Is your childhood affecting your adult life?
Research that shows that tough experiences in early life can make you ill. BUT, there is support for you.
It's common to experience anxiety, depression or what we call diabetes distress - a sense of feeling overwhelmed or of failing in some way.
Sometimes the struggle can turn inwards, resulting in self-criticism. If you find yourself doing that, it can help to stop for a moment. Think about how you would treat a best friend or someone you care for and do the same for yourself. We call this self-compassion.
For some of us, that can be really hard to do when there are so many other pressures going and just getting through the day is a challenge.
Putting yourself first is tough when you are dealing with money or housing difficulties, or you don't feel safe in your home or your neighbourhood, or you feel that no one is listening to you or cares about you. And it's especially hard if you don't value yourself right now.
One in five people have counselling to help them manage their diabetes, but if you’ve reached a point where you feel you can’t go on, there is help.
Adverse Childhood Experiences
All of the challenges listed above can be even harder to deal with if your childhood involved neglect, abuse or hardship.
There is lots of research that tells us what you may already know in your heart. That tough experiences in early life can make you ill. These experiences, known as ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) can make it more likely that you will develop diabetes, heart disease, substance misuse, depression and other conditions.
BUT, your past doesn't have to dictate your future. There are things you can do with help and support, to change the impact of your childhood on your adult health and your quality of life now.
World Mental Health Day 2021 is about addressing all sorts of inequality. We at Know Diabetes are dedicated to supporting people with diabetes to overcome some of the effects of inequality. We are working with local and national services to try to help you towards living a healthier, happier life.
The first step towards making the changes is to understand your past. Below is an anonymous survey (the ACEs Questionnaire) with 10 questions about experiences you may have had in your childhood. It will give you a score out of 10. This score doesn't have to define you or limit you in any way. But knowing what your score is might just be the first step towards building your strength and resilience and seeking the right help.
This blog and the questionnaire may trigger some difficult emotions for you. Remember you can seek emergency help on our page here or through others you trust like your GP, diabetes nurse, psychologist or friends and family. You can also refer yourself for counselling and therapy via IAPT services.
