What is Kidney Disease?
Kidney disease, or kidney failure, is the gradual loss of your body’s kidney function. Over 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease every year.
According to the NIH, people with CKD are three times more likely to suffer from depression than the rest of the general population. Even so, depression is often an overlooked symptom of CKD.
Am I Depressed?
The effects of kidney disease on your physical health can affect your mental state. Are you fatigued because of the effects of the disease or are you fatigued because you’re depressed about your medical condition? Both CKD and depression share many of the same symptoms; feeling tired, loss of appetite, sleep issues and trouble concentrating. Studies show many people with kidney disease don’t realize they have depressive symptoms and usually don’t tell their physician how they’re feeling.
These symptoms and feelings are normal and don’t necessarily mean you’re depressed. However, if you’re experiencing these feelings for longer than 3-4 weeks, and it’s affecting your relationships and work, then you should talk to your doctor about options for therapy treatment. Depression in dialysis patients is very common and also treatable. Options include talk therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
Resources to Start Feeling Better
March is National Kidney Month. For more information on kidney disease and dialysis, please contact the National Kidney Foundation.
If you’re interested in speaking with one of our team trained in depression treatment, please contact us at info@riviamind.com, or book a teletherapy appointment directly on our website.
