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5 Steps to Build Confidence & Navigate Food Allergy Vulnerabilities

5/14/2020

The latest podcast episode of Exploring Food Allergy Families was inspired by stories I've read about within food allergy support groups, experiences my clients (and I) have had, and of course, Brene Brown! You truly can't explore the topic of vulnerability without including what Brene's research has unveiled.

Vulnerability felt like an important topic to begin discussing because the truth is, we will all feel feelings of vulnerability throughout our lives. When we fall in love. When we put ourselves out there for others to see. And of course, when we navigate life with food allergies or other allergic conditions.

This 15-minute episode covers the following aspects of vulnerability:

The standard definition versus Brene Brown's definition
HOW and IF weakness plays a role in vulnerability
Real life examples from Brene's research
What role time plays in vulnerability and lack of confidence in managing allergies
Food allergy-related vulnerability examples
5 steps to work WITH vulnerability rather than AGAINST it

You can find Episode 03 here. Missed the other episodes covering the intro to the podcast (4 mins), and what survey responses from 90 food allergy dads revealed (26 mins)?

Find them here via the podcast website, or find Exploring Food Allergy Families on your favorite podcast app!

Additionally, below is the "Take Home Challenge" handout associated with Episode 03, which can also be found in the "Exploring Food Allergy Families Podcast - Take Home Challenge" section of the Food Allergy Mental Health Resource page.

And while it may be tempting to just read the handout without listening to the episode, the additional context within the episode is extremely helpful as well!

5 Steps to Navigate Vulnerability & Food Allergies (Handout)
File Size:	76 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Exploring Food Allergy Dads' Experiences: Survey Results

5/4/2020

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As a family therapy-trained licensed therapist, I often find myself wondering about the systems in which we live. The family system, the community system, and beyond. Furthermore, I find it valuable to gain an understanding of how each system works, and how each member feels and navigates their role - especially within the family system.

Last year, I shared survey results exploring how non-allergic siblings felt. Recently, I became more curious about how dads perceived their experiences as food allergy parents. So, rather than trying to assume, I decided to go straight to the source: the dads! Below are the results from this anonymous survey.*

In addition to reading through these responses, be sure to check out episode 2 of the Exploring Food Allergy Families podcast, where themes from this survey are discussed. Additionally, you won't want to miss the 2-part episode where I chat openly and honestly with an experienced food allergy dad who took this survey (episodes 6 & 7).

*2021 Update: Check out EFAF podcast episode 15 (Comparing Moms' & Dads' Experiences - Allergy Parenting Survey Review), which explores the survey results from moms who took this same survey and compares/contrasts the data from the dad survey. [Full anonymous responses from the moms' survey will be posted in a FAC blog post in the near future].

Question #1:

Do you feel food allergy dads speak up enough about
their experiences parenting a child with food allergies?

Question #2:

As a dad, what's one of the hardest things about managing your child's food allergy?

Question #3:

Is there an aspect of food allergy management that you feel
YOU manage better or more confidently than your partner/spouse does?

Question #4:

Is there an aspect of food allergy management that you feel
YOUR PARTNER/SPOUSE manages better or more confidently than you do?

Question #5:

What is one food allergy management guideline or decision that you
and your spouse/partner don’t always agree on?
(i.e. comfort level about eating at restaurants or eating may contains)

Question #6:

What would be one tip/piece of advice you’d share with dads of a newly diagnosed child?

Question #7:

Please share anything else you think would be helpful to know about being a dad to a food allergic child. (Thank you for your time!)

COMMUNITY QUESTIONS:
If you’re a dad reading this or listening to episode two of the podcast, did you feel these results aligned with your own experiences?

Or did these themes seem to fit with your partner’s experiences?

Check out these additional resources: