Page 89 - The Ultimate Guidebook for Teens with Food Allergies

What sorts of peer pressure have you experienced regarding your allergies? What makes it so hard to deal with?
Emily Rose - I have luckily never had negative peer pressure. All of my friends are very understanding and helpful when it comes to my allergy.
Giulia - Students used to say: “Oh, I bet you’re not actually allergic to it. I bet you just don’t like it and are ruining it for the rest of us.” I wouldn’t exactly call that peer pressure. But it affected my self-esteem negatively.
Sophia – The peer pressure I experienced regarded my “fanny pack.” When you’re younger, you don’t carry around a purse or a bag everywhere you go. I remember my friends always told me to leave my pouch (with my EpiPen®) in my locker when we went to hang out outside. They didn’t mean any harm; but they did not realize the possible severity of not having an accessible EpiPen® on hand.
What are your favourite ways of standing up for yourself when someone says something unfriendly to you about your allergies?
Emily Rose - I try to stay calm and explain how serious my allergy is to them. If they still don’t listen, I try not to be around them as much or rely on them in an emergency.
Giulia - You need to act nonchalant and confident. If someone is unfriendly toward you because of your allergies, chances are that they just don’t understand. It is your job to inform them about the severity of the situation and that it is not a joke.
Sophia – I try never to react in a negative way. When someone has something negative to say, I try to explain to him or her in a friendly tone what anaphylaxis really means. I use myself as an example and tell stories about my reactions in the past. It really changes their perspectives.
Have you ever taken a risk that you later regretted because of peer pressure? Emily Rose – Thankfully not.
Giulia - Absolutely not. I was pretty good with not buying into peer pressure.
Sophia – Once or twice in grade school I left my EpiPen® in my locker and didn’t bring it outside with me during recess. Even though my friends knew about my allergy, and knew where to find it, I realized after that it was a risk I should have never taken. I never did it again.
To wrap it up...