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From Fear to Hope
“Hope and Fear cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Invite one to stay.”
—Maya Angelou
A Patients’ Initial Fear
Hearing you have kidney disease is overwhelming. Many are not aware they have a problem until you receive a test that indicates a need to follow up with a nephrologist, or you “crash” or end up in the hospital. “Am I going to die?” This is what you immediately think because most people have little to no experience with kidney disease. Will I be able to work and support my family? Do I want my family and friends to know? I don’t want to be a burden. How will this change my life? I have no idea what dialysis is, I hear it is terrible! Will I need to be in the hospital all the time?
The Wellness Ambassadors went through this. Their thoughts and images are shown below.
Fear at the Beginning of Our Journey
What? This can't be happening!
What's going to happen now?
I had all this knowledge!
How could this happen to me?
Our Fear Changed to Hope
It's a new Day!
I felt confident that I could
handle my own treatment!
It changed when I started to
do it myself at home!
These are typical fears a new patient has about their
kidney disease and their future.
DEATH
TRYING HOME DIALYSIS
WATCHING
IN CENTER
EMERGENCIES
STARTING
DIALYSIS
FAMILY
REACTION
CHANGE OF
LIFESTYLE
MAKING THE WRONG
DECISIONS
DIAGNOSIS
DIALYSIS MACHINE ALARMS
STAFF MAKING
A MISTAKE
LOSING
SEXUAL
FUNCTION
ASKING FOR A KIDNEY
HOSPITALIZATIONS
VASCULAR ACCESS SURGERY
OVERWHELMING
INFORMATION
MANAGING
LOSS OF
INCOME
TRANSPLANT
REJECTION
AFFORDING
MEDICATION
FEAR
This is how you will feel when you transition to hope.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR OPTIONS
LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE
BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL
JOINING
SUPPORT GROUPS
ADVOCATING FOR YOURSELF
SPEAKING WITH A PEER MENTOR
HAVING CONTROL OF YOUR TREATMENT
WORKING WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE TEAM
SUPPORT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS
“DIALYZING TO LIVE, NOT LIVING TO DIALYZE”
HOPE
Overcoming Fear with Education
When you begin to receive the education and information you need, many of these fears will lessen. It helps to know that you have treatment options such as in-center hemodialysis, home dialysis (which includes peritoneal dialysis), and transplant. Once you understand what is happening to you, begin asking questions and become involved in your care, you will begin to overcome your fear. This is not to say that you will not have some fears, but it will empower you to have a better quality of life.
The Path from Fear to Hope
Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; a feeling of trust. Now you can be a part of your path to wellness and begin to feel more at ease. You will also be able to get back to enjoying parts of your life, spending more quality time with family and friends, travel and possibly returning to work. And at any time you are feeling overwhelmed, you can reach out to your healthcare team or the Wellness Ambassadors for help!
Check out our Patient Support and Education pages for more information to help you on your kidney journey.
Stress Reduction Through Breathing Excercises
Mental Health Resources
Renal Support Network is a nonprofit, patient-focused, patient-run organization that provides mental health resources and a peer support hotline called HOPEline.
Schedule a virtual visit with a Wellness Ambassador here.
