Sunday, January 25, 2009

7 Stages Of Grief

Realized last night that I think I am going through the 7 (?) stages of grieving for the foods I can't eat.

It's been over a year since this journey began, but I'm still feeling sorry for myself at times. I feel "disabled". (Do you think I can get a special pass for handicap parking?)

I watch t.v. and it's all about food; the shows, the commercials - eating out - drinking wine with friends....

I was watching a commerical - seafood restaurant... steak and shrimp. I found myself thinking "Oh, I can't wait until I can eat shrimp again!" Hello? When is that going to be? When my illness is over? What was I thinking? What a weird sensation, to have that thought in my head. And then it finally came to me - your never going to be able to eat that again! Get over it! Get on with it! Stop waiting! Stop waiting to heal from this food intolerance life! There is no cure.

I think I can identify with these:

- Shock or Disbelief
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Guilt
- Depression
- Acceptance and Hope

Where am I? I think I am entering into the last stage. I have one foot into it, anyway. But I keep one foot firmly planted in depression, just in case. I go back and forth during the course of the day.

I am starting to feel better - I am going to get on with my life and quit belly-aching all the time!!! (pun intended) I have to continually remind myself that I am not facing death, that I will survive this, I can be okay within my own limitations.

At least I'm skinny and I'm healthy and most of my friends are ...not skinny. Eh, who'm I kidding? I would trade skinny for a normal eating life any day of the week.


3 comments:

allergic diner said...

Wishing you the best of luck. The beginning (the elimination, the realizations of what lies ahead, the frustrations over not feeling "normal") is truly the hardest part. Hang in there! Remember that feeling better is the most important thing.

allergic diner said...

http://www.amazon.com/Whole-Foods-Allergy-Cookbook-Homestyle/dp/1890612456/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232983108&sr=8-2

Try this - lots and lots of gluten free recipes that can also easily be made organic. Hope it's helpful!

Tamradee said...

Thank you for that recommendation! I found it used on Amazon, & ordered it. It definitely looked like a book I can get some good ideas from. I need all the help I can get at this point! :)