When I was little, I poked fun at the idea of food allergies. A nut free or dairy free or gluten free cafeteria table, special medical alert bracelets, educational seminars. The whole thing seemed too much for learning about foods that I had been eating my whole life. It didn't apply to me, so why would I worry?

That whole idea changed when I turned 14. One night, after eating my most favorite thai food meal, I began to sneeze. A lot. I sneezed so much that my throat began to close and my chest began to tighten. I sneezed so hard that I couldn't see straight after awhile. And only when I got to the emergency room a half hour from my house did I realize it was serious. It was seriously allergies.

So there I was, 14 years old, after eating nuts my whole life, in the emergency room for the very same reason. My allergies changed in the blink of an eye, and suddenly, it became dangerous. It became anaphylactic, according to the myriad of doctors on my case. So, that night I said goodbye to Nutella, and in some ways, freedom.

I've lived with my severe allergies for 6 years now. I can't believe it's been that long, but here I am telling it. It's ironic because at first, I wasn't that scared. I didn't think tree nuts made their way into many foods. I thought desserts were fine, chicken was a no brainer, and even pasta was still going to be yummy. But I've learned I'm wrong. Desserts are a strict no-no, someone put walnuts on my chicken one, and pine nuts are what make pesto sauce so good.

I think I'm more scared about my allergy now than ever. In a world of labeling "nut free" or "shellfish free" or "gluten free," we have become normalized to allergies. We forget that they are potent and scary and life changing (or ending). We think that every food is labeled, every ingredient is listed, and everyone knows how to work an epi-pen in an emergency situation. But that's wrong.

There is still ignorance regarding allergies. There have been numerous times that people around me have thought I was joking or making fun of others. Even worse are the times where people think I'm exaggerating my allergy. (For the record, yes, my throat does close and I stop breathing. It's called anaphylaxis.) People have laughed at me for wearing a medical alert bracelet just for food allergies.

But last night, again, I had an allergic reaction. It wasn't funny or safe. It was scary and tear filled and I didn't have anyone to help me through it. No one knew the extent of my allergy or the extent of the situation -- except for me, who felt like I was drowning in my closing in chest and throat. I'm okay now, of course, but it wasn't a fun evening by any means. It made me see just how much misinformation and misguidance is out there regarding food allergies.

Food allergies aren't a joke. People with allergies did not make them up for attention. There are severe consequences to not washing your hands before you pick up an appetizer (oh, you had shrimp? Might as well pick up a piece of bread and touch all the others while you're at it). Allergies are serious. And I seriously hope you'll reconsider your knowledge and habits, because other people are counting on it.