Bitter~Sweet ™: Throwback Thursday: What Brings Me Down

We are flying through #DBlogWeek with only today and tomorrow left to go!  Before I get to today’s post, I want to remind everyone of the Link Lists.  From what I can tell, most of you have been remembering to add your posts each day.  (Thank you for that!!)  It really is the best way for other bloggers (and lurkers) to find what you’ve written each day.  You can find the link list for each prompt right on the Topics Page.  Be sure click over and add your corresponding post to that list, if you haven’t already.  And as always, if you have any questions feel free to email me.  Okay, on to Day 4!!

We’re going to go back to a past blog week topic from 2014. May is Mental Health Month so now seems like a great time to explore the emotional side of living with, or caring for someone with, diabetes. What things can make dealing with diabetes an emotional issue for you and / or your loved one, and how do you cope? (Thanks again to Scott for this 2014 topic.)

*Big sigh*  You know, I hate to say it, but I’m just not sure I have it in me to deal with all the emotional stuff today.  The past two days have been pretty brutal and I’m barely hanging on.  If I really start digging into my emotional black hole, I’m afraid I’ll get swallowed up by it.  And there is a whole tag labeled Depression where I’ve written about what brings me down in the past.  So instead I’m going to jump to the what helps me cope portion of the prompt and talk about What Brings Me Up.

Actually, I can sum it up in one word.  SUPPORT.  Both giving and receiving support is what helps keep me positive and helps get me through.  And to be more specific, here are a bunch of examples:

• My work as site moderator and research assistant over at DiabetesSistersVoices.
• Leading the DiabetesSisters Virtual PODS every month.
• Not just attending the Diabetes Unconference, but more recently acting as one of the facilitators as well.
• Spending the week with the awesome group of bloggers who have signed on for #DBlogWeek.  (Thank you!!!)  
• And also spending it with the fantastic people who support us by reading and tweeting and commenting.  (Thank you!!)
• This cat video.  Seriously you have no idea how much of a boost it brings to my state of mind.
• Friends who greet me with Good Words every morning.
• Friends who text to let me know they always have my back.
• Friends who text about big wieners.  (Sorry for indulging in an inside joke..)
• Not just blaming my husband for anything and everything, but doing so with a #blamePete hashtag. And having it catch on with both friends and acquaintances.
• And, saving the best for last, this little noodle cat.

When all the crap of diabetes really brings me down, I’m so lucky I have all of this to bring me back up.

You can find more What Brings Me Down posts listed here.

What is Diabetes Blog Week? Click here for an explanation and to sign up. You can also check out the Participant’s List here. And don’t forget to check out the DBlogWeek Facebook page here.