Living with chronic kidney disease or kidney failure can be overwhelming—not only for your body, but also for your mind. Constant change, uncertainty, and the demands of treatment can weigh heavily on your mental health. Practicing mindfulness offers you a way to manage stress, boost resilience, and bring moments of calm into your daily life. Gary Petingola, a social worker trained in mindfulness-based stress reduction, explains what mindfulness is, why it matters, and how you can start practicing it today.*

Understanding Mindfulness

Mindfulness is about living fully in the present moment, accepting your thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without judgment. It’s not about fixing or escaping life, but about noticing it. You’ve likely practiced mindfulness without realizing it, like when you pause to watch a sunset or play with your child. These are moments when you’re fully engaged with your senses, aware of what is happening right now.

By learning to bring this awareness into your everyday life, you can shift how you respond to stress and challenges. Instead of feeling consumed by uncertainty, mindfulness allows you to acknowledge your experiences with more calm and compassion.

Why Mindfulness Matters for Kidney Health

Research shows that mindfulness practices can offer real benefits for people managing chronic illness. Two well-studied approaches include:

• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): An 8-week program combining classes and at-home exercises that help you focus on the present and reduce worry.
• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT): A blend of mindfulness practices with cognitive therapy techniques that helps reduce depression and negative thinking.

Practicing mindfulness may help lower blood pressure, reduce stress, manage cravings, and improve self-compassion. For people with kidney disease, these benefits can make lifestyle changes, like managing fluid intake or following dietary restrictions, feel less overwhelming. Mindfulness can also improve resilience, creativity in problem-solving, and the ability to manage pain and fatigue.

Simple Ways to Practice Mindfulness

You don’t need special equipment or a lot of time to get started. Mindfulness can be practiced informally or formally, depending on what feels right for you.

Informal practice: Choose everyday moments to be fully present. For example, when cooking, notice the sound of chopping, the smell of simmering spices, and the feel of stirring ingredients. Staying mindful during daily tasks helps you focus, make healthier choices, and feel more at ease.

Formal practice: Set aside a few minutes for structured exercises. Two beginner-friendly techniques include:

• Body scan meditation: Slowly move your attention through your body, noticing sensations without judgment.
• STOP method: Pause, take a breath, observe your thoughts and feelings, then proceed with awareness.

Even a few minutes a day can make a difference. Some days may feel harder than others, and that’s okay, like any skill, mindfulness improves with practice.

Taking the Next Step

Kidney disease is challenging, but mindfulness can help you approach it with compassion and calm. By training your mind to be present, you give yourself space to breathe, reflect, and respond more thoughtfully to life’s demands. Alongside mindfulness, remember that you’re not alone; communities like Responsum for CKD or programs like NKF Peers can connect you with information, resources, and peer-to-peer support. Together, mindfulness and peer support can help you feel stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to handle what comes your way.

*National Kidney Foundation. (February 23, 2024) “Mindfulness and Kidney Disease” https://www.kidney.org/news-stories/mindfulness-and-kidney-disease

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