Elliott had a rough time today. This poor child already has anxiety issues and now he’s become paranoid about this tree nut allergy.
It’s so bad that he refused to eat today.
He had a bowl of cereal this morning and that was it. He’s so afraid to eat because he doesn’t want to accidentally eat something that cause him an anaphylaxis response.
The entire time we were there I was sitting in a quiet room with Elliott who didn’t want to be around anyone.
I don’t know how to help him.
I keep reassuring him that we are being very careful and that if we tell him he can eat something, than its safe for him to eat.
This is my Dad trying to comfort Elliott and get him to eat something.
It breaks my heart watching him go through this.
He also doesn’t want to talk about it. I think he’s afraid that he’ll upset us somehow. I keep telling him that I want to hear about anything that’s bothering him.
I’m not sure what to do.
Thanksgiving was really kinda sad for me and clearly for Elliott so well.
@whynotfathers thanks carl
I agree with Kathy — asking him to help cook, to help pick out food (if that's an option — my son wigs out in the grocery store sometimes, so it's not a task I can really ask of him very often), and to help set menus can help. I have severe allergy to two kinds of common (read "inexpensive") cinnamon, so eating out or at a friend's house can be a challenge. I've learned to just ask what is in something, and if they say cinnamon or just "spices" to ask specifics. But it's a challenge to reach that point — like a new habit.
But going out to pot-lucks and friend/family gatherings is easier for us all if we take a few dishes that we know we can eat. And since we have such picky eaters among our spectrum kiddos, folks already expect us to come bearing Happy Meals or other "choice" options for our kids. I know that my son with gluten intolerance feels better knowing that we made the dishes he's eating, and that he helped to make them. Good luck with this — it's a journey, but it will get easier as you all get more used to it.
@proffy_mommy hopefully we'll get to that point. Well said.
let him know that there are others that have serious allergies like he does, and we are ok. i for one am an example. i make sure to avoid all dairy so i dont go into anaphalaxsis. since it is new to him, it may take even a few weeks or more for him to feel comfortable and let go of some his anxiety regarding food. hang in there:)
@KarimanElgoharyShama I will do that. Thank you.
wasn't he on ADHD meds? A downside of those is the potential for anxiety to skyrocket, especially in a kid with anxiety. You may want to have him help you cook, and read ingredients to him. I have two boys with life- threatening allergies, and we have epi-pen jrs everywhere, and eventually it becomes "normal" for you. School has been very accommodating; many are already tree-nut free.
@KathyBrower very true. However, he's on anti anxiety meds as well.