Learning to Keep Depression
in Check

What do you call it? Blue, gloomy, bummed out, depressed, sad, down in the dumps? Whatever name you give it, it still means the same thing: depression.

But feeling depressed when you have Kidney Disease is fairly common and something most patients deal with at one time or another.

Coping with your disease is very personal and requires you to make major adjustments in your life. You may not be able to do the things you use to love to do. You might even get depressed thinking about the food and drink you may not be able to have.

It's okay and understandable to feel this way. But, it is also possible to manage your depression, so that you have a more comfortable happy life.

• Start by talking about your feelings. Confide in someone in your family or a friend or co-worker. Schedule time with a counselor or social worker, or reach out to your clergymen. Talk to other patients who may be going through the same thing you are. (Who better to understand)
• Maybe you want to isolate yourself from others. Try not to. Work to maintain important relationships or seek out new ones. If you’re not comfortable talking to others about your feelings, try keeping a journal. Everyday write three or four paragraphs about yourself. No one else has to see your journal, but writing down your feelings can help you process them.
• Staying as physically active as possible can also help you to feel better. Going for a walk, a swim, or doing some other activity can energize you (be sure to check with your doctor before starting any exercise). Even a trip to the grocery store, the park or a local mall can boost your spirits.
• Ask the social worker to tell you about relaxation techniques that may help you with your depression. Maybe meditation, yoga or visualization could work for you.
• Your doctor can assess whether you are clinically depressed and may recommend that you see a counselor. He may prescribe medication to help with your depression. You may need to take something called an anti-depressant. And, if your doctor prescribes something for you, it might just give you what you need to turn your life around.

Be patient with yourself. You might feel like you’re on a roller coaster feeling good one day and bad the next. But, dealing with Kidney Disease can be very hard and you need time to work through all that happens. It’s okay to sometimes feel depressed and angry. The trick is finding out what works for you to make Kidney Disease bearable. Make the first step today by trying some of the tips listed above.

Note: portions of this article were reprinted from the Patient Line Newsletter with permission from FMC Dialysis Services.