac Disease. That does not take into account the over 24 million Americans with an ever-growing problem now known as “gluten sensitivity” or gluten “intolerance”. And, I am sorry, but that many people cannot be that crazy about eating certain grains.
Then there are the problems with lactose intolerance and flat out allergic reactions to eating any kind of dairy.
And there is the egg allergy.
Now add in soy.
A person is left eating tree bark and rice? Sure…unless you’re allergic to one of those as well.
The problem, as I understand it, is that our American food supply is being processed differently than it used to. And, our crops have been adulterated by fertilizers and pesticides. And the water supply can leave a lot to be desired.
So, no, you’re not crazy. And your doctor may not be well-educated on the subject. Even if the doctor is a board-certified “allergist”.
At the end of the day, there is a lot you CAN do. The first thing you can do is to stop eating the food you suspect could be causing the problem and see what happens over a period of weeks. If the problem still exists, then you know you can add that food back in and try something else. I would also suggest finding a really good gastroenterologist and someone with a special interest in food intolerance and allergy.
The hard part is the psycho/social response to all of this. People feel socially different and anxious because they don’t want to go out to eat anymore, fearful restaurants are doing something weird to the food that now brings pain and suffering. Let’s face it, our society spends an awful lot of time eating. And most social gatherings involve food. And now, the person with the problem will be “different”, which is about as appealing as going to the dentist.
This, then, can lead to depression. And problems with relationships and work attendance when a person is having a reaction to the food. Or a reaction to the problems that are suddenly apparent. And marital and family problems. Money issues.
The fact of the matter is that these issues are REAL and they can impact almost every aspect of a person’s life.
There are many families out there with young children who are attempting to cope with these issues. Families with small children who are sick because of food allergies. Children who are having anaphalactic responses to food. And these families are having to make huge, expensive changes to they way in which they live their lives and feed themselves because of this growing problem.
In the end, I am certainly not smart enough to predict what will occur within our society to help these families. What I do know is that I am spending more and more of my time trying to help young mothers cope with the burden and fears and emotions previously discussed.
Stay tuned. I have a feeling this discussion is far from over.

I have met exactly one individual in my entire life that did not like music.  And, I believe that particular person had not yet been exposed to the particular kind of music that would have resulted in transformation.

Scientists have proven that each of us responds to music in a physical manner. We are “transformed” by it.  Given this recently discovered “fact” I urge you to utilize this to improve your daily life.

Find a variety of music that you enjoy to begin with.  Start with something that relaxes you and the next time you notice yourself feeling tense, play this music and then check in with yourself 10 minutes later and see how you feel.  People use “music” as background “setting” all the time.  Just think about it! Massage therapists, doctors offices, nearly every business you call and get placed on hole with, even the grocery store!

Then perhaps, you can find music that makes you feel happy, a song that makes you feel like dancing and so on.  Music can be especially beneficial for those of us who have difficulty expressing our emotions, as it can be used as a path to expression.  And, all you have to do is find yourself a private place and play your music! I have a young female client who uses music when she needs a “good cry”.  She had parents that discouraged emotional expression, so it is hard for her to let herself feel her feelings.  She started using this trick a few weeks ago and told me it has made a big difference in her life with regards to her levels of irritability.  She finds she is no longer as irritable as she once was because the music is helping her feel her basic emotions rather than coming out as anger all of the time.

I know other people who use music to motivate themselves to work out, clean house or wash the car.  Seemingly mundane tasks can be positively exhilarating when paired with music.  Try it yourself and see what you think.

This is the time of year when many people go on vacation or “spring break”.  Often, vacationers head to the beach, whether it is someplace rather secluded and private or a location that boasts lots of young people more interested in partying than in getting any real relaxation while away from home.

Vacations can be food for the soul. If you are someone who craves time away, try to figure out what it was about your favorite vacation that was so heavenly for you. For me, a beach, pleasant temperatures, good, relaxing companionship, an outing or two and good food is about all it takes. Memories of Jamaica and Puerto Rico flood my senses and I am almost transported back in time.

Then again, I have been happy to stay home at times…working in the garden, reading a wonderful book, perhaps a day trip to someplace close by.

For some, even a few days away from the job is a luxury.  What to do if that is your situation? Perhaps taking more time for yourself will help give you a boost until you can afford a few days away from the pressures of the boss. In this particular situation, practicing meditation can be refreshing. And, practicing meditation is free!  All you need is a quiet place, a decision to spend the time to focus on something internally and as few external stimulations as possible. Set the timer for 5 minutes at first. Then spend the 5 minutes with your eyes closed, in a seated, laying down or walking position.  During this time, notice how your breath moves in and out of your body.  Notice when it feels cool or warm.  Notice if your belly moves in or out.  Then, when the timer sounds, open your eyes and try to notice how you feel.

Perhaps if you did this every day, twice a day, you would begin to notice changes in the way you feel.  Over time, extend the length of your meditation.  Begin to read about meditation. Is this something you enjoy?  Is it helping?  Do you find yourself talking to others about it?

If you are someone with addictive behavior, meditation can be helpful in terms of avoiding the use of substances.

If you are someone with a chronic illness, meditation can be helpful in terms of calming the mind and body.

If you are someone who is relatively healthy, meditation can be helpful in terms of focus, memory and stress management.

In this week’s Time Magazine, the very costly issue of Chronic Pain is featured.  On last night’s CBS Evening News, it was reported that researchers have discovered DNA markers and over 700 distinct proteins found in the spinal fluid of the those diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  At the same time, these studies revealed a completely separate set of identifiable markers for those suffering from chronic Lyme Disease. At the end of last year, the governing  body in charge of the national blood supply decided to stop accepting blood donations from those diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Up until all of these very recent revelations, most doctors thought people with symptoms of CFS (or the other commonly used name Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome, aka CFIDS) had “psychosomatic” illness and treated them as such.  Meanwhile, most of the population mistook the name of the illness to be the same thing as Epstein-Barr Virus.  Still others labeled these patients as being lazy.

At this time, there is no known cause or cure.

Eventually those with CFS and others with chronic pain can easily  become depressed and anxious.  One might expect that if someone was unable to get out of bed, much less participate in life in the ways they always have before, depression and anxiety would be a natural result. Oftentimes when I see a patient with chronic pain, one of the things we address is grieving the life the person used to lead and the personal identity attached to that life.

If someone you know struggles with chronic pain, offer to help. Read about the issue. Attend a lecture or fund raising event. Such demonstrations of support can be a lifeline for the individual.

For more information on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, please go to: www.cfids.com