A psychological problem for sugar lovers that cannot be ignored—needle phobia

The "China Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes (2020 Edition)" mentioned that problems such as pain, anxiety, and depression related to diabetes are very common and have a huge impact on treatment and prognosis, and more attention should be paid.

These pains, anxiety and depression are often caused by excessive psychological stress. People with diabetes who are in this situation for a long time are not only prone to psychological problems, but their blood sugar control will also be affected.

Special psychological stress

Diabetes patients will have various psychological pressures. Sometimes they will also worry about high blood sugar, failure to reach blood sugar-lowering goals, insulin injections or infusions (needle phobia, blood phobia, hypoglycemia) and complications. worry.

Here we mainly talk about two special psychological pressures: needle phobia and blood phobia.

Fear of needles is a type of specific fear that is medically classified as a phobia. "Needle phobia" has the common characteristics of phobias, that is, knowing that one's reaction (fear of needles to the point of behavioral disorders) is irrational, but cannot control it, resulting in excessive fear and anxiety. A severe "fear of needles" may manifest itself as "trembling at the thought of it" or "not daring to even think about it". A 2018 meta-analysis showed that most children have a "phobia of needles."

In adolescents, its incidence is approximately 20%-50%. By the age of 20 or 30, the incidence rate drops to 20%-30%. Needle phobia can often be overcome through systematic desensitization. You can face these needles in your imagination, and gradually overcome them in your imagination from a level where you are less afraid. Of course, if there is no way to do it, you can go directly to a psychological department for treatment.

Syndrome, also known as blood phobia, Eyer syndrome or Eine syndrome, refers to the sudden onset of dizziness, nausea, palpitation, etc. when seeing fresh blood, followed by pale complexion, cold and weak limbs, and coldness all over the body. Cold sweats, and even blood pressure fluctuations, syncope, loss of consciousness, etc. It belongs to specific phobia, which is a clinical subtype of phobia. It is also a reflex syncope of the body, usually of short duration.

For those who suffer from haemorrhage, it is recommended that they have less contact with blood, and at the same time, they should relax and avoid excessive mental stress. If symptoms of haemorrhage occur and they need to lie down and rest immediately, it will usually resolve on their own soon. Syndrome can be cured by "desensitization" treatment. Repeated exposure to blood gradually from weak to strong under the guidance of a psychologist can help cure it.

Psychological stress of children with diabetes

Because children are in a stage of mental development, they cannot objectively understand and accept many things. Children's psychological world is very simple. Sometimes a scolding will make them cry, and a candy will make them reveal their emotions. smile.

But for children with diabetes, especially children with type 1 diabetes, they have to bear many things during their childhood, such as strictly controlling their diet and learning to take insulin by themselves at school. This also brings pressure. Many other things that normal children do not need to do, children with diabetes must do for their health.

When someone in a group behaves differently from others, the looks from others can easily put pressure on that person. Many children with diabetes are often afraid that their classmates/friends will not understand or even laugh at or discriminate against them. They are afraid that everyone will only think of themselves as "sick", so they often hide the information that they have diabetes from their classmates and friends. However, keeping secrets at all times also puts patients and children under long-term huge pressure and even costs: they must hide and be extremely careful when injecting insulin and measuring blood sugar; pretending that they do not have diabetes and not measuring blood sugar may lead to poor blood sugar control and cause complications. Although you are very careful, if you are discovered, you will feel a sense of panic. In severe cases, you may suffer from psychological problems such as anxiety and depression.

Instead of choosing to keep this secret alone and fearing that it will be exposed one day, it is better to find classmates or friends with whom you trust and have good relationships, find a suitable opportunity, and explain your "secret" to your good friends. In this way, you will feel much more relaxed. . Moreover, diabetes is a common chronic disease among the elderly. Many children’s grandparents may have diabetes, so many children are aware of diabetes and will not discriminate against diabetics. Therefore, children with diabetes You might as well let go of the fear of being laughed at and openly tell your classmates or friends that diabetes is not terrible.

Psychological stress among adolescents with diabetes

Adolescence refers to the transitional period from childhood to adulthood. It is an important period for human physical and mental development. During this process, teenagers will experience physical development and psychological development and transformation. This period is also a time when family conflicts are prone to occur, especially regarding the control of blood sugar by teenagers with diabetes. For example, a good friend invites him to a birthday party, but his parents are firmly opposed; when monitoring blood sugar at home, it is found that the blood sugar is too high. If you are tall, you will always be scolded by your parents, misunderstood as eating something secretly, etc. Because these things often cause psychological pressure on both parties, the pressure on teenagers with sugar comes from their parents' "obstruction" and "distrust", and the pressure on parents comes from their children's "not worrying".

This kind of misunderstanding between the two parties can actually be resolved. The two parties can calm down and talk together and explain the conflicts clearly. Communication is the bridge that brings each other's hearts closer. Of course, psychological consultation can also be used. Parents and children can go to the hospital together to seek help from a psychologist. Sometimes the authorities are confused but the bystanders are clear. Communication with the psychologist can also help relieve the pressure in the heart.

Psychological pressure on female sugar lovers

Regarding the psychological pressure faced by women with diabetes, there is one point worth discussing with everyone, and that is when giving birth to the next generation. For women with diabetes, deciding whether to have a child is already a choice that requires psychological pressure, not to mention the subsequent psychological problems during pregnancy and postpartum. Epidemiological data show that the incidence of depression and anxiety in women is significantly higher than that in men, and patients with gestational diabetes or postpartum diabetes are also high-risk groups for depression and anxiety.

Why are women with diabetes likely to suffer from excessive psychological stress and even mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression during childbirth? In addition to the effects of some physiological hormone changes, excessive worries, emotional instability, and frequent psychological changes during pregnancy can also increase psychological pressure. For example, there are often worries about whether the child will inherit diabetes, and worries about being unable to raise children in the future. Thoughts, these will put women in a fluctuating state of mood.

For women with diabetes, if they are determined to give birth to the next generation, it is recommended that they make adequate plans before becoming pregnant and go to the hospital regularly to receive professional care. This is not only responsible for the child, but also for oneself. Kind of responsible.

What parents inherit is not diabetes itself, but susceptibility to diabetes. Clinically, most patients with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, which is the result of the combined effect of "genetic factors" and "environmental factors". Offspring may acquire diabetes susceptibility genes from diabetic parents, but having the susceptibility genes does not necessarily lead to diabetes. Through active lifestyle intervention (eating less, moving more, controlling weight, etc.), most people will not develop diabetes. diabetes.

Therefore, when you, a sugar-loving woman, decide to give birth to the next generation, please stop worrying too much. Excessive psychological pressure will harm the child you are pregnant with.