Let's talk life: Coping with illness

Yvonnie Bailey- Davidson, Gleaner Writer

Dear counsellor,

I was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and depression. I worry about my health and gets very anxious. I worry about developing the complications of diabetes mellitus and committing suicide.

- Maria

Dear Maria,

A lot of research is being done looking at the co-existence of diabetes mellitus and depression. It has been found that some people with depression developed diabetes mellitus while some people with diabetes mellitus developed depression. This close relation cannot fully be explained. However, both conditions are treatable and you should remain compliant with your treatment.

There are various medications for these conditions, so your doctor should find the right combination for you. We cannot predict which patient will commit suicide, so you should not get more depressed about it. Treatment of depression will reduce the occurrence of suicide.

The complication of diabetes mellitus can be severe. People tend to get blindness, amputation of leg, kidney, heart and brain problems. Good control of blood glucose will reduce the occurrence of these complications. If you spend all the time worrying about your health, you will not be able to enjoy life and your quality of life will be poor.

We all have medical problems and we have to learn to cope with them. You need to focus on your spirituality to help you to cope. You will need counselling to help you cope with your health challenges. There are many therapists available to meet your needs.

Sex education

Dear counsellor,

My concern is that children are too expose to sexual matters and are not equipped with the skills to deal with it. I think skills training in relationships, assertiveness, goal setting, decision making and problem-solving needs to be taught alongside the sessions on sex education. Children are not thinking of the consequences of their actions and tend to be impulsive. Only with these skills can our children cope with a sexualised world.

- Staci

Dear Staci,

You are correct that children need to be taught skills to look after themselves. The administrators in education are actually putting sessions in place to deal with this. Children need to be equipped with skills to deal with negative peer pressure, drugs and risky activities

Skills training starts at home in infancy. Children need to feel that their needs are met by caring individuals. People need to be cared for and nurtured at any age. Children get into problems because their needs are being met by individuals who have evil in mind. Children need to be taught how to love themselves and co-exist peacefully with others. They need to have values and attitudes that will help them to survive in this world.

Sexuality is just part of the issues that need to be dealt with. Appropriate behaviour and management of emotions are key issues to be dealt with. When all is in place, the children will be resilient and have a range of refusal skills. Children need to know that sex is to be enjoyed at the appropriate stage and development. They also need to know that there are complications to sex regardless of age of the partners.

For advice on personal or family problems, email questions to Dr Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson at yvonniebd@hotmail.com or call her at 978-8602.