Coping & Caring for Your Mental Health
Living with a chronic disease like IgA Nephropathy isn’t easy
It’s not like having a headache, cold or upset stomach that, while unpleasant, will soon pass. Instead, with IgA Nephropathy, you’ll need to:
- Spend time learning about it,
- Make certain life changes, depending on your kidney function and how you’re feeling; and,
- Take steps to manage it and protect your kidneys over the course of your lifetime.
Everyone deals with IgA Nephropathy differently
There’s no question that it can take a toll on your mental health at times. You may be flooded by different feelings – fear, sadness, anxiety, even anger – at various times, especially when you or a loved one are first diagnosed. Finding support and playing an active role in your care is an essential part of managing the condition well and preserving your mental health.
Yet too often the emotional and mental side of living with IgA Nephropathy isn’t talked about or routinely assessed during follow-up health visits.
- Some patients may hesitate to broach the subject, perhaps because of the stigma that continues to surround mental health or not wanting to be a burden or take medical attention away from their kidneys.
- Other people – even those who’ve been living with the condition for a long time – will tell you they struggle sometimes. Some feel crippled with anxiety every time they await their test results, fearing it may show their kidney function has worsened.
Still, we know long-term stress can affect your overall health
For example, chronic stress can raise blood pressure, lead to depression, and make it harder to eat healthy, exercise, and keep up with other things that can help protect your kidneys and manage the condition over the long haul.
Remember, it’s OK to have big feelings, but talk them through and don’t let them take over.
You may feel overwhelmed sometimes. But try to stay ahead of it. And remember, you’re not alone!
Be sure to speak up and ask for help if you need it.
Learning to recognize the feelings you have and manage them can help you feel better overall. Use the IgA Nephropathy Foundation’s Coping and Self-Care worksheet to help you:
- Tune into your mental health and coping and
- Broach the topic of coping and your mental well-being with your healthcare provider
Explore this featured topic section to learn more and find healthy ways to cope and support your mental health and well-being. Many of the things you can do to ease stress will boost your overall health too.
CALM App Benefit
Exclusive for IgAN Foundation Members
We’ve partnered with Calm to provide you with tools that can help you meditate, relax, focus, and improve sleep. Now more than ever, it’s important that we continue to find ways to manage stress and stay strong in the face of uncertainty. Whether you have 30 seconds or 30 minutes every day, Calm’s resources are designed to seamlessly integrate with your schedule and needs.
Your Calm subscription gives you unlimited access to their full library of resources at www.calm.com and in the Calm app. Become a member today.
Here’s a sneak peek as to what you can expect:
- 100+ guided meditations that cover anxiety, stress, gratitude, and much more
- The entire library of Sleep Stories which contains soothing bedtime tales that’s suitable for both grown-ups and children (new stories added every week!)
- Guided breathing exercises such as the Breathe Bubble
- Music tracks designed to promote focus, relaxation, and sleep
- Calm’s Masterclasses taught by world-renowned experts
- Brand new daily meditations and movement sessions as part of their Dailies series
TalkSpace Benefit
Exclusive For IgAN Foundation Members
Welcome to Talkspace
Talkspace is a digital space for private and convenient mental health support. With Talkspace, you are matched with a recommended, licensed provider based on your preferences, and can receive support day and night from the convenience of your device (iOS, Android, and Web).
How it works
Within days of completing registration, you can begin to exchange unlimited asynchronous messages (text, voice, and video) with your dedicated therapist. Live sessions can also be scheduled, depending on your plan. Therapists are encouraged to engage daily, five days per week, which often includes weekends.
You will continue to work with the same therapist throughout your journey. However, you’re always welcome to switch providers so you can find the perfect fit. Talkspace’s clinical network features thousands of licensed, insured, and verified clinical professionals with specialties ranging from behavioral to emotional and wellness needs, including:
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Talkspace can work for you. In a study of 10,000 member participants, 70% experienced significant symptom improvement and 50% fully recovered after 12 weeks of regular engagement with their Talkspace therapist.
