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.
The Role of Clinicians in an AI-Driven World
What was once a tool to assist clinicians has now become a partner—sometimes even a driver—in decision-making, diagnostics, and system-level management.
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
Two-way life: A caregiver’s story
I walked out of the doctor’s office, in a trance, almost forgetting that my fifteen year old, beside me, had walked through the very same door with me. The doctor had said, “Your son’s kidneys are failing!” During the fifteen-to-twenty minutes of intense conversation, the doctor had talked extensively about chronic kidney disease. Slowly he [...]
35+ Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Team
The sudden news of kidney disease can come as a shock for some, making it difficult to process the information. There may be instances when you want to know more but seem lost in the whole web of advice and multiple clinicians who are now involved. We wanted to provide you a checklist of questions [...]
Webinar: CKD and Mental Health
Diagnosis of any chronic illness like kidney disease can be a very turbulent time for any patient. The information and diagnosis may feel overwhelming and the patient might feel at a loss in connecting with his family, friends and even healthcare team. What is it like to live with a chronic kidney disease, how does [...]
In Conversation Series
Janet Wright with Dr. Gavril Hercz As a nephrologist and psychotherapist, I believe it is important to shed more light on the emotional impact of chronic illness, like polycystic kidney disease (PKD), on patients and families. Last year, during the “In Conversation Series”, we shared the 2018 Toronto PKD scientific conference video, in which Ms. [...]
Year 2019 in a nutshell
As we approach the year-end, Team Psychonephrology would like to thank you all for your continuous support and encouragement throughout our journey together. We would like to recap some of the topics that received the widest viewership. At the beginning of this year, we started a new blog series, “in conversation series”, where the patients [...]
Non-verbal messages : They are everywhere
Taking your cue from non-verbal communication Last week, during my visit to the dialysis unit, I came across a nurse who was displeased with a patient. On further conversation, she explained that she was disturbed by the manner expressed his dislike of her. This patient always wears T-shirts with strange quotes indirectly aimed at her. [...]
How to Sleep Better: 10+ steps to get a good night’s sleep
How to Sleep Better A sound sleep does wonders for your mental and physical health. Not sleeping well takes a serious toll on your health and drains your energy. Getting a perfect sleep can prove a struggle for many. […]
Think like an Elder
Thinking about aging often brings to mind physical transformations: the weakening of bones and muscles, the slow fade of energy, the aches, and the pains. But as our bodies change with age, so do our minds. It’s true that many elders experience some level of memory loss, a series of mental changes known collectively as [...]
“I Don’t Want Dialysis” – Living with a Mother’s Wish
I still vividly remember her last night here. She wasn’t fully conscious. Just enough to keep pulling down the face mask providing her with oxygen and opening her eyes to stare at me, before she resumed dozing off. I have no idea if she knew I was there. Yet, I still sat at her side, [...]
The Trauma of Dialysis Initiation
We are happy to announce that Dr. Gavril Hercz’s article is published, in the Perspective section of JASN October 2017 28: 2835-2837. The link for the article can be found here. http://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/28/10/2835 "The trauma of dialysis initiation" discusses at length the psychosocial impact of serious medical illness, such as kidney disease, which affects not only [...]
Beyond the reception desk
The clinical reception area or the reception desk, be it in a clinic or hospital, is the first and last place that a patient encounters during their anxious visit. Thus it has a major role in imprinting a positive or negative impression, while also influencing the dynamics of the encounter while there. The receptionists not [...]