Ignorance is not always bliss…in a world like mine, it is deadly. Most people dismiss the severity of food allergies. Phrases like “Just eat it.” “It looks fine.” “I am pretty sure there is no nuts in that,” and "It is just a nut", never ease my worries, and are all too common.The Holidays in particular, from the Halloween candy to Christmas dinner, I am in constant worry of my allergy being set off. Here are 13 instances where my allergy anxiety goes nuts.
1. You always feel like the buzzkill when someone brings a peanut butter sandwich to work or school, and you have to tell them they can’t eat it.
Yay allergies!
2. 99.9% of your Halloween candy is made with peanuts or is possibly cross-contaminated.
I would use some chocolate therapy to sooth myself, but I am probably allergic to it.
3. Your grandma gets insulted every holiday because you have to decline her peanut butter cookies.
Is it too late to say sorry?
4. You feel like the black sheep at the Christmas dinner.
The amount of eye rolls and side eyes thrown across the dinner table because you have to ask about every single plate of food is unruly. Honestly, the only safe choice is the candy cane.
5. Your Server Probably Wants You To Die.
You can only ask them to list every ingredient in every dish so many times before they probably consider putting peanuts in there just to watch you suffer. There are some servers that are completely understanding and cooperative, (bless their souls) but there are some servers that have told me, "I just shouldn't eat here". So now you're home alone for the holidays while the rest of your coworkers are getting smashed at the Christmas party.
6. You have to ask someone if they’ve eaten peanuts before you can kiss them.
Your spontaneous mistletoe or New Years kiss could literately be the death of you. How romantic.
7. Instead of candy in the stocking, it should be Benadryl.
Delicious.
8. A new EpiPen is also on your Christmas wish list.
Happy holidays to me!
9. Reading Every Label That There Is Always.
“It’s just a bunch of hocus pocus.”
10. The panic you feel when you second guess if you accidentally ate something you shouldn't have.
Well this is a fun time.
11. Because the possibility of having to jam a big-ass needle into your thigh if you go into anaphylactic shock is not very holly and jolly for the holidays.
I have accepted the fact that I am getting coal in my stocking if this occurs during my Mom's Christmas dinner.
12. At Thanksgiving dinner, you don't sit at the kids table, you sit at the allergy table all by your lonesome.
Allergy kid, party of one loser, please.
13. On the bright side, one day you will find your allergy soulmate, and they understand the struggle.
Since peanuts are a common allergy, that means that there are people just like you, and it feels so great to find other people who are allergic to the devils nut.
