It’s different for everybody, and for me, coeliac disease has been more emotional than I ever expected.

I was diagnosed just before Christmas 2023, after years of being told my symptoms were IBS. I also have Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, so I wasn’t new to autoimmune conditions, but the news still hit hard.

I thought the biggest challenge would be the food: missing favourite meals and treats, adapting recipes, learning to tolerate gluten-free bread (which - let’s be honest - is a journey in itself!), and having the willpower to stick to a new diet.

But what surprised me most was the mental load. I wasn’t prepared for how much headspace it would take up, or just how overwhelming and emotionally draining it would be. It’s the anxiety. The constant vigilance. Learning to read labels. Triple-checking restaurant procedures. Feeling defeated in supermarket aisles.  Always carrying snacks - just in case.

I’ve always loved baking, cooking, and connecting with people through food. It’s never just been fuel - food is tradition, comfort, fun. Losing that spontaneity, those perfected recipes, and the joy of sharing my creations honestly felt like grief. It might sound dramatic to some, but for me, it truly was like mourning something I loved and couldn’t enjoy in the same way anymore.

I was incredibly lucky to have friends and family who went out of their way to make sure I always felt included. Joining Coeliac New Zealand and attending their newly diagnosed workshop also helped me feel less alone. Going to the Gluten Free Food Festival and being able to eat everything - without questions or stress - hit me emotionally in a way I didn’t expect, and I found myself tearing up on the drive home. I hadn’t realised how much I missed that kind of freedom.

As a pharmacist, I thought I understood coeliac disease. But I quickly realised how much I - and some of my colleagues - didn’t know. Many still think it’s a food allergy or something that only affects the gut, when in reality, it’s a serious autoimmune condition that can impact the entire body. I’m passionate about raising awareness, and I’d love to see a more holistic approach from diagnosis rather than just a diet focus  - one that includes mental health check-ins and peer support.

More recently, I started an Instagram page to share my journey and connect with others. It’s still early days, but I hope it becomes a space to raise awareness and offer encouragement.

Emotionally, it’s been complicated. But physically, I feel so much better now that I’m gluten free. I’d be lying if I said it’s easy - it’s still hard sometimes. But I’m in a better place. I understand more. I feel supported. And I know there’s a whole community out there that gets it.

I’m finding my new normal - one gluten-free step at a time.

Article provided by Laura Millward