Food allergies can be life-threatening and too often misunderstood. Members of MyFoodAllergyTeam share concerns about family and friends who don’t “get it.” “It’s like talking to the wall. Some people don’t understand or want to understand,” said one member. “It takes a rock to hit them over the head. To those I say this...'let me put a drop of poison on your plate. Now eat and enjoy your meal,’” added another.

Many members report “pulling out of family gatherings” to avoid messy interactions. “I got tired of making my own stuff, transporting it there, then worrying if someone did something to cross-contaminate it,” explained one MyFoodAllergyTeam member. Members share these tips for staying safe:

• Create a “cheat sheet” of unsafe foods and post it on the fridge.
• Mark a dedicated pan that’s 100% allergen free for your use only.
• Clean all plates and utensils in a dishwasher, not by hand. If eating away from home, re-wash utensils whenever possible.
• At a banquet, request an allergy-free meal. Then mark your dish or meal ticket with your allergens.

Never stop advocating for yourself or your children, advise members. Make sure your family knows: "You almost killed me, stop doing that," said one.

On MyFoodAllergyTeam, the social network and online support group for those living with food allergies, members talk about a range of personal experiences and struggles. Family members not understanding is one of the most discussed subjects.

Here are some conversations about family not understanding:

• I finally found a restaurant that I can eat at and took my family to. They told me they didn't like it so now I have to begin the tedious search again. Does anyone else have someone who just doesn’t get it?
• Family get-togethers are stressful! I'm tired of worrying if the items I bring will get cross-contaminated.
• Today I just feel frustrated....visiting family and celebrating birthdays is hard because there is hardly anything I can eat there.

Here are some question-and-answer threads about family not understanding:

• I'm feeling frustrated with other people not taking my daughter allergies seriously. I've gotten two annoying comments this week.
• How do I make my husband understand how severe my food allergies are?
• How to deal with family in relation to my child's food allergies?

Can you relate?

Have another topic you'd like to discuss or explore? Go to MyFoodAllergyTeam today and start the conversation. You'll be surprised just how many others may share similar stories.

Feel free to ask a question here.