As the year comes to a close, Psychonephrology reflects on a period marked by growth, helpful innovations and renewed commitment to the emotional lives of people affected by kidney disease. This year was not only about publishing content—it was about creating space for meaning, identity, resilience, and connection within the lived experience of chronic illness.

The re-launch of Psychonephrology.com in 2025 signaled a new chapter. With a refreshed platform and clearer mission, we sought to highlight psychological insight, coping mechanisms, and enhanced understanding of the psychosocial turmoil we may all encounter. A new widget allows for translation of the whole website to the language of choice. Our focus remained patient-centered, grounded in the belief that emotional well-being is inseparable from physical health.

Several reflections this year explored illness as a deeply relational and existential experience. In “Tuesdays with Morrie: A Psychotherapeutic Reflection on Illness, Connection, and Meaning,” we examined how vulnerability, presence, and open conversation can transform suffering into connection. Drawing from psychotherapeutic principles, the piece reminded readers that even in illness, meaning can be cultivated through relationships and emotional authenticity.

The emotional landscape of chronic illness was explored in “The Hidden Burden of Loneliness,” which addressed isolation as a common yet often invisible companion to kidney disease. By framing loneliness as a psychosocial risk factor—not a personal failure—the article called for greater attention to emotional connection as a therapeutic necessity.

We also examined the quieter, restorative dimensions of healing. “The Most Soothing Music Ever Recorded” explored how music can reduce anxiety and support nervous system regulation, offering a simple yet powerful adjunct to medical care. These moments of calm matter, particularly for patients living with constant physiological and emotional stress.

Loss and remembrance were honored in “Memorializing Patient Losses and Celebrating Life in Dialysis Units.” This piece acknowledged the grief experienced by patients, families, and care teams, while also affirming the importance of rituals that recognize life, relationships, and shared humanity within dialysis communities.

Lived experience remained at the heart of our storytelling. “A Day with Nightly Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD)” offered an intimate look into daily life with treatment, making the invisible visible. “Reclaiming Identity in Chronic Kidney Disease” addressed one of the most profound psychological challenges patients face: preserving a sense of self beyond diagnosis, and learning to integrate illness without being defined by it.

This year also marked an important expansion into video interviews with kidney donors, transplant recipients, and caregivers. These conversations serve both educational and emotional purposes—amplifying lived experience, fostering empathy, and reminding us that behind every medical journey is a human story of courage, uncertainty, and care.

As we look ahead, Psychonephrology remains committed to advancing compassionate, psychologically informed kidney care. We thank our readers and contributors for their trust, reflection, and engagement.

We extend our warmest wishes for peace, restoration, and hope during the holiday season, and for continued connection and meaning in the year to come.

— The Psychonephrology Team