2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43
Many scientific studies in the field of medicine and psychology are devoted to the problems of the influence of mental states of people on their physical condition. This article is devoted to the flip side of this issue - the influence of the disease - diabetes mellitus (hereinafter DM) - on the human psyche, as well as what to do with this influence
Diabetes mellitus is a disease that, if it occurs, then accompanies a person all his life. A person with diabetes mellitus is forced to constantly monitor the state of his health, to show extraordinary psychological restraint and self-discipline, which often leads to various psychological difficulties.
Drug therapy, of course, is necessary for diabetics and significantly helps to improve the quality of life of people faced with this problem, but does not solve the psychological problems of such people.
In the well-known slogan in diabetic circles "Diabetes is a way of life!" hidden deep meaning, reflecting the social, medical and psychological aspects of the problem of life and health of people with diabetes. The formation and observance of the very necessary lifestyle for diabetes is impossible both without the baggage of knowledge and skills about diabetes, about the causes of its occurrence, course, treatment, and without understanding that diabetes, as a chronic disease, requires a person to treat it with respect, realized my limitations, accepted and loved myself new, with these limitations.
The initial diagnosis is a shock both for diabetics themselves, especially for children and adolescents, and for their families. "Due to" the disease, the need for frequent visits to procedures, in fulfilling the doctor's instructions, taking medications, communicating with the doctor, etc. a person suddenly finds himself in difficult life-psychological conditions. These circumstances, of course, entail the need to rebuild relationships in the family, school, in the work team, and the like.
People with diabetes mellitus are characterized by:
- increased exactingness to yourself and others;
- concern about the state of their health;
- distrust;
- depressed mood;
- unstable self-esteem;
- low motivation to achieve goals and the predominance of motivation to avoid failure, and the like.
They tend to:
- feelings of insecurity and emotional abandonment;
- constant self-doubt;
- the need for care in interpersonal communication, safety, security, patience.
Compared to other adolescents, adolescents with diabetes have the least pronounced desire for leadership, domination, self-confidence and independence, they have excessive demands on themselves. They are more infantile, in comparison with others, in their needs and desires, at the same time they experience a constant need for love and care, which they cannot satisfy, and hostility due to the inability to accept them.
What do people who have been diagnosed with diabetes face, with what experiences?
Companions of such a diagnosis are often wounded pride, feelings of inferiority, depression, anxiety, resentment, guilt, fear, shame, anger, envy and the like, may increase the need for care from others, increase or appear hostility; people feel hopeless, they can react to the loss of autonomy with despair and indifference. A person realizes that from now on not everything is under his control and fears that his dreams may not come true.
Awareness of the disease also often leads to disappointment, loss of the significance of one's own personality in one's eyes, fear of loneliness, and confusion. Therefore, a person begins to react in different situations with excessive emotional return, agitated, irritated, vulnerable, and may even consciously begin to avoid social contacts.
What should diabetics do?
First of all, it is important to "sort out" your desires, feelings and needs. Try to treat yourself and your feelings with interest and respect. There are no good or bad feelings. And anger, and resentment, and anger, and envy are just feelings-markers of some of your needs. Don't punish yourself for them. It is important to understand what your body is telling you, your feelings and experiences.
Art therapy will be very useful and interesting for diabetics, especially for children and adolescents, which helps to understand their experiences, to reveal those feelings that a person is not aware of, but which affect his life, his relationships with people, his life in general. helps to change a person's attitude towards illness and treatment.
Relatives and friends of a person with diabetes we can say the following: do not treat “your diabetic” as an infirm person, encourage his independence and responsible attitude towards himself, do not impose your help, but simply inform that, if necessary, he can always turn to you. Your balanced interest (but not burdensome concern) in his illness, patience, understanding of his difficulties and your honesty with him will be valuable for a diabetic.
Don't make a tragedy out of diabetes, because with a harmonious attitude towards oneself, a person with diabetes can live a full life!
One of the first steps in psychological support for people with diabetes mellitus and their loved ones can be a psychological group, one of the tasks of which is to help a person find resources in himself, maintain his own positive self-esteem, maintain emotional balance, and maintain calm, normal relationships with others. Supportive, non-judgmental communication is very important for diabetics.
The group has the opportunity to get support, share feelings and experiences, share your story, ask questions and work with a psychologist, and most importantly - to be seen and heard.
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