LiveFree with T1D

Does T1D make you feel stuck?

Does the stress of T1D hold you back and make it difficult for you to do what you want?

It doesn't have to be this way!

In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I give you the five secrets to getting unstuck with T1D. This framework will help you move from feeling stuck to feeling free and flexible in your life with T1D. After listening to this episode, you'll see how even though T1D is stressful, you can have an easier time with it!.

Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.

If you are like many people, the stress of T1D holds you back. What would you do if the stress of T1D didn't get in your way?

You can get unstuck with T1D - I promise!

Before you can get unstuck, you have to believe you can do it. If you buy the common myths about what it takes to get unstuck with T1D, you'll never even try!

In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I help you dispel the FIVE most common myths about what it takes to get unstuck with T1D.

Myth #1: Your blood sugars have to be perfect all the time

Myth #2: You have to stop feeling stressed, burned out, or anxious 

Myth #3: You have to like having T1D

Myth #4: You have to have support from everyone in your life

Myth #5: You don't have to put in any work - it will just happen!

Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.

When I ask someone why they are willing to work hard to manage diabetes, the answer is almost always 'I want to be healthy.'

Wanting to be healthy is NOT a good enough reason!

Managing T1D is a lot of work. If you are going to put in the effort, you need more than a vague reason. You need something that will keep you motivated right now.

In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I give you five steps to find the real reason you want to work to manage your diabetes. After listening to this episode, you'll have the motivation to work hard to get your blood sugars in range and deal with the stress of T1D because you'll see an immediate payoff!

Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.

This week marks ONE year of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast.

And what a year it's been!

When I launched the podcast on October 15, 2020, I had no idea what to expect. I knew this podcast was something the T1D community needed, but I had no idea how big of an impact it would have.

I have been reflecting on my biggest takeaways from putting out a new episode every week for the past year. My biggest surprise is how much I've learned about myself, diabetes, and about the diabetes community. I have loved every minute of it!

In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist, I talk about the lessons I learned.

Lesson #1: Do things that scare you. T1D can make you feel anxious, but this anxiety does not have to dictate what you can and cannot do most of the time.

Lesson #2: Progress, not perfection. Life (with or without T1D) will never be perfect. Letting go of perfection takes a load off.

Lesson #3: Small things make a big difference. If you are struggling, try something new.

Lesson #4: We are stronger together. People with T1D need other people with T1D. Period.

Lesson #5: We need to redefine what we mean by mental health support. For people with T1D, mental health support goes beyond therapy. Way beyond therapy.

Lesson #6: Showing up is 80% of the game. When you show up and manage T1D, things get a lot easier.

Lesson #7: Life with T1D is full of endless possibilities. Embrace them!

You are the captain of your diabetes care team, and you get to set the agenda with what you talk about at your appointments. With T1D, your emotional health matters just as much as your blood sugars, and you need to be able to talk to your endocrinologist about both!

In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I tell you how you can talk to your diabetes care team about your mental health needs. You'll learn helpful strategies you can use to set the agenda for your appointments so you can walk away knowing you are the most important person on your diabetes team (hint: you are!). When you're in the driver's seat of your diabetes management, and you have a team to support you, the emotional challenges of T1D become a lot easier to navigate!

Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com.

Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.

Do you have a vision for your life? What do you want to be able to do in your life that you think you cannot do?  How does T1D get in your way of achieving this vision? 

With T1D, we often talk about what we don't want rather than what we do want. You don't want to feel anxious. You don't want to feel burnt out. You don't want to have diabetes anymore. But where does getting rid of these feelings leave you?

In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I give you a 6-step process for identifying and taking steps toward your vision in your life - even when that life includes T1D. You'll learn why you have to dream big, let go of fear, and have a why that matters to make this vision a reality. Once this happens, you'll be able to navigate around any barriers T1D puts in your way!

Reimagine T1D is a FREE interactive virtual workshop that will help you REIMAGINE what is possible in your life with T1D.

You'll walk away with actionable tools to help you navigate the stress of T1D and get the support you need, so you can live the life you want without letting T1D hold you back. It will take place on Thursday, October 21, 2021, from 7-9p Eastern.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.

Type 1 diabetes should never be a do-it-yourself condition. We all need support to help us navigate the stress of living with T1D.
Unless you live at a diabetes camp full time, you are around people who don't have T1D every day. Many of these people try hard to support you when T1D gets stressful.

But what do you do to support them?

And how can supporting your support system benefit you?

This episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast is all about why it's critical to support the people in your life who support you - especially those who don't have T1D. You'll learn how lending your team a hand not only helps them but also helps you. I'll give you 5 specific ways you can start supporting your T1D support team today.

Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com.

Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.

People with type 1 diabetes tend to be perfectionists. We don't like it when things do not go as planned. But if you live with T1D, you know that perfection is not always possible.

When you set expectations for yourself around T1D that you can't meet, you set yourself up for failure. You not only get frustrated with yourself, but you also don't let yourself see how well you are actually doing. You get stuck thinking that no matter what you do, it won't be good enough.

In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I talk about why managing your expectations for what success looks like with T1D is critical for your emotional health. We'll look at four areas where people with T1D tend to set unrealistic expectations, and you'll get strategies you can use to help you develop more realistic expectations in your life with T1D.

Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.

It's time to answer more of your questions on T1D & Mental health.

Consider this your T1D & mental health audio advice column! I hope you find it helpful!

On this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist podcast,
I answer your questions about:

• Why T1D does not have to be your top priority
• How to deal with a fear of food with T1D
• Ways to take a 'break' from the stress of T1D
• Tips for overcoming T1D imposter syndrome

Do you have questions that you want me to answer on a future diabetes & mental health audio advice column? Click HERE to send me a message and ask away!

Find out more about The Diabetes Psychologist at www.thediabetespsychologist.com.

Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.

If you are like most people, you have a vague, stock answer that you always use to describe your emotional state with T1D.

Fine. Tired. Burnout.

But that does not tell the whole story about how you are doing. And it certainly doesn't do anything to help you improve your situation.

In this episode of The Diabetes Psychologist Podcast, I talk about how to do an inventory of your mental health with T1D. A mental health inventory looks at how you are doing in different areas of your life with T1D. You get to see not only how you are doing but what your life with T1D will look like when things have improved. I guide you through the process of doing a mental health inventory of your life with T1D, show you how you can use your inventory to make real improvements in your emotional health.

Follow The Diabetes Psychologist on Instagram @thediabetespsychologist and join The Diabetes Psychologist Community on Facebook.