People Can Use These to Stop Diabetes Burnout

I will work on adapting these to diabetes, as they fit what we need to prevent diabetes burnout and occasionally some depression.

#1. Wait for what's right instead of acting on what you want right now. So you want that cookie now. Yes, they are fresh out of the oven and the smell is very overwhelming. I suggest waiting until after you have finished your meal and know that you have kept the carbohydrates consumed total low enough that you are able to have the carbohydrates in the cookie.

#2. Sit with discomfort. In the above tip, those who are emotionally stable are able to tolerate the wait. Remember the things you muttered under your breath or because of your hunger for the cookie. How would the response have been different if you had tolerated your desire for an hour? Tip 1 was about choosing the best action and this tip is about sitting on an emotion without taking any action.

#3. Get some perspective. We have all probably heard the saying, “Hindsight is 20/20.” With diabetes, being in the trenches often makes it difficult to see the bigger picture. Yet, sometimes things happen for you and not to you. This can be important and you often receive a gift that you could not give yourself.

#4. Practice acceptance. Acceptance is not the same as complacence. It's not about giving up and letting the stress take over — it's about experiencing your emotions and trusting that you'll bounce back.

#5. Remember the power of time. The emotionally stable or resilient remember that time heals all wounds. People who have a tendency to feel depressed often fear spiraling back into it, but feeling an emotion is not the same as getting caught in it. Think back to the last time you felt like this. You may have thought it was the end of the world, but you recovered. The same is true now. This is when a positive attitude can resolve issues.

#6. Let go of having all the answers right now. Often, when those of us with diabetes try hard to find answers to challenging diabetes puzzles, we unknowingly put our blinders on. We are so consumed with having answers on our schedule that we forget that we only receive when we are ready. The emotionally resilient remember that it's okay to not have it all figured out.

#7. Engage in self-care. Emotionally resilient people with diabetes know that self-care is a non-negotiable. The doctor is not available 24/7. It's a daily practice and commitment to self that strengthens their inner resolve. Ranging from exercise, to meditation, to a cup of tea, to the correct number of carbohydrates, the resilient have go-to stress busters that don't involve hitting the bottle.

#8. Laugh it off. Sometimes things just suck, and you simply need to laugh it off. Humor goes a long way.

#9. Choose to be happy above being right. Emotionally resilient people with diabetes know that being right is not what will make them happy. Sure, it's nice to be right, but it's better to be happy. Ask yourself if picking a fight is really worth it. Are you fighting to resolve the situation, or fighting to win it? In any moment, you can choose what's more important to you - the relationship or your pride.

#10. Instead of focusing on what's wrong, the resilient focus on what's right. Remember, where attention goes, energy flows. So why not cultivate more of what you want instead of what you don't. There is always something to be thankful for.

Ultimately, emotional stability is all about attitude. By practicing these ten responses to stress, you'll be able to spend more time living with ease and grace, spending more time in the light with fleeting moments of darkness!