Used to Think My Fight or Flight Was Impossible to Fix. I used to automatically cry when things felt hard. I have cried because of high blood sugars and I have cried because a night was hard.
For a long time, I believed my nervous system was just wired this way.
Would Cry easily.
Quick to react. Felt on edge.
Always anticipating what could go wrong.
Living with type 1 diabetes especially as a parent can train your body into constant vigilance. Night checks. Alarms. School concerns. App notifications. The responsibility never really shuts off.
I thought this state of vigilance was permanent.
My nervous system wasn’t broken. It was overloaded. And with the right tools, it started to shift. I now feel I dont panic when that first low alarm goes off. I respond but I dont panic. I breathe and I talk myself through feeling calm in times that used to be so stressful.
Here are the things that have helped me the most.
EMDR and Counselling
I didn’t realize how many experiences my body was still holding onto: memories from childhood, diagnosis trauma, scary lows, mistakes with insulin and chronic stress. EMDR helped my brain reprocess some of those memories so they no longer felt like they were happening in the present. Counselling gave me language for what I was feeling and practical strategies to regulate. It wasn’t about “thinking more positively.” It was about helping my nervous system feel safe again. Feeling safe was the main topic that kept coming up in my EMDR sessions.
Zones of Regulation
Learning about the Zones of Regulation changed how I see both myself and my kids. Instead of labeling emotions as good or bad, I began seeing them as states. Red zone: overwhelmed. Yellow zone: anxious or heightened. Green zone: calm and steady. Blue zone: low energy or shut down. That framework helped me pause and ask, “What zone am I in right now?” “What zone are my kids in and how can I help them best right now?” You can’t solve problems well from the red zone. Sometimes the goal isn’t fixing the situation it’s just trying to get back to the green zone first.
Moving My Body
Not punishment workouts. Not pushing through exhaustion. Just consistent, gentle movement. Walking. Strength training. Stretching. The last few weeks I am trying to learn how to run. My goal was to be able to run 5k after a month of practicing. I didnt hit that goal but am currently at 5 min of jogging and then 1 minute walking which I am very proud of!
Movement metabolizes stress hormones. It tells your body the threat has passed. I noticed that on days I moved, I reacted differently. Softer. Slower. Less sharp.
Having Systems
Systems reduce decision fatigue. This year I am working on organization and have creating my diabetes command center. When you live in chronic stress, even small decisions can feel overwhelming. Preparation doesn’t eliminate the stress or unpredictability of diabetes, but it helps to have a container to put all the diabetes things. My new project called The Diabetes Command Center is helping me feel less overwhelmed.
Coming Soon
I am still a work in progress. I have run my T1D Mom Makeover program over the last couple of years and am preparing for round 4 this fall! I am excited to get a group of moms together to work on both our own self care as well as our kids diabetes.
I still get activated. We still have lows and highs. I still have moments in the red zone. Diabetes is unpredictable. Life is unpredictable. But my body doesn’t live there anymore and I want to protect my future health by handling stress as well as I can.
If you feel stuck in fight or flight, I understand. It can feel like your nervous system is just “who you are.” But I’m here to tell you that things can improve by teaching your body safety.
“So happy I decided to take part in this. The support from Lana and the other moms in this group has been so helpful to rewarding to me. To not feel alone has meant alot to me.”
-> Round 2 T1D Mom Makeover participant
I will be creating a waitlist for fall registration soon!
My New Challlenge
I am trying something new next week by deleting Social Media for 1 month. I will see after the month how I want to move forward. I know that I spend too much time wasted scrolling and want to be less distracted and more present in life. If you want to stay in touch while I am off of social media feel free to add me on Whattsapp
Doing Diabetes Different 