March is Mental Health Awareness Month

March 28, 2025March 27, 2025 ~ JodiLea ~ Leave a comment

I did not write this piece, so this is a public service announcement. Because I belong to the Type 1 Diabetes Exchange Registry, I came across this short but informative article. I found it interesting, and you may also, even if you are not a T1D.

For people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), self-management requires an extraordinary amount of decision-making every day. In fact, research suggests this translates to about 180 more health-related decisions than someone living without diabetes. This level of stress can affect a person’s emotional well-being, leading to feelings of frustration, burnout, and diabetes distress. And it’s why your healthcare provider may regularly use an assessment tool to monitor your mental health. According to our Registry data, participants with T1D also self-reported the following diagnoses. While these numbers are only representative of our participants, they are telling. Anxiety (24.9%), Depression (24.2%), Eating disorders (3.2%), Diabetes distress (2.4%), PTSD (0.3%). That said, on average, research suggests people with T1D are 2 to 3 times more likely to have depression than someone without T1D. However, only 25-50% of these individuals are diagnosed and treated. That’s why it’s essential to be honest about your feelings and advocate for yourself or a loved one. While caring for your physical health is vital, your mental health is equally important. The T1D Exchange Registry is dedicated to improving the lives of those living with T1D. One way we do this is by supporting mental health research in T1D. A current study, Mental Health Support Experiences and T1D, aims to better understand participants’ experiences when talking with diabetes care providers about their mental health and well-being.

For people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), self-management requires an extraordinary amount of decision-making every day. In fact, research suggests this translates to about 180 more health-related decisions than someone living without diabetes. This level of stress can affect a person’s emotional well-being, leading to feelings of frustration, burnout, and diabetes distress. And it’s why your healthcare provider may regularly use an assessment tool to monitor your mental health. According to our Registry data, participants with T1D also self-reported the following diagnoses. While these numbers are only representative of our participants, they are telling. Anxiety (24.9%), Depression (24.2%), Eating disorders (3.2%), Diabetes distress (2.4%), PTSD (0.3%). That said, on average, research suggests people with T1D are 2 to 3 times more likely to have depression than someone without T1D. But only 25-50% of these individuals are diagnosed and treated. That’s why it’s so important to be honest about your feelings and advocate for yourself or a loved one. While caring for your physical health is essential, your mental health is equally as important. The T1D Exchange Registry is dedicated to improving the lives of those living with T1D. One way we do this is by supporting mental health research in T1D. A current study, Mental Health Support Experiences and T1D, aims to better understand participants’ experiences when talking with diabetes care providers about their mental health and well-being.

And the Hits Just Keep on Coming…

December 11, 2022 ~ JodiLea

After 11 days, hubby is out of the hospital. However, his IV-delivered medicine has to keep happening every morning. The first day home a nurse came to show us how to prep the lines and flush them, then do a bunch of stuff like mixing the meds into the bag, prep the tubing, hooking that up into the bag, and hanging the bag. The meds take 30 minutes to get into hubby’s bloodstream. Once those are done, everything is unplugged and taken down and the leads get flushed out and capped. Until the next time.

And yes, it is as complicated as it sounds. Each step is easy on its own. When you must do all 40 of these steps in the correct order, in a timely manner, with the patient and his sister watching every move you make, it is overwhelming. Did I mention that the IV tubes on the outside of his arm, that I work with, do not feed the veins in his arm like the typical IV does? The tubes were surgically planted into his heart to deliver this crucial medication. I rather not know that detail, but it’s too late now.

Three days after his discharge I am still filling out paperwork for the home care and the infectious diseases doctor. Each medical entity has its own form, so I got one to fill out at urgent care, one in the ER, one in ICU, and one for the physician. One for the Home Care people, the Home Care pharmacist, the visiting nurse, and now for the new specialist we see two days from now.

Has no one in this town ever heard of a xerox machine?

My daughter asked me how I was doing, and it was right then I realized I was depressed. A typical reaction for me, once the emergency or danger passed, is to fall apart. I allow all the fear, panic, and emotions to finally hit me.

This grumpy curly haired child expresses herself exactly how I feel. Society frowns on grown women pouting in public. Only cute kids can get away with it, so Miss grumpy locks here is my Avatar.

You Might Be Depressed If…

March 31, 2018 ~ JodiLea

Jeff Foxworthy got famous for this statement “You might be a redneck if…” His answers are more than funny – if you have hillbillies in your family tree, his answers ring true. Being the truth, they are hysterical.

Anyway, I’m not attempting to ‘get famous’ for my statement (see title), and it is hardly funny. The thing is, a person may not recognize depression settling in until it’s too late. Depression is evil, and it sneaks up on you.

In the interest of crushing depression out of existence, I will share the warning signs / behaviors that I have experienced.

The only fashion you care about are your pajamas.
Grooming is the first thing to go. You don’t have the energy (or desire) to shower. After 3 days, you know you should groom yourself. You feel guilty, but wait until tomorrow.
Make-up? Hair styles? HA! These need a mirror, and you avoid mirrors like a vampire.
Strange ideas pop into your head out of nowhere. And linger in your brain.
Your dreams are bizarre and disturbing, way more than they used to be. Unfortunately, they do not lend themselves to an interesting blog post.
Everywhere you look you see spider webs, dust bunnies, soap scum, and copious amounts of dog hair. As you see these things, you realize that there is also a rust colored film over each inch of the house. DUST.
You begin spring cleaning – even if it is not spring. You want to give up because the amount of work to be done is overwhelming. You do not give up because you can daydream about a better life while you listen to music and scrub.
When you do get dressed, you look like a hobo or a Ho. The last time you bought clothes was in 2003 and none of them fit anymore. Except pajamas.
You are reading this list and nodding your head.

♥ TTFN ♥