Mental health is as important as physical health. A stable emotional state is all the more critical when physical health is impaired. It is good to know the signs of emotional distress and when to seek support. How are you coping?
For 25 years, R. A. has been a patient in the dialysis program of the Nefromed centre in Piatra Neamț, Romania. We want to begin this article with her story. “Five years ago, I fell and fractured my pelvis. I was terrified of being paralysed. My fears intensified to such extent that I was later diagnosed with panic attacks caused by posttraumatic stress. I experienced a variety of symptoms such as anxiety, fear of darkness, fear of loneliness, insomnia, palpitations, hypertension. I also avoided being around other people.