Mental health and kidney disease

If you have been diagnosed with kidney disease, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. Many people experience a range of emotions including frustration, despair, fear, a sense of lack of control and depression, especially if you require dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Anxiety is not limited to your diagnosis. It’s common to have good days and bad days throughout your kidney disease journey. For example, you may feel an onset of stress when you:

• notice changes day-to-day due to symptom changes
• progress to another stage of kidney disease
• start and undergo treatment.

There are some things you can do to help yourself cope. Some emotions only last for a short time. It’s OK to be angry, sad or fearful, or to cry, shout or withdraw occasionally. However, it’s not OK for this to continue all the time.

Physical activity, a healthy diet, supporting others, hobbies and being involved in a community can help to keep your mind and body healthy. Talking with others who have had similar experiences may also help you, especially if they are now back in control of their lives and doing well.

A loved one or a trusted health professional can also provide support. Social workers and psychologists are trained to listen to your worries and help you find solutions. There is nothing wrong with asking your doctor for a referral.

If you’d like immediate help, call 13 11 14 for 24/7 support through lifeline.org.au.  If you want additional support, you can speak to someone by calling the Beyond Blue Infoline on 1300 224 636. You can also visit beyondblue.org.au for further information on depression and anxiety. 

Depression affects 1 in 5 people with kidney disease and up to 50% of those on dialysis.

When you are told you have kidney disease, you may at first be in disbelief that this is happening to you. When reality hits, you may go through a period of mourning; you might grieve for the health, abilities and life you had before being diagnosed.

With depression, you might lose interest in activities that you used to enjoy, feel sad and lack energy, and have trouble focusing. Think back over the past two weeks and ask yourself:

• Do you struggle to get out of bed and do daily activities regularly?
• Do you feel as if you are surrounded by a black cloud?
• Do you cry regularly?
• Do you get angry easily for no reason?
• Have you stopped paying attention to how you look?
• Are you eating for comfort or refusing to eat at all?
• Do you consider harming yourself?

If you answer ‘yes’ to one or more of these questions, let a loved one or friend know how you feel and visit your doctor for advice and treatment.

It may help to know that depression is treatable. Effective treatment will improve your feelings of wellbeing and your general health.

There are many treatment options to suit you including medical treatment, alternative therapies and religious or spiritual methods. Your doctor is the best starting point to seek professional medical help for depression.

Psychological treatments

Talking to someone trained in treating depression can help. Psychological treatments help people with depression to manage their mood, change negative patterns of thinking, and improve their coping skills. Your doctor can refer you to a psychologist who can work with you to change negative thoughts and feel better.

Medicines

Your doctor or a psychiatrist (a doctor trained in mental health) may prescribe medicines to help treat depression. Most anti-depressant medicine can be used safely in chronic kidney disease. Your healthcare team will work with you to find the treatment that works best for you.

These medicines are often used in combination with psychological treatments to help with depression.

Alternative therapies

There are many alternative therapies available that may complement your medical care. Please review a practitioner’s qualifications and experience – and discuss with your regular healthcare team – before you book an appointment with them. It’s very important to let them know you have kidney disease, too.

Complementary therapists include:

• chiropractors
• naturopaths
• acupuncturists
• reflexologists
• massage therapists.

If you are prescribed any alternative medications, be sure to speak to your healthcare team before you start taking them.

Religious or spiritual beliefs

For many people, religious or spiritual beliefs can provide great emotional support. Practice may already be an important part of your everyday life, or something you occasionally turn to during difficult times. There are churches for all denominations in most areas, with leaders willing to help. Every hospital has visiting ministers, too. If you like, they will speak with you regardless of your religion.

If you are an Indigenous Australian, it is likely that your spiritual belief will be very important and deeply connected with country. It is important to let your doctor and healthcare team know when you need to go away because of your spiritual needs.

If you still have questions, we welcome you to call our Kidney Helpline on 1800 454 363. You may also wish to check out our peer support groups.

There are many kidney support groups around the country and online for patients, parents and carers to connect with others going through a similar experience. 

Gathering with other members of the community can help people feel less alone in their journey. It also allows those affected by kidney disease to connect with like-minded individuals who face similar challenges.