| Gluten Intolerance Causes Behavior Problems?-- | | | | remember - she was 3! |
| No Way! | | | | I was told that she needed to be evaluated for |
| Little did I know how much food itself (and gluten | | | | her behavior in order to remain at that daycare. |
| intolerance) would become a major turning point in | | | | The "specialists" aka Psychologists saw a definite |
| our lives. I had heard about gluten sensitivity, or | | | | problem, possibly ADHD or other behavior but |
| gluten intolerance which causes symptoms of | | | | they couldn't tell the daycare of any particular |
| upset stomach, IBS, etc... but psychological issues | | | | "trigger" that was causing it. I was then expected |
| and bad behavior? Now that was a new concept! | | | | to seek help from more knowledgeable child |
| Introducing my 3 year old, Emily. She was always | | | | Psychologists. Everything was pointing toward |
| a challenge. My first daughter, now 6, was the | | | | Bi-Polar Disorder. |
| perfect baby. Always smiling and always a | | | | After a couple more weeks with more |
| pleasure to be around. She ate well and slept | | | | aggressive, rage behavior Emily was removed |
| through the night early on without any problems. | | | | from that daycare. Honestly, they had done all |
| So, when Emily arrived, I assumed it was the | | | | they knew to do. They couldn't continue to |
| classic case of one good/easy child and one more | | | | disrupt and stress out all the other children |
| demanding one. I definitely didn't think she would | | | | because of her behavior. |
| be gluten sensitive. | | | | The day she was removed was horrible. I felt it |
| Emily still got up at least one time a night until she | | | | was my fault. I wasn't a good enough Mother- |
| was around 1-1/2 years old. Sometimes she | | | | either not strict enough or maybe not loving |
| couldn't settle down to get to sleep and other | | | | enough. She has my genes- it's my fault. Bottom |
| times she would just wake up in the middle of | | | | line, I didn't know what to do. Keeping her out of |
| the night in the absolute worst possible mood for | | | | daycare and staying home again (just to keep her |
| no apparent reason. She couldn't be calmed down | | | | shielded) didn't seem like the right thing to do. I |
| either. She could not/ would not calm down until | | | | prayed that day for an answer. I was absolutely |
| the "fit" subsided. She screamed (literally) until the | | | | at the end of my resources. I wasn't willing to put |
| fit was over. | | | | my child on medication for the rest of her life but |
| Many, many a night my husband and I tried to | | | | it looked like that's where we were headed. |
| figure out what was wrong with our discipline plan- | | | | My Mom had picked Emily up from daycare so |
| it had worked for our older daughter. Was Emily | | | | that I could have a meeting with them. After the |
| not getting enough one on one attention? Well, | | | | meeting, after praying in the car, I ran an errand. |
| that couldn't be it, I was a stay-at-home Mom. Did | | | | I went to the Natural Food Store in the area that |
| she have too much sugar? We always limited the | | | | I so frequently visited to pick up a supplement. |
| girls' sugar- especially before bedtime. We were | | | | The girls who work there came over, as always, |
| even careful with giving our girls artificial colors | | | | to chat. They immediately saw the despair in my |
| and sweeteners as they had shown themselves | | | | face, then the tears rolled. |
| to be culprits in other family members' behaviors | | | | I recapped the last few weeks, explained that I |
| such as causing hyperactivity. She didn't show | | | | had eliminated the normal reactive foods from |
| celiac syptoms so we ruled that out early on. | | | | Emily's diet and to no avail. Now what- I didn't |
| So what was going on? Guess she was just | | | | know what to do. That's when gluten intolerance |
| "blessed" with my strong personality genes. During | | | | was suggested to me. The easiest way to see if |
| the day she was in my hip carrier most of the | | | | gluten is a problem for someone is to |
| day because otherwise she was unbelievably | | | | COMPLETELY eliminate it from the diet. What?? |
| cranky. We just couldn't wait until Emily could talk. | | | | Gluten?? I thought that just causes stomach |
| We figured once she could verbalize her irritation | | | | problems! I was enlightened that day. Symptoms |
| she would say it and then just get over it. | | | | can show themselves as the following: |
| Wrong. | | | | Fatigue, |
| As she got older, Emily's tantrums became literally | | | | Food Cravings, |
| too much to handle. We heard all the typical | | | | Eczema, |
| responses from well-meaning people such as - we | | | | Unexplained Rashes, |
| need to discipline better, teach her who's boss, | | | | Allergic shiners (dark circles under the eyes), |
| spare the rod and spoil the child, etc... | | | | Red Face/ Ears, Stomachaches, |
| Unfortunately NO discipline worked. My husband | | | | Loose Stools or Diarrhea, |
| and I even decided to try a parenting seminar for | | | | Constipation, |
| extra ideas.Here again, gluten sensitivity was | | | | Alternating Diarrhea and Constipation, |
| something we didn't even think to look for. | | | | Mucus Production, |
| As time went on, I was starting to see that we | | | | Congestion, |
| were dealing with a very different child. I started | | | | Immune, Inflammatory and Autoimmune |
| asking my Mother and other relatives, "Was I this | | | | Reactions, |
| difficult when I was younger?". I was a challenge, | | | | Abnormal Pulse, |
| no doubt, but definitely not to the extent of our | | | | Elevated Blood Pressure, |
| little Emily. I had just decided that she is the way | | | | Headaches, |
| she is and there's no changing her. We just hoped | | | | Migraines, |
| that one day the pent up aggressive tantrums | | | | Ringing in the Ears, |
| she now had would somehow be re-focused | | | | Tingling, |
| toward something more productive as she got | | | | Dizziness, |
| older. | | | | Tics, |
| As Emily approached her 2nd Birthday I was | | | | Depression, |
| becoming overwhelmed with her behavior. Nothing | | | | Mood Disorders, |
| I did made her happy and the mornings were | | | | Anxiety, |
| horrible. Would she wake up happy or mad? What | | | | Panic Attacks, |
| can I do to make and keep her happy? The | | | | Aggression, |
| stress was unbearable. My life revolved around | | | | Sleep Disorder, |
| avoiding the next tantrum. I decided that for the | | | | ADHD Symptoms (decreased attention, |
| benefit of both Emily and myself, a change | | | | hyperactivity, impulsivity), |
| needed to come. | | | | Mood Swings, |
| Two weeks after Emily's 2nd Birthday, I went | | | | Irritability, |
| back to work. For the first time ever, my girls- 4 | | | | Autism Symptoms (poor eye contact, social |
| and 2 entered daycare. It absolutely broke my | | | | withdrawal, decreased language, obsessions, |
| heart but I reasoned that Emily would do well | | | | repetitive behaviors) |
| associating with peers her own age and our 4 | | | | In all of my well-meaning, healthful snacks, I had |
| year old could start to get prepared for | | | | replaced all of the so-called "bad" foods with |
| Kindergarten. Emily had some separation issues as | | | | something that Emily was sensitive to. I was |
| expected but nothing major at that point. It was | | | | OVERLOADING HER with gluten! |
| a small church daycare so they were really good | | | | Wow! So, does that mean I can have hope again? |
| at loving on the kids and not being very strict. As | | | | Oh, well, wait a minute. Isn't gluten in |
| time moved on, however, we started to see | | | | EVERYTHING? I thought people who were "gluten |
| major behavior issues starting to brew. Long | | | | free" were more along the health-food nut |
| story short, she became very demanding and | | | | spectrum! Ok, easy enough.... I'll just buy |
| would hit and / or throw a tantrum lasting | | | | EVERYTHING in the store that says gluten free. |
| sometimes an hour over something so insignificant | | | | Problem solved. Yeah right, not so. Little did I |
| as not receiving a baby wipe when she thought | | | | know just how much gluten-free foods could |
| she deserved to have one. She didn't want to | | | | taste like straight up cardboard or worse yet, |
| play with others her age. She preferred playing by | | | | HARD cardboard. I thought the days of good, |
| herself. | | | | moist, tasty foods were gone. They can be but if |
| After 8 months we decided to change daycare | | | | you follow my advice, you'll be safe. I found |
| centers - assuming Emily wasn't being challenged | | | | gluten-free food and recipes that actually taste |
| enough and perhaps would do better at a large | | | | good!! |
| daycare center. | | | | So where are we now? We have come a long |
| At the new center, there were new activities, | | | | way in just a few months. We started using THE |
| new toys, a new environment and a teacher that | | | | supplement for behavior issues, toxicity and |
| absolutely let Emily get her own way with | | | | sickness/ viruses- Our systems are clean so they |
| everything (we didn't know that at the time). In | | | | can function better. Our whole family is gluten |
| the 2 year old classroom life seemed to be good. | | | | free mainly for the ease of it. It's easier to cook |
| We thought our prayers had been answered. | | | | one kind of meal than two. Emily is back at the |
| Then Emily turned 3 and entered a new room | | | | original, church run daycare and doing VERY |
| with centers and more rules. The first two weeks | | | | WELL! |
| were fine- a "honeymoon period" if you will. | | | | Gone are the tantrums lasting hours, terrible |
| Following those two weeks, however, our | | | | mornings (Emily wakes up happy most days now). |
| nightmare was just to start. Emily refused to | | | | The rages are gone, the aggression is gone too. |
| work with her teachers. She would do the | | | | Granted, she does have her moments as she IS |
| absolute opposite of everything she was asked to | | | | 3 but nothing like before. She speaks so well! It's |
| do. She refused to stay in a center and her | | | | almost as if she can think better these days. |
| temper tantrums got WAY out of control. She | | | | She's not violent anymore and the bi-polar |
| spent more time at their office (which she | | | | symptoms are gone. She actually gets upset if |
| probably enjoyed better) than in class. She was | | | | someone hurts her feelings or hurts her. She |
| totally disruptive. She would throw chairs, hit, spit | | | | doesn't seem to have much of a recollection of |
| - anything to NOT do what she was supposed to. | | | | how she used to be. |
| Children in her class would GO OUT OF THEIR | | | | Yes, the results are THAT dramatic! Emily sleeps |
| WAY to not get near her. They were actually | | | | all night without the horrible screaming fits in the |
| afraid of her! The teacher, after one particular | | | | middle of the night. She's actually a pleasure to be |
| day,refused to come back to work if Emily was | | | | around. Oh! And that rash that used to keep her |
| in her class again. | | | | miserable is also gone. One might say "That's just |
| Ok, so something was seriously wrong. She | | | | a coincidence, maybe she grew out of her |
| seemed to be worse at school (daycare) than | | | | symptoms" but that's not the case. We had Emily |
| home. Maybe there was too much MSG or | | | | tested for allergies. She had no known allergies to |
| artificial sweeteners or colors in her snacks? Well | | | | any other food product and we also resumed |
| that HAD to be it... What else was left? So.... I | | | | gluten containing foods for about four days. During |
| started bringing ALL of her snacks. Lunch was ok | | | | that four day period, Emily started getting very |
| because it was all homemade so that couldn't be | | | | irritable again AND on the fourth day her rash |
| the culprit! All of her new snacks had natural | | | | started coming back- how's that for proof!? We |
| colors (from vegetables) and no artificial | | | | are convinced that gluten is a problem for Emily. |
| ingredients. They had LOTS of whole grains | | | | I have noticed changes in myself as well. I'm not |
| because they are healthy, right? Whole grain bars, | | | | as anxious and stressed. My heart doesn't race |
| color-free wheat crackers- she was at least | | | | like it used to, I sleep more soundly, and my |
| getting healthy grains. Emily, during this time, | | | | stomach isn't bloated after eating like it used to |
| moved to the 4s and 5s room. Maybe she just | | | | be. I don't even crave bread anymore. Gluten |
| preferred a different teacher? Again things | | | | sensitivity seems to be an issue for me as well. I |
| improved for about two weeks. Was it the room, | | | | still eat gluten-free bread but don't crave foods |
| change in kids, new atmosphere, or the new | | | | like I used to. |
| snacks? | | | | My goal with this information is to educate |
| All was good except that darn rash. Now it was | | | | individuals in ALL aspects of gluten sensitivity. |
| getting warm again and she was getting the same | | | | Celiac symptoms can show but there are other |
| rash she's had previous years. It resembled Poison | | | | symptoms to look for as well. It's not just about |
| Ivy. There were bubbles that would itch and hurt | | | | stomach issues and IBS. Gluten sensitivity can |
| her at the same time. Last year we had taken | | | | show itself at ANY age. |
| Emily to the doctor for it and he wasn't sure | | | | Children can display the behavior and psychological |
| what it was. He gave us a cream to use that | | | | symptoms early on and the stomach issues can |
| didn't help.... and here we go again with it. It would | | | | then surface later in life. Or, babies could have the |
| make her grumpy because they would itch while | | | | stomach issues early on. Colic could actually be |
| she tried to sleep. She wouldn't keep her shoes | | | | caused from gluten sensitivity from the formula |
| on at daycare because her feet itched so bad! | | | | he/she consumes. |
| Well, the behavior came back full force this time. | | | | By the way, if you are thinking of going |
| She was EXTREMELY aggressive and it was even | | | | gluten-free, you should make sure your system is |
| mentioned that she could have "Oppositional | | | | clean so that it is able to function better. Really, |
| Defiance Disorder". Her tantrums couldn't be | | | | you should do this anyway. See what I mean at |
| controlled, she couldn't focus and she had Dr. Jekyl | | | | the website listed at the bottom of the article. At |
| / Mr. Hyde type of aggression. Emily would rage, | | | | the website homepage click under "Cleanse". |
| even to the point of really hurting teachers - and | | | | |