Asking for help

Emotional wellbeing means managing both pleasant and unpleasant feelings. Sometimes, the unpleasant feelings such as fear or sadness do not go away or may be hard to control. When this happens, it is important to ask for help.

We may want to isolate ourselves when we experience difficult feelings, but talking to others can make a huge difference. There are many people you can talk to.

These include:

• Your healthcare team

• Free chat lines and support groups

• A close friend or family member

Health professionals

• Your dialysis team such as your kidney doctor and nurses – can help connect you to mental health professionals.

• GP – Your GP can help connect you to mental health professionals. See Making a mental health care plan for more information.

• Psychologist – Psychologists are experts in mental health. They can help you to develop skills to manage stress and make positive lifestyle changes.

• Counsellor – You can talk to a counsellor about every day difficulties. Sometimes just the act of talking helps to see solutions you didn’t know were there.

• Social worker – Social workers can help connect you to information and services that suit you and your community.

If you’re worried about your emotional health, your GP or dialysis team can help connect you to the right person. Ask them next time you go in.

Chat lines and support groups

There are free telephone lines and support groups available to you. Below are just a few examples.

• Chat lines – One-to-one confidential conversations can help sort through your emotions and figure out the next steps to get help. Support lines such as Lifeline and MensLine Australia are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Kidney club – These clubs arrange in-person meet ups for people with kidney disease. To find one near you, click here.

• Online forums – Connect with others who have experienced or are experiencing similar things to you. For a CKD-specific forums click here.

• Headspace – Provides free online and telephone support and counselling to young people aged 12-25 and their families and friends. Click here.

A close friend or family member

Letting your friends and family know how you are feeling can be difficult. Even a small chat can make a big difference. Here are some tips for having the conversation. [1]

You can talk to them about talking:

• “I want to talk to you about something important. Could you just listen and try understand?”

• “I’m going through something. I feel uncomfortable talking about it but I’m hoping you’ll be able to help me out.”

Give them examples about what you are experiencing. They may have even experienced something similar:

• “Sometimes I feel so tired after dialysis that I don’t go to work the next day. My boss is not happy with me. I am so stressed that I can’t sleep which makes me worried that I will be too tired for work.”

Tell them how they can help you:

• “I feel tired sitting in dialysis by myself but I think talking to someone might help. Do you think you could call me around lunchtime to check in?”

• “I don’t like leaving the house even for dialysis. I know I need to see a doctor but I’m nervous about the appointment. Could you come with me?”

• “I’m feeling better. But once in a while, can you ask me if I am okay just to check?”

[1] Quoted from https://www.nami.org/find-support/living-with-a-mental-health-condition/disclosing-to-others