Hey,
I am almost 12 years post transplant and the past year has been the hardest. The world is crazy and stressful but my anxiety has taken over. I am very grateful my physical health is good. Any suggestions for online support groups for transplant patients? Or anyone else having mental health issues?
Wow! I’m sorry to hear of anxiety. At 10+ months post, I’m currently in the same boat as you with tremendous anxiety. It seems like the pandemic takes a little more from me each day. Even though I received my vaccine booster, the delta variant scares me. My wife is a special education teacher. She takes lots of precautions as do I. Although I do leave the house for walks I have not had much social interaction for the last 18 months. My wife as well as my mother are the only ones around me who are Uber careful.
I’m do see my talk therapist and attend my Catholic Church from the “drive in” services my church offers. That helps a lot but it’s still not enough.
Setting positive vibes your way 😊
Thanks for the positive vibes. Its nice to have opinion of other transplant patients.
Mindfulness - Proff Mark Willians Oxford . Anything by him helps me. Roots the mind in the present . Anxiety tends to reside in the unknown future or past events that can’t be changed the fretting mind is not our friend it will never predict just another normal day and quietening it down is key. This is not always achievable and sometimes requires daily practise during about of anxious thought. I don’t always succeed because I’m human Jo
Thanks!!
I think I might have sounded bossy ? Apologies if I did
Stress is what we create to ourselves when we are put in a situation that we need to act or solve something. When uncontrollable, best to let go. When controllable, we need to create a plan for a solution. Anxiety is when we pursue an uncontrollable solution and the resolution is dependent on factors we cannot control.
Having said that, you need to differentiate what you are experiencing - stress or anxiety. Find the root cause, create an action plan, and follow thru. I find writing and talking to myself (alone of course) helps a lot.
Most of the time, I find that I don't have to do anything. Just knowing already put me at ease.
Additionally, you can find online DIYs on stress busters and anxiety busters.
Hope this helps.
At the beginning of the pandemic I had extreme anxiety it was out of control. I wouldn’t even leave the house. A couple things that helped me was I stopped watching all news completely. Only news I might see was on Facebook. This helped me a lot. I also started talk therapy too. I started exercising with weights and doing cardio to clear my mind and burn off alot of stress. Long walks also helped. Hope this helps
I agree with the last comment. Exercise and walking help the mind as much or more than the body. I also sleep better, which is so important for everyone. Healthy diet and low carbs and no sugars are so important for a healthy lifestyle. I find that I can control a lot in my life with diet, exercise and prayer/meditation, and healthy relationships. I wish you all the best as you progress with your life.
You have definitely come to the right place. All the answers were great. For me I feel less stressful when I have structure. I am retired and live by myself. My family is near so that is helpful. As with you the past year has not been great. I just went through a transplant in Feb. 2020 and covid hit. For 6 months my tv became my only entertainment. Eventually I got back into a routine of exercising. I had to give up working part time due to covid and my immune suppressed body. I had to create a new structure of activity like so many. I feel fortunate that I had a steady income. Many did not. I find concentrating on the good things in my life gives me hope and releases stress. I am still trying to develop a routine that keeps me busy during the day so I spend less time on dwelling what could have been without covid. But we live in a new world. I am sure other generations went through such periods of uncertainty during war and disease and that experience made them stronger and gave them the knowledge of how important other people are in their lives - a new sense of community and caring for others. Taking the time to give your personal attention and gifts that you have been given for the welfare of another also releases stress. Be your best self but realize there are others out there to help professionally and socially. Take care and we are with you.
Thanks for the responses its nice to hear others with the same issues. I have never had the chance to hear other transplant stories or even know if what im feeling is normal for transplant. All suggestions are helping and given me ideas.
Hi - I am also 12 years post & yep it has been a very stressful year. I’m involved with NKF on a local & national level. That’s a supportive organization & you might want to call your local office to see if there are support groups in your area. I’m not on FB but I am on Instagram (shannonannglynn) if you want to add me. I’d privately give you my number if you want to chat.
Great responses and ideas from others on how you are feeling. My spouse who had the kidney transplant Nov 2018 is actually handling the pandemic much better than I am. He is retired and I work full time at a university. Today students are starting day1 fall classes and its my first time working on the campus in 18 months. I am healthy and the sole person to oversee my husband's care when needed, which the first 14 mths after transplant he needed me alot due to problems with donated kidney. During the lockdown when I worked from home about 17 months, I was very anxious due to not having any coping skills I always had before like a counselor and more. The one thing that kept me from losing it was taking a mid day walk for 45 min no matter the weather. Journaling has always been my way to spill my thoughts onto paper, and watch less news and call friends that care about you helps. My spouse is more an introvert than I am and seemed to be taking it all in stride and staying careful in his behaviors when he'd leave the house, we both do that. I am very aware that I could bring this virus home to him without knowing it, so I get a covid test (free) where I work every Monday too. We have lived a very isolated lifestyle which is abnormal for us since he was discharged Dec 2018 from the hospital, so covid was a continuation with that.
You sound very on top of things. I am sure being diligent and resourceful will help things in your home to keep getting better and better !
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