Support for What? Musings of a Rebel Without a Topic Sentence
This month’s DSMA Blog Carnival Topic is: “Describe your ideal diabetes “support group”? What would you discuss?”
This blog post isn't rambling. It's "textual impressionism".
One of the responses I’ve read to this triggered this question in my mind: Support for what? What do I need support for? Just diabetes? Probably not, since I regard myself as needing support but have yet to get on a bus to meet with a bunch of strangers in order to get it. Type 2 diabetes? People with Type 2 diabetes are in such a diverse range of situations, I have trouble believing that I’d find enough in common with people in a church basement or hospital meeting room to find much “support”.
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While I’m glad there is a growing number of Type 2 folks in the DOC, and I’ve tried to do what little I could to help that along, I don’t necessarily feel closer to the Type 2s than I do to the others. It almost makes me wonder what I need more – “support” or just community.
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The last support group I attended was a depression group formed through Meetup.com. I found this to be a tremendous experience. The other folks in the group were much different than I am, both in terms of their backgrounds and how they experienced emotional illness. It was a struggle, initially, to relate my situation to those of the others, but it proved to be very much worth the effort.
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Here’s what I think I need support with: being an introverted, heavily-overweight, middle-aged, non-driving, non-movie-watching single guy seeking to live a healthier life against the backdrop of emotional struggles but who does not see weight loss as a healthy goal or necessarily seeks a relationship. Got all that?
Part of what works for me about the online option is that I’m able to piece together what I need out of a fairly large group. A number of us struggle with a tendency to social isolation. Some of us are old enough for aging to become an important aspect of what we are. Quite a few folks wish they weighed less. There are others who struggle with loneliness and the stigma of not being in a relationship. And, of course, way way too many of us deal with depression. Even if I don’t explicitly discuss all of these things, I still receive a measure of support from those who do. (I have yet to find others who are too terrified to operate a motor vehicle, or would rather visit the dentist than watch anything outside a very narrow range of television shows. But I feel sure they’re out there.)
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My new motto is "Declare Victory and Call It a Day." Seriously. I want that inscribed on my medical ID.
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This post is my April entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/april-dsma-blog-carnival-2/
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April 17th, 2012 - 22:00
Great post, Bob. I love that motto, “Declare Victory and Call It a Day.” Consider it stolen like third base.
April 17th, 2012 - 23:08
Tremendous post, Bob. Sir, you nailed it. Very much appreciate you writing this, and think that I’m about the same page as you are: not sure I necessarily need whatever “support” might be offered through various groups, but just “community.” That’s very important to me, especially as I’m dealing with those internal feelings of depression, self-doubt and social isolation. Every day is a work in progress, and that motto is one that I’m also up for adopting. Thanks for reminding me of that importance in recognizing small victories for a day, and moving forward. You rock, my friend, and I’m glad to know you.
April 18th, 2012 - 12:15
I love this post, Bob. Way to put it out there! Consider yourself hugged from afar.
As Mike says above, I really like your motto. I also agree with this part, in part: “People with Type 2 diabetes are in such a diverse range of situations, I have trouble believing that I’d find enough in common with people in a church basement or hospital meeting room to find much “support”.” I think this is what makes it difficult for people to understand T2. It’s difficult to grasp the idea that we’re all different and so is our condition. We can’t all treat it the same way. However, receiving support in the sense that we’re “all in this together” is possible. That doesn’t mean it has to be in person. I’m so glad to have “met” you and many others here in the DOC.