Caring For Someone With Anxiety

[Hereware]

Is it possible for someone on dialysis to also suffer from anxiety? If yes, how do help them cope and how do you take care of them?

[kitkatz]

Anxiety and depression are both things to look for in dialysis patients.  I would ask for help from the social worker for resources in your areas.  Also online to help sites such as RSNhope.org, and ihatedialysis.com. There are many sites online that address anxiety.

Dialysis creates anxiety because you are putting you life into the hand of nurses and techs you may or may not know at the dialysis center.
Blood is involved.'
Toxins get into the brain and often changed the chemical balances which can bring on anxiety.
Let the patient talk it out.
Brain fog is common in dialysis patients.

[kristina]

Hello Hereware and many thanks for this caring and lovely question and I think it is completely normal for any dialysis-patient to suffer now and then from some anxiety before, during and sometimes after dialysis-sessions, because so many “things” could go wrong during dialysis-hours and so much could happen in a dialysis-center or at home-dialysis, i.e. : is everything as clean as it should be? How long do I have to wait this time in the center? I mention this because so many dialysis-centers (have to) provide for accident-emergency-patients, who always must take absolute priority, which makes for the other "regular" dialysis-patients to have to wait a little longer... Other questions include i.e. is my body well enough to “get through” the hours this time?  Is my BP going to be alright this time? Is there any possibility for a “BP-crash” etc.? Because of such possibilities it is a good idea to go to a dialysis-center with a relative or a good friend and I feel that I was extremely lucky that my husband was always there with me, caring for me, talking with the nurses/doctors etc. and that was so sweet of him and very comforting during my dialysis-years. His calming presence assisted me such a lot and he was most likely the reason for my lucky survival ...