T1D Lifestyle

Let’s talk about stress- Do you ever feel like your diabetes and the anxieties of everyday life take over? Hi, I’m Elissa. I’ve been living with Type 1 diabetes since 2009, and I recently graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Communication. Stepping into the “real world” hasn’t exactly been easy, the job market hasn’t been the friendliest to us new grads. Somewhere between applications, uncertainty, and trying to figure out my next move, I realized something: stress hits differently when you’re also managing a chronic illness. Feeling a little lost but still driven, I decided to channel that energy into something meaningful. Writing has always been a passion of mine, so I started this blog to share my experience living with Type 1 diabetes. The highs, the lows (literally), and everything in between. And what better place to begin than with stress?

I am a first-generation graduate, the pressure of being the first in my family to finish college was definitely a journey in itself. Now, I’ve been on the job hunt for about seven months. But something they don’t tell you about post-grad life, is the stress that comes along with it. It feels like there’s so many parts of my life that aren’t in my control. Getting diabetes, the job market, and the anxiety of it all weighing down on me. What if I never get to pursue my dreams? What if I don’t get the job I truly want? It’s as though I’m not in the driver seat of my own life.

Everyday I check my email to constant job rejections, everyday I’m dealing with the highs and lows of diabetes, and everyday that stress makes everything even worse. I try to tell myself that the right job will come, and find ways to keep improving my resume to make me stick out from other people around me. Stress is something that makes us feel like we’re not in control. It spikes our blood sugars, and makes life feel even more hard.

But no matter how stressful things get, here are some things that help keep me grounded:

-Practicing Gratitude: Reminding myself that I have so much to be grateful for, that even though there could be so many things going wrong, there are still many things that have gone right.

-Working Out: Sometimes just making myself get out of bed and do something physical makes my mind feel better. It’s so beneficial for us diabetics and also helps to boost serotonin and dopamine in the body.

-Finding Hobbies: Something that truly helped my stress was finding things I love to do and setting time aside each day for them. Reading a good book, or even starting a blog!

-Having a Good Support System: It’s important to be able to talk to people around you about how you are feeling. Having that support can make you feel so much better, and if you ever need someone to talk to don’t be afraid to reach out to 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. https://988lifeline.org/

By: Elissa McQuarry

Leave a comment down below about how you manage your stress 💌