Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Nowlin.
Hi Grace, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The main thing I would like to bring attention to in my story is awareness of Celiac Disease. In terms of inspiring stories, I have been inspired by all of the love and support from my family and friends as I have navigated this new diagnosis. I went through an atypical diagnosis process, which brought a different adjustment period with it than a typical diagnosis process might. I had what might be considered “Silent Celiac,” meaning I had the disease without knowing it, and without realizing any of the symptoms. I became officially diagnosed with Celiac in Fall of 2024 after a nutritional blood test came back flagged with the marker for Celiac disease. I was officially diagnosed after an endoscopy a few weeks later. The only treatment for Celiac disease is to maintain a strict gluten-free diet. This diagnosis came as a surprise to me, which is why the transition to gluten-free foods was difficult and felt sudden to me. I started feeling better both mentally and physically after removing gluten from my diet. I am very thankful to have had support and encouragement from friends and family while I navigated that change. I have also adjusted my career to include more of a focus on the impact of extreme dietary changes on mental health, since I am a mental health counselor.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There were definitely some challenges along the way. Until you have to remove gluten from your diet, you might not realize how many items contain gluten, or have been processed on the same machinery as items containing gluten. Learning about all of the different risks to watch out for was very daunting at first. My first time going grocery shopping after my diagnosis took longer than normal as I had to read all of the ingredient labels very carefully, and had to avoid some of my favorite staple items on my usual grocery list. I am very thankful that this has gotten better over time. I have learned what to look for in terms of ingredients and items in grocery stores, and I have learned to make more ingredient staples in my own kitchen where I know all of my food will be safe.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate and a Marriage and Family Therapist-Associate. I work at La Luz Counseling in North-West San Antonio. I really love my job! I enjoy helping others navigate through tough times and life transitions. Since my Celiac diagnosis, I have been working on developing a specialty in counseling those who are going through extreme dietary changes. I have the most specific training regarding going gluten free for Celiac, but this can also be applied to other dietary changes made for health and well being. Most of the resources I looked into indicated that people would feel better after making a dietary change because their symptoms will improve, but my focus is on all of the loss and change that accompany such changes, and the fact that grief was a big part of my personal journey in adjusting to a gluten free diet. I am set apart due to my very specific specialty. When I was first going through my own dietary changes, I noticed there was a lack of mental health resources meant for those struggling with the change, so I decided to work on filling that gap.
How do you define success?
Success can be so many different things, big and small. As a counselor, I like to tell my clients that small progress is still progress. Similarly, I believe that small successes are still successes. Success for me looks like remaining encouraged and hopeful, even amid setbacks. In terms of navigating my Celiac diagnosis, I define success as finding fun and creative ways to adjust to my new dietary restrictions. I have spent more time in my kitchen over the last year working on new recipes than I would have before my diagnosis. Trying a new recipe and having it turn out wonderfully is a big point of success and accomplishment for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://laluzcounseling.com/
