Mental health

Body and mind are one: How do you deal with your emotions?

Grandmother and grandchild building a snowman

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.

Without cause, I had sudden occurrences of profuse sweating. I had lost my appetite. The fear of going insane was growing, a fear that I felt I could not share with anyone. The state of panic was almost permanent, making
it difficult to concentrate. My mind was constantly spinning. After the fracture had healed, I visited different medical practitioners. I went to see a cardiologist, a neurologist, an endocrinologist. I so wanted to get out of this state, I even talked with a priest. The clinic’s psychologist recommended that I see a psychiatrist, but that seemed too strange. A couple of days later, however, walking along a street, I noticed the sign of a psychiatrist’s cabinet. We shared the same first name. I took that as a sign and immediately decided to see a psychiatrist. What can I say? It proved to be the solution to my poor state.

A short while after starting the treatment advised by the psychiatrist, I began to sleep and eat again; I began to feel better and to see life with new eyes. I warmly recommend to anyone going through similar situations not to hesitate and talk to a psychiatrist. It may be difficult to open up at first but I firmly suggest this, because now I understand the importance of psychiatric treatment. Moreover, the psychiatric treatment may consist of just small things, which – like in my case – can make significant changes.”

Mental health can affect physical health

Mental health is just as important as the health of any vital organ in our body, heart, kidneys, lungs, or any other. Patients undergoing dialysis can experience different levels of emotional struggle. Their thoughts often revolve around side effects and consequences of chronic kidney disease. They may also be exposed to a broad range of psychological stress symptoms that affect their mental state and, implicitly, their general quality of life.

Through these symptoms, the most frequent of which are fears, the emotional sufferings described above can become more intense and complicated. It is also what happens when minor frustrations are magnified to burdensome dimensions. Such a development may generate problems of increasing degrees regarding psychological functions which may then even impair the patient’s treatment compliance.

Enjoy the small pleasures of life

Life is so much about taking pleasure in the little things around us. Listening to beautiful music, watching birds picking at seeds in the birdhouse in front of the window, investing oneself in a gratifying hobby or hearing the laughter of children – there is so much that can make us smile, bring some joy or a state of cheerful serenity. An awareness for moments like these is all the more important in times of illness. Take the time to see and hear what can warm your heart. Enjoyable moments are a balm for our soul.

How to discern mental symptoms

Take fears and recurring symptoms seriously, though, and do not hesitate to seek support. Consulting with a psychiatrist is just like seeing any other doctor. The psychiatrist evaluates the symptoms and mental state of the individual, and he is the only one capable of prescribing the medical treatment for improving psychological symptoms. A prolonged state of depression or anxiety can lead to sequelae and may result in the poor functioning or the dysfunction of some organs, as we have seen in the story of R. A. Most important of all: Stay optimistic! People around you are surely willing to help. Talk to your fellow patients, your nurses or your family and friends. You are not alone with your emotions.

References

Petronela Moroșanu, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, Nefromed Dialysis Centre, Piatra Neamț, Romania
Carmen Pop, Patient Care Manager, Fresenius Nephrocare Romania
Mitrofan, Iolanda – Psihoterapie: Repere teoretice, metodologice si aplicative, Bucharest, SPER Publishing House, 2008