Imagine this: you're young, active and healthy, with ambitious goals. Then, suddenly, you have to rethink it all when you receive a life-changing health diagnosis. How do you come to terms with it? How do you keep pushing forward? That's exactly what Taylor Efford—a Toronto-based content creator, comedian and actor with a large social media following—had to confront last year when, at 25 years old, she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Instead of carrying on like nothing had changed, she discovered a renewed strength and sense of purpose, sharing her journey with her followers to raise awareness about the disease. This week, she sits down with Dr. Jack Muskat, clinical director of mental health at Medcan, to talk about her story.
LINKS
INSIGHTS
One of the first things Efford wants to share with everyone? If you really feel like something is not right with your body, you need to push to get answers. When Efford first wasn't feeling well, and she visited a walk-in clinic, the health professionals brushed off her concerns. A doctor said her fatigue was a normal symptom of someone living an active life. When she went back with numbness in her left leg, she was told it was most likely a pinched nerve. Finally, after becoming increasingly anxious, Efford went back to the clinic and demanded she get more in-depth tests done. It was only then that she received a proper diagnosis. "Your experience is valid, and no one can really advocate for that except for you," she says. [04:22]
So what is it really like living with Type 1 diabetes and having a pancreas that doesn't function properly? "You have to be switched on 24/7—my brain does not get a break," Efford says. She's constantly monitoring her blood sugar levels, has to adjust times when she eats and works out—nothing is the same. "There's no perfect way to do it, which I think is the most frustrating part of the disease—just accepting that you're never going to be as good of a pancreas as your original pancreas." [14:37]
When receiving some kind of medical diagnosis, it's natural for people to wonder "Why me?" Efford didn't let herself get caught up in that question. Instead, she turned to her social media platforms and started sharing her journey with her followers, hoping to educate and raise awareness about the disease. "I wanted to open up about this because I was so shocked about how little I knew about Type 1," she says. "I'm one of those people that thinks the universe sends you stuff for a reason, so I was just like, 'The universe sent this to me to communicate it. … And that helped me because I thought … 'Maybe that'll make having this worth it.'" [18:17]
How did Efford come to terms that the life she knew no longer existed? "I definitely had a mourning period … and people can stay hung up on that. But what I kept asking is, 'Who can I be now?' I just kept switching the language. " she explains. "I got a real fast ticket to learn how short life can actually be, and so I was just like, 'I choose life.' … I got to remap my brain as to all the things I thought I would have—they're different now. But what beautiful things can I find in that difference? Because I only have this life, so I can still find the beautiful moments." [24:00]
One key part of Taylor's resilience was her belief that she was in charge of how she reacted to her diagnosis. "Life is actually like a video game, and you're holding the controller," Efford says. Only you can control how you manage certain situations—you are in charge. Once Efford accepted that—with some help from her support system, which is always good to have—she knew she could get back on track and push through the ups and downs of her diagnosis. [25:30]
If someone in your life is dealing with an illness, the best thing you can do is listen to them. "Let them guide you on what language they would like to hear—if they're ready for positives, they'll let you know," Efford says, adding that trying to remain positive from the beginning can actually deter the person you're trying to support. And if you're the person with the illness, you need to be able to communicate what you need to your support system. "Giving people the opportunity to let you know how they need help is really key." [27:57]
