Inspired Forward

Cut Through the Confusion and Chaos to Live a Well-Organized Life

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How to Deal With These 5 Common Holiday Stressors

With the Christmas holidays right around the corner, it’s that time of year again for those stressful situations some of us dread like clockwork. Despite the spirit of Christmas and the reason for the season, many people have to deal with some common holiday stressors that only come around once or twice a year (depending on what you celebrate, and with whom).

How much time do you spend worrying about these 5 common holiday stressors? Learn tips and tactics to maintain your sanity and stay calm during Christmas.

Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash

Water of the Womb, AKA Family

When families get together, it can be chaotic. Viewpoints clash, one side’s liberal while the other is conservative, politics and religion are debated fiercely over the Christmas ham.

Siblings might be holding grudges against each other that make opening presents a little awkward.

I have relations who insist upon arguing about everything, even if they’re objectively wrong on where they stand.

One of the solutions we have implemented is that, at family get-togethers, talk about politics, religion, and other controversial topics (like marijuana) are off the table. If it comes up, we gently remind the instigator that we have asked to avoid that topic.

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What Burnout Looks Like in a Type 1 Diabetic

What is diabetic burnout, and why is it important and dangerous?

Imagine, for a moment, that you are the main character in this story. 

You’ve just turned fifteen.

For the past few weeks, you’ve been feeling lethargic, have had to pee a lot, and your weight has dropped considerably more than would otherwise be considered normal. You’ve also been suffering from brain fog, and your grades are in danger of slipping.

Your parents notice and are very concerned.

What could possibly be causing all these symptoms? It’s not flu season, and you’re not presenting with a fever or chills.

diabetic burnout top image

But all those midnight trips to the bathroom. And 3 AM trips to the bathroom. 

Your parents finally have had enough and take you to the ER. Something’s not right, and they have a gut feeling that it’s going to be serious.

RELATED POST: What is Type 1 Diabetes and Why You Should Care

Your mom feels like there’s a pit in her stomach, because she’s heard whispers of the symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes, and you’re checking all the boxes.

The doctors do not have good news.

You, an otherwise normal fifteen-year-old, have been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

[Read more…]

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World Diabetes Day is About Visibility

November 14, 2018

Today is World Diabetes Day.

It’s a day intended to promote awareness and education about diabetes, especially type 1 diabetes.

I have been a type 1 diabetic for twenty-three years. You can read more about my experiences in these posts:

Today I want to talk about something a little different — why it’s important to be willing to speak up about things, especially our invisible illnesses.

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What is Type 1 Diabetes and Why You Should Care

Even if you haven’t read any of my other articles about this disease, you’ve probably heard about diabetes.  Something about sugar, right?  

It’s more common in fat people. Someone’s friend’s grandma had it and needed a foot amputated, maybe. Another person probably went blind from it.  

These things can happen, but those stories tell you nothing about what diabetes really is.  What often surprises people is that there are two established types of diabetes. Both of them are almost completely different.  

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While both are devastating to be diagnosed with, Type 1 is often called the “worse one.”  

There is a huge disconnect in doctors’ offices, on the internet, and even on TV that there is a major, major difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.  So major, in fact, that they really need to be considered two separate diseases.

Type 1 Diabetes is not caused by eating too much sugar, or by being fat/overweight/obese, or any other preventable thing.  

T1D is most likely genetic and often triggered by environmental effects.

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Why Victim Blaming Needs to Stop Being a Thing

Hi.

Hopefully, you clicked on this story because you too are slightly outraged that people still exist who think that people actually choose to be mentally ill.

Or maybe you clicked thinking that you want to prove me wrong. That those of us with mental problems do, in fact, choose them.

Maybe you think things like this:

  • That we choose our anxiety, depression, bipolar, and schizophrenia.
  • That addicts choose to be addicts, or that people who OD (like Demi Lovato) do it by choice.
  • That we ruin our lives on purpose, by design, because our anxiety or depression or attempts of suicide is the result of poor choices.

I have some words for you.

victim blaming top image

But first, let me ask you some questions.

Is a family member of yours currently going through some issues you think should be easy to handle, but they’re struggling?

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