Many things can affect our emotions, like certain circumstances or situations and our relationships with others. In turn, our emotions affect our mental health. Caring for your mental health is important, as it determines how you handle stress, relate to people, and make choices. 

Many chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients struggle with maintaining a healthy mental state. The burden of a long-term, serious illness can create feelings of isolation and stress. Moreover, many do not feel comfortable talking to their family, friends, or doctors about their mental health. 

If this sounds familiar to you or a family member, there are ways to get help. Discover more about the common emotions CKD patients face and tips on how to deal with them.* 

What common emotions do people with CKD deal with?

Fear and anxiety

The fear of the unknown can weigh heavily on many people with CKD. Fear and anxiety are common, as you may feel that you’re no longer in control of your life. CKD patients, especially those who are on dialysis, must rely on new medicines and dialysis machines to keep them healthy. You may worry about how this may impact your family, whether you will be able to provide for them moving forward, and if you will become a burden to your loved ones.

Denial

When something bad happens, such as receiving a difficult medical diagnosis, a person must learn how to cope. If a situation is too severe and overwhelming, you may struggle with denial. You may feel your situation is not as bad or will not accept that you’re ill at all. This can cause people to avoid appropriate treatments and medications to prevent further illness. 

Anger

You may start to feel angry, and you may feel irritated at or with your doctors, other medical professionals, your family members, or yourself. Anger is an emotion commonly used against the ones we care about the most, like a spouse or close family member. Over time, directing this anger at loved ones can lead to resentment and strained relationships.

Feeling down

Feeling down can be caused by your CKD symptoms, such as nausea and a lack of energy. Over time, this feeling can turn into depression for some people. Hopelessness, despondency, or despair can be a sign of depression if lasting over two weeks. Fortunately, there are treatment options available to improve your mental health as long as you seek help from loved ones and your care team.

What are some ways to deal with these emotions?

While learning you have CKD can feel like a lot to handle at first, you must learn how to protect and preserve your mental health. 

Here are a few ways to address the common negative emotions you may feel:

• With fear and anxiety, educating yourself on CKD and dialysis is the first step. If you know what to expect and how to keep yourself calm, you’ll be able to more effectively deal with managing your CKD.
• If you find yourself in denial, it is also important to learn as much as possible and listen to your care team. If you’re feeling unsure about your diagnosis, you can get a second opinion, but you can’t allow yourself to live in denial. Denial can cause non-compliance with your treatment plan, which can lead to severe illness and hospitalization. 
• Anger can cause you to lash out at loved ones who are not the real cause of your anger, and this can hurt your relationships. If you’re struggling to understand your anger and/or how to deal with it, talk to a healthcare professional, particularly a social worker, counselor, or therapist, who can help you work through your anger to feel better.
• Feeling down is an emotion that can lead to depression. Depression can cause you to put off decisions or make unwise decisions. Your healthcare team can help treat your depression, but you must be honest with them about how you’re feeling. Many people struggle with depression and require anti-depressants and/or counseling sessions. 

If you’re feeling any negative emotions, it’s important to discuss them with your healthcare team. A social worker or counselor can also refer you to a support group, which can help you put things in perspective. Hearing and reading about other experienced CKD patients who lead active lives can be uplifting and give you hope. 

*DaVita Kidney Care. (n.d.). Your Emotions and Chronic Kidney Disease. https://www.davita.com/education/ckd-life/support/your-emotions-and-chronic-kidney-disease-ckd