anxiety and depression

[jubemmeva]

has anyone dealt with amplified anxiety and depression even after their ablation? is it normal? i was never like this before my heart symptoms. if you have, how long did it take for it to all go away? my thoughts sometimes scare me. it has lessened a little since my ablation, but i’m not “back to normal” old me, yet.

[Hidden]

I’m no psychologist nor am I medically trained so not best placed to help directly but I wonder what you are feeling anxious or depressed about. Is it fear that the ablation might fail or concern that you may have done the wrong thing or something else which is worrying you. I think most people would experience a degree of anxiety, especially if they have any episodes during the 3/6 month blanking period but apart from that, I think the majority of us just enjoy the reduction in symptoms and gradually get on with life. Clearly this is not the case with everyone so it will be interesting to hear what others say……

[Hidden]

Hi jubemmeva, I notice you say 'amplified anxiety', so I'm guessing you might be prone to some anyway, even if not previously at this level. I haven't had an ablation and nor am I an anxious person, but I do know that depression and anxiety are not to be trifled with, so whether it's been caused by that, or a combination of things, you definitely should seek some professional advice to have this assessed and treated as necessary.Many people become over-anxious and even depressed when their hearts are involved, understandably. It's the number one vital organ after all. But arrhythmias are also wildly misunderstood and often poorly explained by the medical profession and sometimes learning more about their implications can be really helpful. Most often, although unpleasant to live with, they are not life threatening.

See if you can also ask yourself some questions to help find out what's at the root of this, as Flapjack has also suggested, but do talk to a professional, as depression and anxiety are also serious conditions which need proper attention.

[Singwell]

Yup! That's me too. Diagnosed with AF December 2019, ablation April 2021. Anxiety noticeably worse since ablation - so much so I thought I'd have to seek medication. Improved now. I think my AF was triggered by high ongoing anxiety re floods of 2019 ( we nearly copped it here) - then AF and the pandemic. These are all good reasons to feel anxious but if it gets out of hand it becomes a habit. And the habit is a chemical response and it can be crippling. After posting about this a few weeks ago I realised I've always had a tendency to anxiety - I've a high sense of responsibility and I worry a lot about whether what I'm doing is good enough etc. I've a successful career btw but that doesn't stop the anxiety! Anyway - one response to my post really impacted me - I got the book mentioned and started the exercises. It's made a huge difference already and I've been able to go to a friend's 70th, my niece's wedding and feel I can deal with anxiety when it visits. Check out my July posts.BTW after that long response - I'm inclined to agree with Flapjack - when you had AF it was a known. Post ablation you're into a new unknown and the uncertainty can make one more, rather than less anxious.

Take heart -;you don't have to stay like this.

[bassets]

Sorry you are upset. I think it's likely this is one of the lingering symptoms of ablation as you feel so weak and tired and worried. Hope you will be able to look at this as a door opening now. Best wishes 🙂

[BobD Volunteer]

I think you are perfectly normal in your response. The difference is merely one of magnitude. Some people are well equiped with tools to deal with anxiety, others less so and nobody should say what is right or wrong.

That said one needs to find those tools and if that includes short term chemical assistance so be it. Training is everything, however, and there are plenty of self help methods available so don't beat yourself up about it. Learn relaxation techniques, deep breathing and CBT and you will soon feel better I am sure.

[jubemmeva]

thanks for all your replies! i found this online. thought i was going crazy and needed to be on medication. some days are worse than others especially around that time of the month. 😔 apparently this is all normal though. i hope this helps anyone out there.

screenshot photo with highlighted texts

[CDreamer in reply to jubemmeva]

Interesting. I am convinced that anxiety/depression experienced by AF sufferers is mainly physical and not psychological and is connected to the Autonomic Nervous System which controls HR and many other unconscious bodily functions.

My theory only :- the ANS goes into alarm mode when in arrythmia and that’s what it’s supposed to do but often it gets ‘stuck’ in Fight/Flight/Freeze mode. That leads to the ‘what if’ worry thoughts which gets your into a ever downward spiralling feedback loop which needs breaking.

I found a two pronged approach worked best:-

1. working on improving vagal tone really helped - a) it’s something you can work on yourself which gives a sense of control b) it has a biological feedback which reassures and settles ANS. Breathing techniques, moderate exercise in green space, singing or humming or chanting, yoga/Ti Chi/ meditation, bathing in cold water/cold showers.

2. Work on worry thoughts - many approach’s but my favourites were Human Givens, MCBT - a form of CBT which includes learning meditation/relaxation approaches along with challenging the worry thoughts directly, EFT or Tapping which combines Western Psychology with ancient meridian based approaches.

Whatever approach you use, as Bob says training is everything so do seek 1:1 professional guidance, training and help. Self help only goes so far.

Best wishes CD

[Singwell in reply to CDreamer]

That's really interesting re the ANS and AF. Makes sense in view of the vagus. I feel really 'out of myself' when in AF. It's very disturbing. And I definitely felt like my sympathetic system was permanently fired a few weeks ago. I took yours and another forum member's advice and started to notice the habit every time it cropped up. Currently I feel I'm dealing much better with it. Not sure I'm ready for cold plunging though...

[I-a-n-]

Hi, although not yet at the ablation stage, I regularly practice mindful meditation and mindfulness in my daily life. i highly recommend this for anxiety/depression..it changed my life many years ago. Best wishes.

[irene75359]

Please don't let your anxiety and depression become the norm. In the depth of depression one often lacks the capacity to do anything about it and ends up sinking deeper and deeper into despair. If you have been feeling like this for a few weeks, see your GP for help.

My daughter had open-heart surgery some years ago and afterwards was found to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which was far more debilitating than the surgery itself.

There are some good pointers in the other replies, and what is obvious is that others on the forum have experienced what you are going through, so you are not alone.

Wishing you well, please come back and let us know how you are getting on.

[stoneyrosed]

Exactly how I feel since my ablation. I try to put a good feel on it but really I just feel I have completely lost my mojo, my zest, and my enthusiasm for life. I am still on meds and part of me is hoping when I eventually ( fingers crossed) I do come off the meds I will have my spark reignited . I know exactly how you feel let’s hope it just temporary. Good luck !

[Singwell in reply to stoneyrosed]

Glad I'm not alone - though not glad you've felt like this too. I'm just coming out of it and feeling that life can be good again. I'm still on my meds too but I do feel different than before ablation and now have more stamina. 18 weeks now.

[stoneyrosed in reply to Singwell]

Yeah I am about 18-20 weeks, I feel awful mentally but physically a little better, I am just going to put it down to either the beta blockers or the flecanaide or both. Hopefully we can come off them soon Singwell. 👍

[Elli86 in reply to stoneyrosed]

Hi Stoney and singwell.

I’m 2 weeks out from ablation and I would say my mental health is suffering as well but I’m putting this down to being cooped up in this bloody house most of the time and not being able to do anything physically. With no idea how long it will last. Would you guys not agree?

[stoneyrosed in reply to Elli86]

Hi Elli, I am always out and about every day so I cannot really put it down to that, it is much deeper than that some days worse than others. A realisation that one is not as young as once was is something that dwells on me and the constant awareness of the heart does wear me down.

[Ppiman]

My experience of both suggests that anxious and depressed people hang onto sensations longer than others. The nerves involved with these thoughts and with certain memories seem to "stick" for longer, and, possibly, more of them exist, creating both a deeper and longer response compared to the norm. Also, older sad or frightening memories surface far more easily in response to stimuli and stick for longer. It's said that anxious and depressed people dwell for too long on destructive thoughts compared with others.

Finding ways out of feeling anxious or depressed is far from easy and, probably, there's no answer that is universally useful. I haven't myself found any drugs that help, for example, but about 40% of sufferers do find help from drugs such as SSRIs or "talking therapies". They are lucky, or maybe they have a less severe or different form? I don't know. I am lucky that my feelings of depression are far less severe than some who suffer and don't involve, for example, any "negative" thoughts or create an inability to get on with life as normal.

What has helped is to carry on with life as normal; stopping destructive inner dialogues with a more positive one; finding diversionary thoughts and activities, and so on. Nothing shifts the low mood completely, however, it just "evaporates" of its own accord as and when.

I send my best wishes to you. It's no fun suffering so. I have insomnia, too, maybe that is at the heart of it for me, but it seems chicken and egg. Everyone, of course, has insomnia at times, as they do anxiety and a low mood. This means that some people think they know how we feel and what to do to cure it, occasionally implying at least that it's "our fault" and that there's something we are doing that is causing it. But no, it isn't like that at all. To suffer this way is different from normal, for sure. There is no easy way out, although Old Father Time is often helpful!

Steve

[barbharris1937]

I had my ablation in June and I have been blaming coming off bisoprolol [not off completely] for feeling so full of anxiety.

[CDreamer in reply to barbharris1937]

Beta Blockers are also Adrenaline blockers so that may also be a factor.

[Jetcat]

I think anxiety, low moods, worrying, are all part of afib for some people ? Especially in the early stages of trying to get your head around it all.! I was consumed with fear and constant worry for a long time. It was only over time that I started to feel a lot less worried about my condition especially when it finally sank in that it’s not going to kill me.

[secondtry]

I think it is normal and should be dealt with straight away. I had some post AF diagnosis (but haven't had an ablation) & overcome it by doing a bit of everything widely recommended i.e. reduce all areas of stress in your life, do one new thing you have always wanted to do, regular walks in Nature, saw a professional therapist (as recommended by my cardiologist) to talk about it, regular meditation & last but not least the spiritual side in my case prayer.

[dedeottie]

What brilliant help and advice from the folk in this group and all I can do is agree with all that has been said. I have have been prone to anxiety and more often depression since AF developed on what I think is a fairly mild scale compared to others but at the time it seems all consuming. I have practiced all of the techniques suggested at various times and can confirm that they did work to some degree and then usually pace of life takes over and suddenly I realise that zi am ok again. The problem with the pandemic has been that all the little enrichments of life were taken away and there were no diversions so it was ( and maybe still is) easy to sink further into the hole than we may otherwise have done. If things don’t look up it could be that you really do need some professional assistance. I hope things start to improve for you soon. X

[Singwell in reply to dedeottie]

Yes, without doubt the pandemic made it harder and especially for those new to AF.

[Oldiemoldy]

I had my ablation 4/19 and had a difficult recovery. The people here helped tremendously and I realized I wasn’t the only one with issues - fatigue, breakthrough episodes of AF, coughing.

I quit all alcohol, made myself walk and figured I’d get back to my old self. I’m in mid-70’s and didn’t expect to be 50 again…

Well, I didn’t get back but am trying to cope with new normal. I already was prone to anxiety and had some breathing issues due to acid reflux and mild asthma. And the ablation helped but AF returned this spring (now taking flecanide to good effect but it’s early days)

COVID-19 didn’t help with the anxiety of course.

I think AF kicks of realization of mortality even if it’s not life threatening. And the uncertainty about when an episode will arrive is hell for an already anxious type.

A good therapist, a dog, and making myself not isolate help. As does my connection with my church. Everyone is different.

I do wish you the very best.

[Shazmoz]

Yes, post my ablation I experienced obsessions. I obsessed about my breathing, about buzzing in my ears and a beating sound in my head. I told the AF nurse she said it was likely anxiety after all I'd been through and the pandemic worries. I also have a very responsible job. A few months on I don't have these thoughts now and I tell myself to look forward and be AF free. Good luck!