Every Way Severe Allergies Make My Life Different | Allure

In this first episode of How To Be Me, 24-year-old Sarah explains how her multiple life-threatening food allergies impacts her life. Whether she's shopping for beauty products, going on a date, eating out, or interviewing for a new job, Sarah shares how her allergies affect her mental health as well as her pockets. She also shows us how travels and what medicines are necessary to manage her food allergies.



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Every Way Severe Allergies Make My Life Different | Allure

[jesslynch]

There should be an app where you can input your allergies and scan different SKUs and it would tell you if it’s safe or not

[Roxality]

My brother is like her. It makes me mad when people don’t take his allergies seriously.

[karimonster]

One of my very dear friends was deathly allergic to lavender. I had no idea that lavender permeates EVERYTHING in our day-to-day lives. She literally couldn't go to the grocery store and not just because of the laundry detergent aisle. Shampoo, detergent, cleaning products, scented candles, everything that is manufactured and has a scent, no matter what that scent is, uses lavender. Unfortunately, anaphylaxis eventually took her life when we were in our 30s.

We need more allergy awareness. Period.

[Dontpassthesalt]

This is so important. Please do more of these on chronic illness and disabilities

[shysunny]

People have made a habit of dismissing allergies. Like 'oh, too bad' or 'I'm sure it's fine, you're overreacting' when really they need to be taken much more seriously. Someone's flippancy could be the cause of someone else's extreme suffering and/or death.

[pampoovey]

I can't believe anyone has to pay for epipens. That's insane. You didn't choose to have a life threatening allergy.

[hasitdawnedonyou]

She definitely should go into product development for people w severe allergies

[queshalicious]

I’m allergic to fresh fruits, shellfish, cats, dogs, have seasonal allergies, and randomly break out in hives. People act like I inconvenience them all the time. Like sorry me possibly dying annoys you 🙄. Also have sensitive skin so gotta be careful with products that contain fragrance.

[sarahwild]

I have a severe nut allergy too and that comment about not feeling safe eating somewhere based on the reaction on staff is MASSIVE!! Some people don't realise that their reaction to me asking about allergens can be so off putting when they say things like "I think you'll be fine" it's so hard to go through with trying the food when you leave doubt about it!!

[Lily-dihm]

Someone should make a brand of makeup that is guaranteed top 14 allergens free

[animemusicluver]

I'm allergic to citrus and rarely anyone takes it seriously, or they often forget. We need more allergy awareness and better education.
In highschool, classmates who bullied me would "test" my allergy by bringing in drinks or fruits I'm allergic to. I hope that'll never happen to anyone else 😥

[LK-zcho]

Food allergies are looked over. This needs more attention!

[ninagreenshields]

I don’t have allergies but I travel on airplanes several times a year and I was given peanuts on a flight for the first time in a couple years and it was so jarring. The entire plane stank of nuts so I can’t imagine how terrible that must be for people with allergies to be so afraid

[leozelt]

The US is great for people with allergies! Here in Germany it’s horrible, even tough the law say every restaurant should have allergy signs and list everything in the food, nearly nobody does it and you just get the annoying
„Yeah we dont know for sure, if you want to be safe, just don’t eat it!“ 🙄

[shenfenpen]

I'm a celiac, medicine and make up labels really annoy me it should be a requirement to list the allergens. The amount of people that think it's a lifestyle choice when eating out and don't take it seriously drives me insane. I don't have such serious reactions as this and my anxiety is through then roof eating out somewhere new., I can only imagine how hard it must be for her.

[Liletter]

Ugh, I have a friend who has to live with horrible allergies like this. He’s always got a runny nose and he always looks miserable sitting next to a tissue box in class. If we ever go out as a group, he can’t eat anything because he might get a reaction. Honestly, if I could strangle allergies to death, I would shoot them point blank. He’s also our best trumpet in band so we must protect the brass boy. Gosh, humans have horrible flesh blobs for bodies. Sometimes I feel like I’m the luckiest person on earth, only having two allergies.

[losandersox]

I’m known as the Kid with Allergies at school, and everyone seems to treat it like a joke. I’ve had countless reactions at school, and the school does their best but the students are just the worst. Allergy awareness needs to happen more often.

[stephanieathir]

Make one of mental health illnesses. I have depression, anxiety and ADHD. Two years ago I had many issues, I had panic attacks, I had suicidal thoughts, and I was put into a facility. No one should be ashamed of life issues. Now that I look back I am thankful I didn't let depression and anxiety take my life away!

[yiasminathefangirl]

gosh..i feel so privileged for not having any major allergies (that i know of at least)🙏🏼 there should be more awareness sourrounding this, the allergies are literally life-threatening and should be taken seriously by everyone❤️

[AthaliahOpus]

Thank you for telling others what your life is like. We need more to do this, as some just can't think of things other than inside their own simple view of the world. Wish we had better food labeling laws like the other countries you mentioned.