The emotional effects of type 2 diabetes

Posted by suff2say @suff2say, Nov 13, 2021

I know it's a thought not a feeling, but this time I can't help owning the emotional reasoning - "I really feel like my life is over". I know I'm starting to feel symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. I was diagnosed with Type 2 in 2006. I was so ashamed. Now I'm 44. Nothing's helped. I haven't looked after myself. I'm an idiot. Everyone's going to be so disappointed in me. I'm going to become more and more of a burden, not less. I'm never going to be my best self again ever. I will never be healthy again. I can't look after myself. I don't know what's wrong with me. I just suck as a person. Can't make money for my wife. I'm a blight on society. It's true she only cares about my health... but I can't even give her that, or any of my loved ones. I totally suck.

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Good morning suff2say. You are not alone….. call a crises line. They will help you sort though things and look Forward. They will help you structure your thoughts so you can lay out small goals for yourself….. one concern with one solution at a time. Your frustrations seem overwhelming now, but laying each individual hurdle out on a list, one at a time, will provide clarity for one solution at a time. One thing at a time. Small successes…. You have already accomplished a big success by reaching out to ask for help! That’s huge! You are not alone…

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Hi @suff2say, I'm so glad you posted here. I agree with @upartist about taking one thing at a time. Should you wish to call and talk with someone, you can call or text with trained counsellors any time of night or day at the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline https://988lifeline.org
- Call or text 988
- Chat with a counsellor at https://988lifeline.org/chat/
Chat is available 24/7 across the U.S. You don't need your phone. You can chat on your computer.

You said "Nothing's helped." It's not easy. But reaching out to others with diabetes is a good place to start. What activities do you like to do?

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@upartist

Good morning suff2say. You are not alone….. call a crises line. They will help you sort though things and look Forward. They will help you structure your thoughts so you can lay out small goals for yourself….. one concern with one solution at a time. Your frustrations seem overwhelming now, but laying each individual hurdle out on a list, one at a time, will provide clarity for one solution at a time. One thing at a time. Small successes…. You have already accomplished a big success by reaching out to ask for help! That’s huge! You are not alone…

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Hi upartist,
Yes I've reached out many times, but to no avail. Oh well. I just live with it. That was a very rare outpour of my actual thoughts. I don't do it anymore, and I gave up on CBT even though I know it's my cure. Someone like me needn't bother trying to structure their thoughts. Don't know about the one thing at a time. There's too many things. Yes it's overwhelming. I wasn't about to attempt suicide so the crisis line isn't the right place to call.

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@colleenyoung

Hi @suff2say, I'm so glad you posted here. I agree with @upartist about taking one thing at a time. Should you wish to call and talk with someone, you can call or text with trained counsellors any time of night or day at the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline https://988lifeline.org
- Call or text 988
- Chat with a counsellor at https://988lifeline.org/chat/
Chat is available 24/7 across the U.S. You don't need your phone. You can chat on your computer.

You said "Nothing's helped." It's not easy. But reaching out to others with diabetes is a good place to start. What activities do you like to do?

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Hi Colleen,
I'm sure actually doing something right would help. I don't know what my problem is though. I just give up too easily nowadays. Activities, hmmm. I like watching movies and TV, I like eating, I like going out for dinner. I like to party. I kind of like to swim. I was going to try aqua aerobics again but I have a tonne of excuses. I used to like playing sport, but I don't like that anymore, well, my body doesn't. I like shopping. I like guitar and bass but I'm no good, my instruments suck and you can't trust anyone to fix a guitar properly. I love massages. I just got another job. COVID testing. Yay...

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@suff2say

Hi upartist,
Yes I've reached out many times, but to no avail. Oh well. I just live with it. That was a very rare outpour of my actual thoughts. I don't do it anymore, and I gave up on CBT even though I know it's my cure. Someone like me needn't bother trying to structure their thoughts. Don't know about the one thing at a time. There's too many things. Yes it's overwhelming. I wasn't about to attempt suicide so the crisis line isn't the right place to call.

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Correction: I haven't reached out much regarding diabetes. Just 'talked' with a lot of people.

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@suff2say

Hi Colleen,
I'm sure actually doing something right would help. I don't know what my problem is though. I just give up too easily nowadays. Activities, hmmm. I like watching movies and TV, I like eating, I like going out for dinner. I like to party. I kind of like to swim. I was going to try aqua aerobics again but I have a tonne of excuses. I used to like playing sport, but I don't like that anymore, well, my body doesn't. I like shopping. I like guitar and bass but I'm no good, my instruments suck and you can't trust anyone to fix a guitar properly. I love massages. I just got another job. COVID testing. Yay...

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That’s a lot of activities to choose from. It’s nice to have options. You don’t have to like sports, but you can add healthy physical activity to the other things you enjoy. Like parking further away from the door when you go shopping. Sign up for aqua aerobics with a friend to reduce the excuses. Or promise yourself a massage after 5 aqua aerobic classes. I think you’ve got plenty to work with. And it’s Spring in Australia. That puts a spring in one’s step, doesn’t it?

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correction in reply to upartist above

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@suff2say

Correction: I haven't reached out much regarding diabetes. Just 'talked' with a lot of people.

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correction: Just 'talked' with a lot of psychologists and psychiatrists. Not regarding diabetes.

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@colleenyoung

That’s a lot of activities to choose from. It’s nice to have options. You don’t have to like sports, but you can add healthy physical activity to the other things you enjoy. Like parking further away from the door when you go shopping. Sign up for aqua aerobics with a friend to reduce the excuses. Or promise yourself a massage after 5 aqua aerobic classes. I think you’ve got plenty to work with. And it’s Spring in Australia. That puts a spring in one’s step, doesn’t it?

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Oh don't, Colleen, please! Well I have a new job now, so hopefully some things might change around that. I'm now in healthcare, swabbing and scribing at a COVID-19 drive-through testing clinic.

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Seeing how you seem to hit rock bottom in life, I would start fresh with a lot of changes for the good. No more partying!
Booze and whatever else your ingesting will fog the brain from clear thinking. Start eating at home with healthy meals. Cut out fried greasy meals. More veggies. Start walking 2 miles per day for exercise. That's great for the brain. Swimming is good too. Force yourself to get out and do it. If your over weight you can drop some pounds by exercising.
Stay away from people who are a bad influence on you. If you smoke quit! Take guitar lessons if you want to be better at it! I hope you can bust out of your situation!

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