No Doubt

“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” This quote from Sylvia Plath resonates with how I have felt a few times since first launching this newsletter. “Are people going to read this?”, “What will they think of what I write?”, and “Is this a waste of time?” are a few of the questions I have asked myself these past few weeks. This train of thought of course leads to writer’s block and me asking “What am I going to write about this week?” There have even been a couple of articles that were not completed until 2:00 am on a Monday night.

Yes, I know…I write about mental health and well-being. I understand how this is not a healthy thought process. I have also admitted that I am a work in progress. I am doing my best not to be a hypocrite. I am telling you this to highlight how even though I practice self-care and make the effort to work on myself, there have been times I have succumbed to that inner voice I know is not good for me. Attempting to reverse 40-plus years of programming in a couple of years is not easy.

The next question that followed all of these thoughts was “How do I move past this?” One answer for me is remembering my purpose. Why I am doing this being in front of my mind helps to dissipate any negative thoughts I may have. In addition, the daily conversations I have with kidney patients, transplant patients, those having mental health issues, and a few people who have other chronic illnesses keep me going and reinforces my self-efficacy. I believe in my purpose of making a difference and helping others. I believe in myself.

But wait, there is more. Reading and Listening. I read as well as listen to several podcasts when the opportunity presents itself. When overcoming self-doubt and the questions I ask myself when needlessly overthinking (about this newsletter or any other aspect of life), these two things have been indispensable.

With regards to purpose, I highly recommend the book “Ikigai - The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life” by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia. Ikigai is the Japanese term for a reason for living. “In researching this book, the authors interviewed the residents of the Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds — one of the world’s Blue Zones. Ikigai reveals the secrets to their longevity and happiness: how they eat, how they move, how they work, how they foster collaboration and community, and — their best kept secret — how they find the ikigai that brings satisfaction to their lives. And it provides practical tools to help you discover your own ikigai.”

When it comes to those questions such as “Are people going to read this?” and “What will they think of what I write?”, the book I think about that gets me to a proper mindset is “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” by Mark Manson. “Manson makes the argument, backed by both academic research…that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to run lemons into lemonade but on learning to stomach lemons better. Human beings are flawed and limited - “not everybody can be extraordinary; there are winners and losers in society, and some of it is not fair or your fault”. Manson advises us to get to know our limitations and accept them. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek.”

Self-belief or self-efficacy, a person’s belief in their abilities, their knowing they can achieve a desired goal or complete a task set before them, is what leads to their success. According to Albert Bandura, self-efficacy is “the belief in one’s capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to manage prospective situations.” These beliefs help to determine a person’s thought process, their behavior, and how they feel.

National Kidney Foundation

“The National Kidney Foundation is revolutionizing the fight to save lives by eliminating preventable kidney disease, accelerating innovation for the dignity of the patient experience, and dismantling structured inequities in kidney care, dialysis, and transplantation.”

This is the Mission Statement of the National Kidney Foundation. On November 16, 1950, the first meeting of the Committee for Nephrosis Research was called to order by Mr. and Mrs. Harry DeBold. Created as a response to Mrs. DeBold’s son, Robert Lee, having nephrosis, the name was changed to the National Kidney Foundation on September 21, 1964.

The National Kidney Foundation is devoted to bringing fair, equitable, and innovative treatment for kidney health to ALL patients by:

• Driving public action

• Advancing education and awareness

• Accelerating change

The NKF’s brand promise of “Kidney Equity for All” serves as the organization’s unwavering dedication in championing the fight for every individual affected by kidney disease.

To learn more about the National Kidney Foundation as well as information on understanding kidney disease, risk factors, diet and nutrition, treatment, transplantation, and research, go to kidney.org.

NKF Louisiana Kidney Walk - New Orleans

Throughout the year, the National Kidney Foundation hosts Kidney Walks around the country. “When you walk with us, you’re joining thousands of others across the nation to fund innovation in kidney disease research, advocacy and transplantation. Your walk builds hope for a future without suffering — for every person in the fight. Families facing kidney disease are relying on YOU to make every step count.”

Sunday, November 5th was the National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana’s Kidney Walk in New Orleans. It was the first Kidney Walk I have attended and it was an amazing event. I had the opportunity to meet with and speak to those affected by kidney disease including transplant recipients, donors and families as well as fellow volunteers and Board Members of the organization. Torie Kranze, National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana CEO, says “The New Orleans Kidney Walk is budgeted to raise over $50,000 to support the programs and services of the National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana. There are over 460,000 individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease and 6,000 individuals on dialysis in the state. People of color are at an increased risk of kidney disease but not because of genetics. Ultimately, CKD is a health equity issue that is often based on the social determinants of health. In Louisiana, we are working with leaders in healthcare, the government, and patient advocates to create a fairer system for all patients. For more information about how you can help our efforts, please visit kidneyla.org.”   

For those who do not live in Louisiana but want to participate in a Kidney Walk in your area, go to kidneywalk.org.

A Healthy Bite

Turmeric

A relative of ginger, turmeric is a plant that grows perennially in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia. Turmeric has a bitter and a sort of sharp taste. Turmeric is widely used in cooking and gives Indian curry its flavor and yellow color. It is also used in mustard and to color butter and cheese. Turmeric has been used in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory.

Curcumin is the main active ingredient found in Turmeric. Curcumin is a strong antioxidant as well as having anti-inflammatory effects. Antioxidants look for molecules in the body known as free radicals, which damage cell membranes and can cause cell death. They can fight free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.

Benefits of turmeric include:

• Lowers inflammation

• Improves memory

• Lowers risk of heart disease

• Helps fight depression

• Helps prevent cancer

• Helps to fight age-related chronic disease

Please keep in mind that there can be side effects associated with supplements as an article from Johns Hopkins states that turmeric supplements can interact with certain medications due to the high doses of curcumin. These include:

• Pain relievers - Indomethacin, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, or Acetaminophen

• Chemotherapy treatments - Camptothecin, Mechlorethamine, Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide

• Blood Thinners - Warfarin

• Immunosuppresive drugs - Tacrolimus

Using turmeric powder in cooking is something I have made a habit of doing, mainly because of its anti-inflammatory benefits. If you are considering taking turmeric or curcumin supplements, please speak to your doctor before doing so.

Mental Health Moment

I have written about various aspects of mental health and emphasized its importance and how we should all do whatever we can to ensure that we are taking care of our mental health and well-being. By making sure that self-care is a part of our daily routine, we create habits that will benefit our overall health.

What do we do when someone we care about is struggling with mental health challenges? It can be difficult to know how or when to approach them about this subject. Should you decide to take the step to speak to them, here are eight tips from the Mental Health Foundation UK:

• Set time aside with no distractions - Provide an open and non-judgemental space with no distractions.

• Let them share as much or as little as they want to - Let them lead the discussion at their own pace. Do not pressure them to tell you anything they are not ready to speak about. Talking can take a lot of trust and courage. You might be the first person they have been able to talk to about what they are going through.

• Do not try to diagnose or second guess their feelings - While you may be happy to speak to them and offer support, you probably are not a medical professional. Try not to make assumptions about what is wrong or jump in too quickly with your own diagnosis or solution.

• Keep questions open ended - Say “Why don’t you tell me how you are feeling?” instead of “I can see you are feeling very low.” Make every attempt to keep your language neutral. Give them time to answer and try not to ask too many questions.

• Talk about self-care - Discuss ways of reducing stress or practicing self-care and ask what, if anything, they find helpful.

• Listen carefully to what they tell you - You do not have to agree with what they are saying, but by showing you understand how they feel, you are letting them know you respect their feelings.

• Offer them help in seeking professional support and provide information on ways to do this - Let them make the decision on whether or not they want to speak to a professional.

• Know your limits - You have your own limits on the support you can provide. If they do not want to speak to you, do not take it personally. Be open and honest by telling them you care. If you believe they are in immediate danger or have injuries that need medical attention, take urgent action to ensure they are safe.

Please remember, I am not a medical professional, nor is any of this medical advice. I am just out here living A Kidney Life.