Faking Happiness

[WildIris]

I have brought myself out of AF by just deciding to feel happy for an hour or two. I smile and somehow bring on little surges of pleasure and banish negative thinking. Works better when I've been under stress.

[jeanjeannie50]

That's interesting and I know there have been times when I've done the same thing. It's surprising the effect the mind can have on our hearts. If you get upset when your heart takes off racing in AF it will only make the situation worse. Take your mind off it and you could soon be back in normal rhythm.

It has taken me about 14 of the 16 years I've had AF to realise this. It used to make me angry if anyone dared suggest it was my mind making attacks worse. I'd think what do they know and that they had no idea how bad my attacks were and theirs couldn't be as bad if they could put it from their minds.

Thank you for bringing this subject up.

Jean

[WildIris in reply to jeanjeannie50]

That's great. It may have to do with cortisol. I did read that PAF patients had 85% less afib when they self-reported their mood as happy. Here's the web address of the study (don't know how to make a link) yorkcardiology.co.uk/can-st... I also like a book called Happiness by Matthieu Ricard that says that happiness is essentially a choice and a lot of people are in the habit of thinking about ongoing difficulties that stress them instead.

[PlanetaryKim]

That's great you can do that. I can believe it.

[secondtry]

Given that the Vagus Nerve is a key player with AF for many of us, happiness is likely to be a key factor. I have not retired from the Social Enterprise I run for that very reason. I also record the 4 best things of each day in a diary.

[listerines in reply to secondtry]

Great idea! I have been keeping a gratitude journal for a while now, but think i will switch it up a bit with your approach

[Physalis]

I commented in an earlier post that something happened a year or two ago that made me feel happy. I went on feeling happy for several days because of it. At that time my AFib was held at bay for seven days instead of the usual two.

[Ronnieboy]

Good on you,people have forgotten how to be happy with the simple things in life.

[Windlepoons]

I totally agree. We are very powerful creators if we did but know and believe it. As I gradually learned more about this condition (mainly from this site) I calmed down a lot when dealing with an episode of AF and have noticed they don't last as long and I can even sleep through them. Worry doesn't result in anything helpful so why give it focus and attention. I must remember to sing "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" next time. It always cheers me up!☺️

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Windlepoons]

That song always makes me think of The Life of Brian. It nearly brought me to tears once when in our summer float parade the disabled people from the local Cheshire Home went by singing it. That sort of thing really makes you count your blessings.

[Windlepoons in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean. That must have been very uplifting bless them. I love that film.😄

[Tryfan]

Thank you. I think the bottom line is to try and avoid situations that you know will bring on stress. We are all different. Different situations affect people differently. Perhaps we should start a post- joke of the day.

[10gingercats]

This is admirable but very difficult to do during depression. I found it impossible.Several months of clinical depression suddenly lifted by itself within 24 hours with no 'thought' behind it.

[Steve101 in reply to 10gingercats]

When I’m feeling low, I try and remind myself that as night follows day there will be brighter days ahead.

[Steve101]

Keep it up !

[Shrek1974]

Hello Whats. That is a very interesting angle. Not sure a grumpy, cynical sod like myself could pull off such a lie to myself (think I’d irritate myself in trying this) but it is certainly food for thought. Doing something that makes you truly happy / euphoric etc…. I’ve long believed that laughter is a great medicine - more & more in recent years these things / old sayings & “cliches” seem to gain some clinical backing too.Long may you be happy. 😃Steve

[Crystalbowl]

Very interesting! Not sure it would work for my AF as permanent and asymptomatic. However, I am reading about chronic pain, which I also have, and what neuroscience is discovering about the brain’s role in chronic pain so I can believe it is possible to change things through happiness. The world would be a better place if more people were happy.

[doodle68]

Hi Whats it makes sense and is logical that if we smile and think positive and happy thoughts we will feel better and it can actually influence our health.We know from research that if we are angry and stressed, hormones are released that can affect our bodies and our hearts and that if we are happy our body also releases hormones that make us feel good and are beneficial to our health.

When I have an episode of AF (which I do every 10 days) part of my management of the episode is to lay down when I can I and to use measured breathing techniques (belly breathing) and visualisation to help calm my body and ensure a good supply of oxygen to my misbehaving heart. This doesn't terminate the episode but I believe it helps my body to cope better.

[robbiexuk]

Does this mean that I'm on the wrong meds and I need to be on the ones that make me happy (happy pills) ?