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S3E3: "We Don't See the Depression or Anxiety", with Lupita Ayala
Description
When You're On Dialysis:
Lupita Ayala joins Tamara and Mike to share her experiences managing her mental health while navigating her kidney disease journey. After a urinary tract infection (UTI) recurred for two months, Lupita was eventually diagnosed with stage 3 chronic kidney disease. The three discuss how challenging it was for Lupita to accept her diagnosis and how having a nonjudgmental provider who took the time to explain her condition helped her take the steps needed to care for herself. Lupita describes her reluctance to begin dialysis and vulnerably shares how she struggled with depression and anxiety throughout her experience. However, she shares how leaning on her husband for support, opening up to others and talking with a therapist helped her through those challenges. She explains how receiving a kidney transplant came with a mix of emotions, including surprise, excitement and relief along with grief for her donor and anxiety about the potential of losing the kidney. They also talk about the stigma around seeking out mental health help and advise others to use resources available, even if they don’t have a personal support system.
More resources:
- Mental health and kidney disease
- Mental health and support after transplant
- New to dialysis
- Home dialysis
- Step Forward: Living Well with Stage 3 Kidney Disease
- AKF community resource finder
- Your Mental Health Matters (Dialysis at Home)
- Become a Kidney Health Coach
- Join our Advocacy Network
- Your kidney care team
- AKF blog post: Why community matters for kidney disease and mental health