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How I Cope During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2024-03-28T20:59:11-04:00April 21st, 2021|Categories: Mental Health, The Kidney Citizen|Tags: |

By Nina Kasl, dialysis patient This pandemic has us isolated from things we used to enjoy! We are unable to visit our friends and families. It is not going to go away anytime soon. Just taking walks by myself was not making me good at all. I knew then I needed to do something. That something had to be done. I was tired of the isolation I felt. I needed something that I could do on my own or with the immediate family. I made an idea sheet. It showed me what I can do. I found journaling as a way [...]

Join Us by Telephone for Our New Program!

2024-03-28T20:59:15-04:00April 19th, 2021|Categories: Mental Health, Patient Support Group, Quality of Life, Support, The Kidney Citizen|

By Kathi Niccum, EdD, Education Director In March we launched our first Patient Support Group meeting by telephone. Having a support group has been one of our goals for years and we are happy to announce it is now a reality. We chose to have the group meet by phone instead of online in a Zoom meeting because we think most people use the telephone. And we want the support group to be available to all patients at any stage of kidney disease and to their families. On the second Tuesday of each month, at 3:00 pm Eastern, you can join [...]

The COVID-19 Vaccine is Finally Here. Learn How to Manage Anxiety and Impatience While You Wait

2024-03-28T20:59:19-04:00April 19th, 2021|Categories: Mental Health, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|Tags: |

By Kirsten Weir It’s been a long and stressful pandemic year. Now that COVID-19 vaccines are becoming available, many people are wrestling with a new burst of emotions: From fear and skepticism to excitement and impatience. “There is such a range of emotions around the vaccine rollout,” says Elizabeth Christofferson, PhD, a pediatric psychologist and clinical director of transplant psychology at Children’s Hospital of Colorado and an assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “Those emotions are normal and valid — and you can find ways to cope with them.” Easing Concerns About the Vaccine Guidelines from the [...]

Podcast: The Elephant in the Room – Fear & Uncertainty During COVID-19

2024-03-28T20:59:25-04:00March 4th, 2021|Categories: eNews, Mental Health, Support|Tags: |

At the end of last year, dialysis patients were invited to submit their questions about real-life issues during COVID-19. In this first episode of the new podcast, The Elephant in the Room, experts respond to patients’ letters, including Dale Lupu from George Washington School of Nursing, Liz Anderson, a long-time social worker (both of whom were presenters for the Ed Center’s January 2021 webinar), and a kidney patient with “lived experience” John Brandon Bayton, Jr. You can listen to the first episode of the podcast on Buzzsprout here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1642372/7476073-episode-1-fear-uncertainty-during-covid-19

Join Us for Our New Patient Support Group!

2024-03-28T20:59:27-04:00February 11th, 2021|Categories: eNews, Mental Health, News & Events, Patient Support Group, Support|

In March we will be launching our first Patient Support Group meeting by telephone. Having a support group has been one of our goals for years and we are happy to announce it is now a reality. We chose to have the group meet by phone instead of online or in a Zoom meeting because we think most everyone has a phone. And we want the support group to be available to all patients at any stage of kidney disease and to their families. On the second Tuesday of each month, at 3:00 pm Eastern, you can call and join in [...]

Having a Kidney Transplant During COVID-19

2024-03-28T20:59:40-04:00November 27th, 2020|Categories: Additional Resources, Fact Sheet, Kidney Transplant, Mental Health, Stress Management, Support, The Kidney Citizen|Tags: , |

By Jewel Edwards-Ashman I started the year 2020 anticipating that I’d enter kidney failure and have to undergo my second kidney transplant. But I didn’t expect to start doing home dialysis and eventually have transplant surgery in the middle of a pandemic. Transplant surgery in ordinary circumstances comes with a high level of stress and anxiety. Having a kidney transplant during a public health crisis only exacerbated those feelings for me. To reduce my stress and manage my emotions, here are three things I did: I prioritized self-care. Most Americans, even those who aren’t living with chronic illness, have been experiencing [...]

COVID-19 Mental Health Toolkit

2024-03-28T20:59:46-04:00October 29th, 2020|Categories: Additional Resources, eNews, Mental Health|

If the global pandemic is starting to negatively impact your mental health, there is a resource that can help you better understand and cope with the feelings you are experiencing. This toolkit includes suggestions for: increasing public awareness, building community capacity, using telemedicine and how to stay ahead of the potential emerging issues. Check out the toolkit.

Coping with Chronic Illness During COVID-19: How to Live Well in the Context of Stress

2024-03-28T20:59:51-04:00September 9th, 2020|Categories: Additional Resources, eNews, Fact Sheet, Mental Health, Stress Management|Tags: |

By Elizabeth Steinberg Christofferson, PhD An increasingly vital aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic is how the pandemic impacts our mental health, overall well-being, and how we cope with the pandemic, especially as it continues on for a longer period than we may have anticipated or hoped. This article provides psychoeducation on the connection between stress, chronic illness, and COVID-19, tips for managing anxiety related to these stressors, and resources for further support. Stress During COVID-19 and Symptoms to Look Out for COVID-19 adds to already present stress that impacts patients and families on many levels in terms of their medical and [...]

Supporting Your Health and Wellbeing Before, During, and After Kidney Transplant

2024-03-28T20:59:52-04:00September 3rd, 2020|Categories: Additional Resources, Fact Sheet, Kidney Transplant, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Physical Health, Stress Management, Support, The Kidney Citizen|Tags: |

By Elizabeth Steinberg Christofferson, PhD and Leah Grande, MA Preparing for and receiving a kidney transplant, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, can be an uncertain and overwhelming process. This article discusses tips to promote positive mental and physical health for yourself or your loved ones. Preparing for a Transplant There are many different emotions associated with deciding to go on the transplant list, and all of these feelings are normal and valid! You may feel excited about the potential for improved health and energy, fewer restrictions on what you can eat and drink (although you still want to eat a [...]

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