I Had a Reaction and My Parents Freaked Out
Dear FAANTeen,
My best friend lives two blocks from my house. I usually go there after school and hang out until my parents get home from work. Last week, I had a mild reaction to something I ate at her house. I ran home and took some Benadryl®. I got out my doctor’s phone number just in case the reaction got worse. By the time my parents got home, my symptoms were completely gone, so I didn’t mention it to them. A short time later, my friend called and asked my parents how I was doing. They went ballistic because I didn’t tell them about my reaction. What’s the big deal?
While you're living at home, an honest, open relationship with your parents will make a HUGE difference in almost every aspect of your life. If your parents trust you, they'll also trust that you'll be able to take care of yourself in emergency situations — even when taking care of yourself means simply asking someone else for help.
Even though you were able to handle this reaction without their help, by not telling them about it, they may assume the worst and think you're trying to cover it up. Now's the time to do some damage control.
Tell your parents why you weren't up-front with them about your reaction. If you were worried that they'd yell at you for not being more careful about what you ate, or if you simply thought it didn't matter since you had already successfully handled the reaction, say so. Use this time to review your emergency action plan and make any adjustments. You'll all feel better about the situation and will be able to avoid future arguments about the same issue.
While I congratulate you on successfully recognizing and handling a reaction — recognizing that you were having a reaction and getting out your doctor's phone number were smart moves on your part — some details of your story worry me.
First, reactions can progress faster than you'd expect — by going back to your house alone you put yourself in danger. What if you had passed out with no one else around? What if you needed to call an ambulance but were having trouble speaking? What if you had needed an epinephrine auto-injector but were unable to administer it? In the event of any future reactions, be sure to stay with other people at all times.
Second, quick treatment of a reaction is important to successfully managing a reaction. Even if you've only had mild reactions before, you never know when a reaction might get serious. Carry your meds with you everywhere you go! Throw them in your backpack, toss them in your purse, carry them in a special medication bag — the important thing is that anywhere you go, they go, too.
I know it may seem like just when you're ready for independence, your parents feel the need to be more involved in your life, but by working towards an open and honest relationship with them, you'll earn their trust, paving the way for an independent future. Good luck!
Marguerite is a 24-year-old graduate of the College of William and Mary. She lives in northern Virginia and likes to run, write, and cook.
Comments
The information above is not designed to take the place of a doctor’s instructions. Patients are urged to contact a doctor for specific information regarding guidelines for care.
