Dealing with Chronic Kidney Disease and Your Emotions

Receiving a chronic kidney disease diagnosis can be overwhelming. For many CKD patients, their mind becomes flooded with thoughts of dialysis treatments, potentially worsening symptoms and the overall disruption to the lifestyle you’re used to living. 

The physical symptoms one with CKD experiences such as pain, insomnia, swelling, and fatigue are difficult, but what many patients and their caregivers often consider but sometimes overlook is the emotional anguish and mental health problems often associated with a CKD diagnosis. Below, we discuss the feelings you might experience after a CKD diagnosis, as well as how CKD management techniques, including how the CKD diet can help.

Emotions You Might Feel After a CKD Diagnosis

About 15% of adults in the U.S. have CKD, and while most don’t know they have it, those who do often struggle with psychiatric symptoms.

Anxiety or Depression

Some of the most common emotions patients feel after receiving their diagnosis are anxiety and depression. Anxious thoughts can come from many places. You might wonder how the people you love will react to the news, or what effect CKD will have on you being able to provide and care for yourself or your family. 

You might be worried about how this is going to change your lifestyle from here on out. Maybe you even feel anxious thinking about your treatment schedule, the side effects of dialysis or how this will affect your overall health.

In the midst of all this worry, depression often sets in. Depression is often more common in CKD patients who aren’t receiving dialysis treatments, but both long- and short-term depression can occur alongside a CKD diagnosis in any patient. 

Signs of depression are often similar to CKD symptoms, such as fatigue, poor appetite, and difficulty concentrating. If these symptoms appear suddenly or worsen after receiving your diagnosis, it might be a good idea to discuss your mental health with your healthcare provider.

Fear

Any new medical diagnosis can be frightening, and CKD is no different. The fear of spending your life on dialysis, needing a kidney transplant, and a potentially reduced life expectancy might be flooding your thoughts, and while that’s completely normal, don’t sell yourself short of the life you do have. 

Studies have shown that positive thoughts and finding reasons to be grateful in your life can improve the quality of life and overall health in dialysis patients. In either case, it’s wise to seek mental health treatment if you feel that the fear has become debilitating and overwhelming.

Denial

Denial is a common coping mechanism that many patients with chronic illnesses experience and while it’s rarer in those with a new diagnosis, it can still occur. If you find yourself in disbelief of your new diagnosis or unable to accept that treatment is necessary, it’s important to discuss your mental state with your healthcare provider.

Managing Your Emotions and the CKD Diet

Managing your stress, anxiety and other emotions related to your CKD diagnosis is a vital part of your treatment. Seeking out mental health treatment from a qualified counselor or healthcare professional is absolutely necessary if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your mental state.

Ensuring that your physical health is cared for can also be a key part of getting your emotions in check. Following the treatment plan provided to you by your treating physician, along with planning your meals in accordance with the CKD diet is the best way to help your body to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease.