| Discussed in this article: | | | | diabetes-related auto-immune activity. This study |
| 1) The Quiet Crisis Within Diabetes. | | | | involved 17,000 children born between 1997 and 1999. |
| 2) A Hidden Danger of Diabetes. | | | | One of many conclusions in this study is that: |
| 3) Are Physicians Aware Of This Danger? | | | | "Experiences of serious life events (e.g., parental |
| 4) Does Depression Cause Diabetes? | | | | separation, serious illness, or death in the family) has |
| 5) The Formation of Depression Post-Hypnotic | | | | been suggested to trigger type 1 diabetes(5) or the |
| Suggestions. | | | | auto-immune process behind the disease.(6)"An |
| 6) Summary | | | | additional interesting point to take away from the |
| 5) Next Issue Highlights.The Quiet Crisis Within | | | | preceding considerations is that current treatment |
| DiabetesDepression is a 'quiet crisis' facing diabetics, | | | | programs treat one person. Limited efficacy and high |
| their families and their health care providers. Financially | | | | cost. However, if a patient were to receive Diabetes |
| and emotionally this crisis is exacting a terrible | | | | Motivational Coaching TM then more than one person |
| cost.The purpose of this and following articles is to | | | | can receive the positive benefits because a healthier, |
| share important information about depression and | | | | non-depressed diabetic parent is less likely to have a |
| how a hypnotist can responsibly and effectively help | | | | precipitating influence on their child. Two for the price |
| a diabetic with depression. This assistance will help to | | | | of one. A win-win situation from so many angles. |
| improve a diabetic's life by (a) reducing the suffering | | | | Obviously more study is required but the premise is |
| from this painful state of mind and being and (b) thus | | | | intriguing and the evidence it is based on is |
| enhance their diabetes management skills which will | | | | reasonably sound.Another win-win benefit of |
| therefore result in a state of enhanced health.Bear in | | | | appropriate, innovative treatment is that the |
| mind the importance of your contribution as a | | | | exacerbating (and ultimately very costly) effects of |
| hypnotist. You can make an incredible difference | | | | depression on those with diabetes can likely be |
| because even a small reduction in a diabetic's long | | | | reduced or eliminated.So, what can a properly trained |
| term blood sugar levels can result in a marked | | | | hypnotist do? One key way a properly trained |
| decrease in the likelihood of diabetic complications.A | | | | hypnotist can help is to reduce or eliminate |
| Hidden Danger of DiabetesA largely unknown hence, | | | | depression in an individual (diabetic or not) by helping |
| hidden danger of diabetes is that diabetics have | | | | them to eliminate depression activating post-hypnotic |
| twice the risk of non-diabetics for becoming | | | | suggestions.The Formation of Depression Activating |
| depressed. Dr. Richard Surwit of Duke University | | | | Post-Hypnotic Suggestions |
| states that: "Diabetes more than doubles the odds of | | | | A post-hypnotic response is a cause-effect belief |
| suffering from depression at some point. One third of | | | | program that powerfully dictates behavior. Another |
| people with diabetes have been diagnosed with | | | | way to look at this is that when a specific stimulus |
| significant depression and 11 percent with major | | | | becomes uniquely associated with a strong internal |
| depression--twice the rate in the non-diabetic | | | | state, you have a post-hypnotic suggestion and |
| population (1)."What is obvious and yet, not really | | | | effect. (stimulus/response)For example, the physical |
| obvious about the preceding statement is that being | | | | lethargy and mental apathy that accompanies very |
| diagnosed with a major disease is traumatic. This, in | | | | high (or low) blood sugars can be a contributing |
| and of itself, can lead to depression--never mind all | | | | factor to inappropriate cause-effect belief formation. |
| the other contributing factors that are related to | | | | To illustrate, let me share with this case: Shortly |
| diabetes and depression.For example, a contributing | | | | before I was diagnosed with diabetes, my cognitive |
| factor to depression in a diabetic can be their | | | | functions were significantly reduced and my affect |
| physiological state. As noted by Dr. Surwit, there is | | | | was severely depressed.In layman's terms this means |
| research indicating that high blood sugars cause | | | | I felt like garbage due primarily to out of control |
| biochemical changes in the brain that can lead to | | | | blood sugar levels that were causing me to lose my |
| depression. (2)Are Physician's Aware Of This | | | | vision as well as feel awful. (What is interesting to |
| Danger?Physicians by and large, are extremely busy | | | | note is that diabetes and its attendant emotional |
| and the demands on them are greater than most can | | | | physical affects can go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed |
| imagine. It is no wonder that many of them are | | | | for years.)Now, when a person has a strong |
| simply not aware that their diabetic clients are two | | | | emotional feeling, that affect state can then become |
| times more likely to suffer from depression. If they | | | | associated with whatever situation and/or thoughts |
| knew this, they would probably be more likely to | | | | they are currently experiencing. I.E., uncontrolled |
| refer their diabetic clients with poor blood sugar | | | | diabetic consequences coupling with a relationship |
| control to someone who could help.When | | | | break-up, a job loss or any other stressful situation. |
| appropriate, a hypnotist can help in key ways | | | | These are common events but note that even a |
| because a hypnotist is trained to be a motivational | | | | small, insignificant incident can also be implicated. This |
| coach and stress management consultant. One way a | | | | confluence of events is called an I.S.E. or Initial |
| trained hypnotist can help a depressed person with | | | | Sensitizing Event. (Please note that, as in the case of |
| diabetes will be explained later in this article. But first, | | | | many phobias, some initial sensitizing events can have |
| let's look at an important question.Does Depression | | | | a profound post-hypnotic impact after only one |
| Cause Diabetes?This is an important question for | | | | learning event.)The next stage in deepening the |
| many reasons. Probably one of the more compelling | | | | power of this erroneous belief programming occurs |
| reasons to deeply consider this idea is because, if | | | | when a person is next exposed to the same stimuli |
| true to some degree, then it begs this question: | | | | that were initially associated with a powerful, |
| Wouldn't the validity of this concept make the | | | | negative state of mind.The result? Generally, with |
| majority of treatment efforts inappropriate and/or | | | | enough repetition and enough time, feelings can |
| ineffective to some degree? Consider the plight of | | | | become facts cognitively and physically. And then, a |
| many frustrated nurses and doctors who will attest | | | | pseudo-depression cycle is perpetuated.As a quick |
| that no matter what they do for their patients, | | | | illustration imagine a large spider near your foot. Now, |
| nothing seems to work.This statement is not meant | | | | if you are a person who becomes upset when big, |
| to denigrate in any way the efforts of so many. It is | | | | hairy spiders with lots of eyes and big fangs are near |
| meant to highlight the importance of timely | | | | you, then your body will respond to some |
| consideration of the depression-diabetes connection | | | | degree.Now, imagine being unconsciously reminded |
| before the cost for all concerned becomes not only | | | | (triggered or post-hypnotically influenced) to thinking |
| debilitating, but also tragically unnecessary.Consider | | | | and therefore feeling, many times a day that there is |
| this: Evidence, that will be discussed shortly, shows | | | | a nasty spider about to crawl up your leg. Ultimately, |
| there is a strong connection between depression and | | | | this could become a panic disorder that can even |
| diabetes. This is important because, unless diabetes | | | | attach itself to unrelated objects and/or events. In |
| treatment programs are sculpted to target a largely | | | | fact, this is not uncommon.Hopefully, this example will |
| unaddressed cause and exacerbating feature of | | | | help to illustrate why I call it pseudo-depression. I do |
| diabetes, many of those at risk will only become | | | | this because the belief syllogism is: "I feel depressed |
| worse. Those at risk include person's with | | | | (like garbage) therefore there must be reasons."And, |
| pre-diabetes as well as those with diabetes.This | | | | when feelings happen, a person must make sense |
| pragmatic approach also prompts one to think about | | | | out of their world. So, they justify this unconscious, |
| the idea that perhaps with re-targeted treatment | | | | powerful, emotional experience with a conscious |
| methods, many of those with diabetes may actually | | | | understanding that usually takes the form of |
| experience a remission of symptoms. And, dwell on | | | | inappropriate cause-effect associations. I.E., "I am |
| the idea of how many may be able to avoid | | | | feeling depressed because of my job--spouse--life--" |
| developing diabetes.Bear with me a moment while I | | | | or whatever seemingly reasonable explanation is |
| explain. Untreated depression in those with diabetes is | | | | available.In other words, one's feelings of depression |
| a personal tragedy for all family members but most | | | | can be in part or whole, built on erroneous beliefs or, |
| especially children. I state this because children have | | | | post-hypnotic suggestions. Therefore, all a depressed |
| no coping skills to handle the emotional burden of a | | | | person may need are the tools and coaching in order |
| depressed and diabetic parent.Imagine being a child | | | | to be able to disable erroneous cause-effect belief |
| helplessly watching your mother (as in my case) | | | | programs.To finalize this point, please consider a |
| being slowly, inexorably, taken apart emotionally and | | | | quote from Breaking The Patterns of Depression, by |
| physically by the deadly combination of poorly | | | | Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D.: |
| controlled diabetes and untreated depression.It is | | | | "For most people, depression is the product of a |
| because of this searing pain that I am driven to reach | | | | hurtful way of interpreting and responding to life |
| whomever I can with my Diabetes Motivational | | | | experiences."SummaryIn this article I have attempted |
| Coaching TM training so that perhaps some little boy | | | | to share information that will raise awareness on a |
| somewhere doesn't have to watch his mother go | | | | number of different levels. If you are a person with |
| blind emotionally and physically.I realize this may sound | | | | diabetes and you are hitting a 'wall', consult with your |
| disingenuous or dramatic to some and I understand | | | | physician to discover whether or not you have |
| but I make no apologies because it is true. In fact, | | | | depression.If you are a nurse or physician and you |
| my feelings go far deeper than what I have | | | | have patients who don't seem to want to take care |
| communicated here. You see, the apple doesn't fall | | | | of themselves, then perhaps there are hidden forces |
| far from the tree and now that hypnosis has helped | | | | at work. And, there are alternatives that you may |
| me to put my life on a previously undreamed of | | | | not have been aware of before now.If you are a |
| healthy course, my motivation is intensified because I | | | | hypnotist and you wish to help those with diabetes, |
| think so many times: "What if my mother had been | | | | please remember four things:1) You must always |
| able to have access to these methods? How much | | | | obtain a fully informed referral from your client's |
| better would her life be now?"Now, to tie all this in to | | | | doctor. If you suspect your client is depressed, never |
| my point that perhaps an innovative approach can | | | | diagnose. In fact, if you think they are depressed, it |
| actually prevent diabetes: The challenge with current | | | | is incumbent upon you that you suggest they see |
| diabetic treatments is that no amount of chemical | | | | their physician for an official assessment before you |
| management (including anti-depressants as well as | | | | can help them further. Be sure to obtain an additional |
| insulin, etc.) will ever ameliorate this significant cause | | | | referral so that you can help them appropriately with |
| of diabetes. (Depression) This is because these | | | | their depression if your help is suitable. If you feel |
| treatments do not address the root of the problem. | | | | you cannot help, don't.2) Should a physician or nurse, |
| Furthermore, no amount of medication given to one | | | | have time to chat with you, please remind them that |
| individual will ever prevent another from developing | | | | if you are only allowed one approach to helping their |
| diabetes.The last point seems odd until you consider | | | | patient, stress management alone can produce |
| a landmark Swedish study (3) in which it was | | | | incredible blood sugar lowering benefits over time. |
| discovered that there is a disturbingly high correlation | | | | This is attested to by an article in a January, 2002 |
| between traumatic childhood life events (4) and | | | | issue of Diabetes Care in which a study done by Dr. |