May Contain Anxiety: Managing the Overwhelm of Parenting Children with Food Allergies

by Tamara Hubbard

Overview

A compassionate guide that teaches parents of children with food allergies how to mindfully manage anxiety and balance allergy safety with living fully.

Parenting a child with food allergies or other allergic conditions means navigating a labyrinth of emotions, decisions, and challenges. In May Contain Anxiety, licensed therapist and allergy parent Tamara Hubbard provides practical guidance tailored to the millions of parents managing this reality. Through her own parenting experiences, clinical expertise, and the voices of other allergy parents, Hubbard offers a compassionate resource to help you thrive amid the overwhelm.

This essential guide provides:
• Insight into the emotional and psychological challenges of allergy parenting, including managing anxiety, dealing with uncertainty, and navigating developmental changes.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies for accepting discomfort, decreasing overwhelm, and mindfully parenting based on values, not anxiety.
• Evidence—based techniques to address fear—driven thoughts and to cultivate awareness to manage allergy—related anxiety effectively.
• Guidance on how to teach children age—appropriate skills to safely and responsibly manage their allergies.
• Tips for establishing shared parenting goals and clear communication between co—parents to create consistent and effective allergy management routines.
• Mindfulness—based exercises designed to support the whole family in navigating the emotional complexities of allergy management together.
• Step—by—step strategies for creating a personalized mindful allergy parenting plan.

Each chapter is enriched with relatable stories, real—world examples, and exercises designed to empower both you and your family. Whether you're grappling with an unexpected diagnosis or seeking balance after allergy—related challenges, this book will help you foster an encouraging, confident environment for your child and yourself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781421449586
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	09/30/2025
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

Tamara Hubbard is a licensed clinical professional counselor and family therapist who provides evidence—based therapeutic support for women, mothers, and parents of those managing allergic diseases. She is the founder of the Academy of Food Allergy Counseling and an active allied health member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI).

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction: Are You Ready to Feel Less Overwhelmed About Parenting a Child with Allergies?
1. Exploring Unhelpful Allergy Parenting Narratives
2. Recognizing Common Allergy Parenting Traps
3. Setting Developmentally Focused Allergy Parenting Goals
4. Responding Differently to Anxious Thoughts
5. Focusing on All That Matters—Not Just Allergy Safety
6. Developing Flexible Perspectives on Allergy Parenting
7. Putting Your Balanced, Mindful Allergy Parenting Plan into Action
Notes
Resources
Acknowledgments
Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

May Contain Anxiety is an informative and compassionate read for families living with food allergies, and one that will encourage parents and children to navigate their lives with more confidence.
—Jo Frost, Global Parenting Expert and Anaphylaxis Ambassador

This should be mandatory reading not just for any parent who has a child with food allergies, but for allergists as well. Tamara Hubbard provides a clear, non—judgmental, and supportive roadmap that will enhance the quality of life for every family. In a complex world filled with influencers and misinformation, this book is a breath of fresh air.
—David R. Stukus, MD, Nationwide Children's Hospital and @allergykidsdoc

May Contain Anxiety will reframe how patients and families approach allergic conditions and help them to redefine their narrative. Hubbard's balanced approach toward critical thinking, risk management, and setting realistic goals is going to serve as a much—needed supplement to an allergist's visit.
—Farah N. Khan, MD, Nationwide Children's Hospital and @farah.khan.md

At last, a vital resource for the millions of parents balancing the delicate dance of keeping kids with food allergies safe while helping them live full, vibrant lives. Blending personal stories, clinical insights, and science—backed strategies, May Contain Anxiety delivers a must—read for any allergy caregiver.
—Jill Stoddard, PhD, author of Be Mighty: A Woman's Guide to Liberation from Anxiety, Worry, and Stress Using Mindfulness and Acceptance

If you are a parent of a child with food allergy who experiences food allergy—related anxiety, this is the book you've been waiting for. May Contain Anxiety not only gives you practical anxiety management tools, but will also help you take steps to living a life with food allergy that is fulfilling and meaningful!
—Linda Jones Herbert, PhD, Children's National Hospital

This practical and abundantly accessible book fills a void that is often overlooked in food allergy management—addressing the stress and anxiety that comes with the territory. Hubbard's book is a must—read that will bring parents to an 'I've got this' attitude to the benefit of themselves and their child.
—Scott H. Sicherer, MD, best—selling author of Food Allergies and The Complete Guide to Food Allergies in Adults and Children