May is Mental Health Month so now seems like a great time to explore the emotional side of living with, or caring for someone with, diabetes. What things can make dealing with diabetes an emotional issue for you and / or your loved one, and how do you cope? (Thanks go out to Scott of Strangely Diabetic for coordinating this topic.)
This one is tough. From the sleep deprived evening and day before diagnosis and the shock and haze afterwards I have struggled through clearing my head. It's been difficult. I've cried more in the almost five months since then. I've been angry and in denial. I've bounced between the stages of grief. I still bounce through those stages. It was so unexpected and unbelievable. I'm needle phobic and now we give our baby shots, multiple shots, just to keep him alive. He seems to have adjusted better than we have. Kids are resilient. His humor and his dad's support have allowed me to regroup. The unending supply of love in this family keeps me going. My friends' and families' outreach and concern help keep me grounded. My desire and inclination to learn everything I can to make this "new" normal not so different from our "old" normal helps me focus. I'm still sleep deprived. I haven't woken up and found he didn't have type 1. But we can do it. One step at a time. One test at a time. One shot at a time. He's so worth it. I'll keep dreaming of a cure when I get to sleep.
You are amazingly strong and I so admire you!
ReplyDelete