The whole-person health approach will help you and your healthcare team better manage your emotional well-being with dialysis.

Whole-person health draws from the teachings of the medicine wheel. It means thinking about all parts of your health and wellness:

• physical
• financial and social
• spiritual
• emotional

These parts are all connected and impact each other. It’s important to be aware of your personal needs in each part and to share that information with your healthcare team. Your healthcare team needs to understand who you are and what matters to you. Bringing forward what matters to you is important. Here are some examples of things you may want to talk about with your healthcare provider:

• “It’s hard to take care of myself because I’m always so tired from dialysis.”
• “I have muscle cramping, dry and itchy skin, and I’m always worried about my restricted diet and fluid intake.”
• “My symptoms are making it hard for me to do my job.”

• “I’m worried I won’t be able to get to all of my dialysis appointments.”
• “Dialysis appointments make it hard for me to travel and visit my relatives who don’t live close to me.”
• “I need my daughter with me as a translator.”
• “I’m not sure how I will pay for my rent, groceries, or vehicle payments this month.”

• “I’m lonely and have no one to talk to.”
• “I have a lot of stress and anxiety, and I’m not sure how to manage it.”
• “Ever since my friend died, I’ve been struggling with my feelings.”

• “It’s important that I follow traditional healing practices.”
• “How can I include my culture’s foods and family recipes in my nutrition plan?”
• “It’s important that my religious practice of fasting is respected and brought into my care.”