The Hidden Burden of Loneliness: A Psychosocial Lens on Chronic Disease and Healing
Loneliness is not simply a social inconvenience. It is a biological stressor that activates the same neural pathways as physical pain.
“I Didn’t Know My Kidneys Were Failing”: Keâna’s Journey Through IgA Nephropathy
Keâna’s story is one of confusion, fear, and ultimately, resilience. Despite regular medical checkups, there were no warning signs loud enough to prepare her for what came next — hospitalization, medical uncertainty, and, in 2024, the start of dialysis.
Is Our Brain Power Declining?
In recent years, both teens and adults are reporting more frequent problems with: Concentration, Learning new information, Problem-solving, Mental clarity or “brain fog”.
Before the sun rises
At the dialysis center, the machines greet me with their steady hum. They are both enemy and ally. I sit down in the chair, offer my arm, and feel the sharp pinch as the needles go in.
The Overlooked Trauma of Medical Illness — and Why Gender Matters
medical illness is not merely a biological event; it is also a potentially traumatic one. And in nephrology, where patients confront bodily invasion, loss of autonomy, and the erosion of long-term certainty, it often is.
Violence and Abuse in Dialysis Units: An Urgent but Overlooked Crisis
When we think about dialysis units, we often picture a place of healing — where patients with kidney failure receive life-sustaining treatment several times a week. But behind the scenes, these environments can sometimes be tense, emotionally charged, and even unsafe. Abuse and violence, whether directed at staff or patients, are serious and growing concerns [...]
The Hidden Link Between Stress and Chronic Kidney Disease—And How Mind-Body Practices Can Help
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects millions globally, but what often goes unnoticed is how deeply it’s intertwined with chronic stress.
How Transitional Units Support Kidney Patients During One of Life’s Biggest Changes
Starting dialysis is more than a medical event—it's a deeply emotional, psychological, and life-altering transition. For many patients coping with chronic kidney disease (CKD), beginning dialysis marks a new chapter filled with uncertainty, vulnerability, and fear.
Dialysis and me
Twelve years ago, my kidneys were so bad, I was told by a nephrologist that I should be on a transplant list. As it turned out, I had ten years to get ready.
Dialysis milestones: celebration or reflection?
I had a discussion recently with a patient who was approaching their one-year mark of dialysis treatment. They shared with me that some people referred to it as their anniversary, which made them feel very uneasy. I explored this topic further with them
Burnout and Nephrology: Addressing a Crisis in Healthcare
Burnout manifests in various ways: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of efficacy. Emotional exhaustion—the feeling of being drained of emotional resources—is the most significant predictor of burnout.
Tools to manage anxiety and worry
Whether you are a patient or a caregiver, dealing with a serious health condition can bring uncertainty, worry & anxiety.
Distraction: “The Meditation Goldmine”
The number one complaint from those who struggle to meditate is that they can’t stop thinking. Jay Michaelson, teacher and editor at Ten Percent Happier and author of six books on contemplative practice, has heard it all before. However, according to Michaelson, all this talk about thinking and meditating is just a myth: “You don’t need to stop [...]
World Mental Health Day
Our website, Psychonephrology.com, was founded with the hope of bringing mental health to the forefront in the medical arena. In the majority of cases, patients with a chronic illness are treated for their physical symptoms, and rightfully so. But during this period of consultations, lab tests, and treatments, the psychological aspects of the disease are [...]
Audiotherapy as a method of psychological patient support
For 10 years, this team of psychologists, educators and psychiatrists has been engaged in research on the impact of audiotherapy on the psychological state of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Starting on hemodialysis, patients face a number of difficulties. It becomes necessary to change the usual routines of life. Favorite foods may not fit the new requirements of treatment, social [...]