I've had many life-threatening allergies including nuts, shellfish, eggs, and seeds and as I've moved away from home for college I've realized how much my allergy impacts me on a daily basis. From not being able to go out with friends to eat (especially Asian food sadly), to not really being able to even enjoy a simple lunch without fear of an allergic reaction, I've developed severe anxiety as a result of my allergens, always wondering if every meal I eat is going to be the one to send me to the hospital.

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That being said, after looking through this subreddit I feel as if there is a lack of some positivity with regards to severe food allergies. Obviously, I could go on about the negatives, like how eating is a huge part of human culture and most of us can't really partake in that, or how traveling can be a nightmare. However, I've begun to reexamine my allergies and how they affect me. I think it's good for us all to not view allergies as a defective part of us that we need to be shameful or awkward about but rather something we're more comfortable with.

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One way I've come to terms with my allergies is by learning to cook. I think we'd all trust the food we ate more if it came from our own hands so if it's possible I encourage everyone here to learn to cook. This isn't perfect as eating out is still a pain but I think it helps with some of the FOMO that can come from severe food allergies. If you're allergic to peanuts and feel left out for never having had pad thai you can make it yourself (without the allergens of course)! Food is unfortunately for us how a lot of humans socialize so even if we can experience that just by exploring new recipes and taking care of our own diets I think that can be really encouraging.

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Anyways, I just wanted to spread some love after looking at too many posts about allergic reactions and scary things. It's important to remind ourselves that our allergies don't have to define who we are.