The Invisible Labor of Celiac

No one sees how much work this takes.

They see you eating dinner. They don’t see the hour you spent researching this restaurant. The call you made to the chef. The backup snacks in your bag. The anxiety you managed before arriving.

That’s the invisible labor of celiac disease.

What It Actually Takes

Every Meal

Before eating anywhere, you:

• Research ingredients
• Check labels (sometimes multiple times)
• Assess cross-contamination risk
• Make backup plans
• Manage anxiety about whether it’s truly safe

That’s mental energy expended before the first bite.

Every Social Situation

Before any gathering with food, you:

• Wonder what will be served
• Decide whether to eat beforehand
• Prepare to explain (again)
• Steel yourself for possible comments
• Plan your exit if the food isn’t safe

That’s emotional labor no one else performs.

Every New Place

Before traveling, you:

• Research restaurants in advance
• Pack emergency food
• Locate grocery stores
• Prepare for language barriers (if international)
• Anticipate worst-case scenarios

That’s logistical work others don’t consider.

Why It’s Exhausting

Decision Fatigue

Every food decision requires analysis:

• Is this safe?
• Can I trust this source?
• What if they made a mistake?
• Is it worth the risk?

That’s hundreds of decisions daily that others make on autopilot.

Hypervigilance

Living with celiac means constant alertness:

• Scanning for hidden gluten
• Watching for cross-contamination
• Noticing when something seems off
• Never fully relaxing around food

Hypervigilance is exhausting. It’s meant for emergencies, not daily life.

Emotional Management

On top of the practical work:

• Managing anxiety
• Processing frustration
• Hiding disappointment
• Performing normalcy

That’s emotional labor on top of everything else.

What Others Don’t Understand

”It Can’t Be That Hard”

People see the outcome, you eating safely, not the work it took.

They assume it’s simple because it looks simple. They don’t see the iceberg below the surface.

”You’re So Good at This”

Competence is invisible labor’s curse. The better you manage, the easier it looks.

No one congratulates you for the crisis that didn’t happen because you prevented it.

”Just Eat Before You Come”

As if that solves anything. As if you don’t still have to navigate the social dynamics. As if preparation isn’t itself labor.

Acknowledging the Work

To Yourself

Tell yourself the truth:

• This is hard work
• This takes real effort
• This matters
• You’re doing something difficult daily

Self-acknowledgment isn’t self-pity. It’s honesty.

To Others

When appropriate, you can say:

“Managing celiac takes more planning than people realize.”

You don’t have to explain everything. But naming it can help.

In Community

Other celiacs understand. The relief of being with people who know, who’ve done the same invisible work, is profound.

You’re not explaining. You’re sharing.

Managing the Load

Simplify Where Possible

• Develop routines that reduce decisions
• Have go-to safe foods
• Keep restaurant cards that explain your needs
• Batch your research

Structure reduces mental load.

Accept Imperfection

• You can’t control everything
• Some situations won’t be ideal
• “Good enough” is sometimes enough
• Perfection isn’t possible or necessary

Share the Load

• Let safe restaurants know you appreciate them
• Let friends who help know it matters
• Delegate when possible
• Accept help gracefully

Rest

The work is real. Rest is therefore necessary.

Give yourself permission to be tired. To opt out sometimes. To need recovery.

A Prayer for the Weary

Lord, You see the work I do that no one sees.

The calculations. The vigilance. The endless management.

When I’m tired, strengthen me. When I’m unseen, remind me that You see.

Help me carry this load with grace, and help me set it down when I need to rest.

Amen.

The Unseen Effort

You’re doing something hard every day. The work is real, even when invisible.

Let yourself acknowledge that. Let yourself be tired. Let yourself need support.

And know that the work you do, the labor no one sees, keeps you healthy. It matters, even when no one notices.

You notice. That’s enough.