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Life and health status
2 years ago
General
Oih, that last journal's been up for bit too long, hasn't it? A proper update is in order.
Work
My last location where I worked at seemed to stay as my last place as part of my employment program: ever since it came to an end at the start of December, I tried to search for other places to work at, sending applications to places I was recommended. But as is usual to my luck, none responded back nor had any available spots to take me in. By May of this year in a meeting held in regards to my program, we came to a decision to end it as the progress had halted completely.
New plans had been laid out and few suggestions had been given what to do next, one which I sent an application for, only for that to also be declined. Had to wait for 4 months before the response came in, so a lot of it is just pointless waiting for response. One could say I could've done something more to boost up my capabilities reaching something else, but honestly? I'd rather not put too many irons in the works and then have to juggle with multiple fires at once - rather focus on one thing at a time and then make the necessary moves if plans change.
Health
This one is unfortunately a bit bigger one.
Back in late February/early March I've been having a strange feeling in my left arm. After being worried about it for a two weeks, I decided to get it checked out at the local health center. A week later at the appointment, I was told to get a blood test and test my blood pressure as a precautions. My next appointment would come almost two months later (which is ludicrous in my mind, but unfortunately something a lot of places and countries are experiencing nowdays - hopefully something will be done about it that benefits everyone in best of ways possible).
A day after my employment program meeting, on May 25th, I was delivered the news that pretty much hit me harshly: I've now been diagnosed as Type 2 Diabetic. My insulin levels were far too high and pretty much past the threshold, according to doctor (cholesterol levels being quite high as well).
While heading back home, I was constantly questioning myself: "how could I let this happen to me?", "why didn't I do anything to this so much sooner?", "why did I let myself go off this badly?". Ultimately I knew the reasons: my overweight that's been building up over the years, my lack of care of my diet on what I consumed and how much I consumed, lack of physical activities... that combined with my depressed, apathetic, self-defeatist mindset is a poisonous combo and the ultimate cause of this. "If only I could've done something more about it early upon" did ring a lot as well as anxiety and worries how I could treat myself from hereon out, but I knew that pleading with myself was not going to do anything.
This summer became my "Year of Improvement": starting since day one, I've focused on what I've been eating, how much I eat and when I eat, as well as what other things I can do to improve my health in general. Even took on a visit at exercise counceling to get myself going, since I need to make physical activity become a more prominent part of my lifestyle to my otherwise static, nearly 24/7 sitting at the computer approach.
Upon my last doctor's appointment back 6th of this month, I've come to know that my approach was not in vain: my blood test values showed major improvement, with most values having gone back to normal all over again. Not only that, but within the span of nearly 4 months, I've managed to lose a whopping 21 kilos (46 pounds). Both me and the doc were surprised beyond belief and I still cannot believe how small changes like these had been impacting me positively.
While it doesn't cure me of my diagnosis, it'll make it so much more easier and better. Meds have helped a lot, but this? Unbelievable. Shame it took this kind of a wake-up call for me to get something done about it... but I'd rather not ruminate on that. I do hope that I'll be able to withstand the coming months, which is when I will be tested a lot: with days getting colder and darker, seasonal depression may end up putting me through a ride and test me how I'll be managing my diet and mentality to get more physical.
Art and other general, miscellaneous things
I've been keeping bit silent about my health as I wanted to focus on getting myself on the right tracks and get used to the new life I have to live with now. I haven't been drawing nearly as much as I wanted to and I know there's a backlog waiting to be uploaded just to show that I've been doing things. Prior to this, I've only spoken with few trusted friends and folks about this. Only now I decided to be more open about it now that I know where I'm at with my progress.
Beyond that, I hope to find something that allows me to get to the working environment. Still have to battle with that and figure out what is it that I truly want out of myself and how to balance that with my lifestyle changes I'm working on with.
That is all for this time around. Do take care of yourselves out there. And if there's anything you should take away from this, then let it be this: if anything comes, don't hesitate to take care of it when possible.
Work
My last location where I worked at seemed to stay as my last place as part of my employment program: ever since it came to an end at the start of December, I tried to search for other places to work at, sending applications to places I was recommended. But as is usual to my luck, none responded back nor had any available spots to take me in. By May of this year in a meeting held in regards to my program, we came to a decision to end it as the progress had halted completely.
New plans had been laid out and few suggestions had been given what to do next, one which I sent an application for, only for that to also be declined. Had to wait for 4 months before the response came in, so a lot of it is just pointless waiting for response. One could say I could've done something more to boost up my capabilities reaching something else, but honestly? I'd rather not put too many irons in the works and then have to juggle with multiple fires at once - rather focus on one thing at a time and then make the necessary moves if plans change.
Health
This one is unfortunately a bit bigger one.
Back in late February/early March I've been having a strange feeling in my left arm. After being worried about it for a two weeks, I decided to get it checked out at the local health center. A week later at the appointment, I was told to get a blood test and test my blood pressure as a precautions. My next appointment would come almost two months later (which is ludicrous in my mind, but unfortunately something a lot of places and countries are experiencing nowdays - hopefully something will be done about it that benefits everyone in best of ways possible).
A day after my employment program meeting, on May 25th, I was delivered the news that pretty much hit me harshly: I've now been diagnosed as Type 2 Diabetic. My insulin levels were far too high and pretty much past the threshold, according to doctor (cholesterol levels being quite high as well).
While heading back home, I was constantly questioning myself: "how could I let this happen to me?", "why didn't I do anything to this so much sooner?", "why did I let myself go off this badly?". Ultimately I knew the reasons: my overweight that's been building up over the years, my lack of care of my diet on what I consumed and how much I consumed, lack of physical activities... that combined with my depressed, apathetic, self-defeatist mindset is a poisonous combo and the ultimate cause of this. "If only I could've done something more about it early upon" did ring a lot as well as anxiety and worries how I could treat myself from hereon out, but I knew that pleading with myself was not going to do anything.
This summer became my "Year of Improvement": starting since day one, I've focused on what I've been eating, how much I eat and when I eat, as well as what other things I can do to improve my health in general. Even took on a visit at exercise counceling to get myself going, since I need to make physical activity become a more prominent part of my lifestyle to my otherwise static, nearly 24/7 sitting at the computer approach.
Upon my last doctor's appointment back 6th of this month, I've come to know that my approach was not in vain: my blood test values showed major improvement, with most values having gone back to normal all over again. Not only that, but within the span of nearly 4 months, I've managed to lose a whopping 21 kilos (46 pounds). Both me and the doc were surprised beyond belief and I still cannot believe how small changes like these had been impacting me positively.
While it doesn't cure me of my diagnosis, it'll make it so much more easier and better. Meds have helped a lot, but this? Unbelievable. Shame it took this kind of a wake-up call for me to get something done about it... but I'd rather not ruminate on that. I do hope that I'll be able to withstand the coming months, which is when I will be tested a lot: with days getting colder and darker, seasonal depression may end up putting me through a ride and test me how I'll be managing my diet and mentality to get more physical.
Art and other general, miscellaneous things
I've been keeping bit silent about my health as I wanted to focus on getting myself on the right tracks and get used to the new life I have to live with now. I haven't been drawing nearly as much as I wanted to and I know there's a backlog waiting to be uploaded just to show that I've been doing things. Prior to this, I've only spoken with few trusted friends and folks about this. Only now I decided to be more open about it now that I know where I'm at with my progress.
Beyond that, I hope to find something that allows me to get to the working environment. Still have to battle with that and figure out what is it that I truly want out of myself and how to balance that with my lifestyle changes I'm working on with.
That is all for this time around. Do take care of yourselves out there. And if there's anything you should take away from this, then let it be this: if anything comes, don't hesitate to take care of it when possible.
For the health thing that hard hitter to hear. But belive me EC, I think its better to have a hard and rude awaking at a point of time where you still can do something about it as geting called in at the endgame.
I am also SUPER proud of you that you manage to lose this much weight over that time span. That super dupper awesome. I hope you can keep at it durring winter and do not fall back. But knowing the risk at hand you may have more mental power to keep at it.
If there one thing I could recomment you to try out if you had not yet done is try to get a stablized sleeping schedule, having a regulated sleep does help with bodyweight as odd it is. I guess sleeping irregulary does irrituate the biorythmus that otherwise helps with the weight losing?
Finally regarding artwork. It is something you can do. I know in the past you did not like the concept of comissions because of selfdoubt. But if the world does not want to give you work, maybe its worth a 25th thought about creating work yourself a little. I know a few people at last stated they would throw you $$ your way for what you can currently create. Maybe its worth trying it out if anything else does not want to work for you? What would you have to lose? Still a massive challenge to jump of your own shadows and demons.
Finally before you write a long text as answer back, we can speak in Discord if it saves the time of typing it out. At last I hope you know that I always enjoy your company having around.
Your a great lad! and I will never forget when you where around lissening to me when my world was falling appart from all angles. Thank you for that my friend *hugs*