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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.
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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.
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