Embrace Life While on Dialysis
How to Stay Motivated While Enduring Years on Hemodialysis
Oct 19, 2009
Entering a hemodialysis center for the first time can be a daunting experience. Curiosity, anxiety, sadness, anger, grief, self-pity, discouragement, and depression can all take its toll on any person finding themselves on the patient-end of the dialysis process. So how does anyone endure this long journey and maintain ones zest and zeal for life? Finding the motivation through involvement in everyday activities may be the solution.
Patient Motivation During Dialysis Treatments
It’s important for kidney patients to maintain a positive attitude in order to reap the full benefits and endure the long dialysis process. Staying motivated is all about frame of mind and attitude. Some of the things kidney patients can do to stay motivated and to keep a positive attitude during their hemodialysis treatments are:
- Watch television
- Start a journal
- Read
- Write
- Meditate
- Socialize with other hemodialysis patients
- Draw
These are all activities which can be executed using only one hand. A person may choose to do one of these activities or s/he may choose to alternate several activities from day to day. Remember, choosing an activity that requires only one arm is important, as the patient’s access arm will need to remain motionless (during dialysis treatments) in order to minimize complications with one’s vascular access and to receive optimum blood filtration and cleaning.
Patient Motivation Between Dialysis Treatments
Below is a list of things kidney patients can do between their dialysis treatments to help them cope with the everyday stressors associated with having kidney failure.
- Embrace your faith.
- Develop and maintain a good support system.
- Surround yourself with positive people.
- Go back to school.
- Follow doctor’s orders.
- Learn all you can about your treatment.
- Join a non-profit organization.
- Become a volunteer.
Getting Up and Starting Again
Ultimately, the determination to go on must come from the patient and it helps when the dialysis patient embraces dialysis as an opportunity for their body’s daily resurgence. This mindset makes it easier for the kidney patient to manage one’s life on a regular basis.
Dialysis patients do themselves a great disservice when they view dialysis as a liability instead of an asset. In doing so, they rob themselves of the ability to truly live and enjoy their life, in spite of having kidney failure. Acceptance accompanied by a positive attitude enables patients to function at their best. Kidney patients should keep personal events and circumstances in proper perspective and do their best to embrace the special gift of dialysis.
Point to Ponder
This article is intended for informational purposes only. It does not take the place of a doctor’s advice. Before making decisions regarding your health, seek the consultation of a well-trained, medical professional.
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