Has anyone had terrible anxiety since having a heart attack? Any tips on how to cope.I've recently had a PFO closure and have regressed to how I felt last year after suffering a heart attack. Finding it really difficult to cope at work (although currently working at home).
Feeling much worse since the proceedure with fatigue and very tearful!
Love to hear from anyone who understands - haven't felt at ease to talk with family.
Hello 
I suffered with anxiety before my heart attacks which resulted me having a triple Bypass and am still struggling a few years later it is like it takes over my every thought
I think we regress as it feels such a shock that we see it as our bodies have let us down and then we get that thought even after treatment will it do it again and so we start thinking back on everything
It is really hard but sometimes when needed I think I would look at having some Counselling or therapy to try and help this has helped so many if you find you are struggling so much
I have so many issues going of around Mental Health so it starts to get really comlex for me but for others there is every good chance with the right support you can move on from how you feel at the moment
One thing I try and do is all my negative thoughts I try and turn them round to positive ones
Your body has been through a big ordeal and it will take time to adjust and as much as your body has been affected and needs time the impact on your Mental Health can be just as bad if not worse and needs time to so be kind to yourself try and start writing down any little positives on how well you have done each day and when that anxiety starts look how far you have come
I am sure others will come and give you some good advice when they read your post and let us know how you get on x
Just over 20 years ago I suffered from Clinical Depression. I found it difficult to talk to friends or family about it as the result was often to be told "Pull yourself together". I was lucky that as my quality of work deteriorated, my line manager got me some professional help. I'd seen my doctor but just been prescribed Seroxat which didn't help.
The counselling sessions explained what was happening to me and how to reverse the problem and recognise the symptoms in future.
I spent more than 6 weeks in hospital recently, confined to a ward to avoid infection prior to an operation. The anxiety started to descend into depression and I needed to find "positive" things to do in order to reverse the trend. One of those was going outside. Initially, the doctors were dead against it but eventually agreed and although the weather made it impossible at times, even a short "escape" boosted my morale.
Talk to your doctor and ask to be referred for help.
hello I’ve suffered from anxiety and depression more since I had my last operation 10 weeks ago. I cried for weeks afterwards just being scared to do anything. I already had a therapist before hand pretty much for the same reason so I continued to see her as I understand talking to friends and family isn’t the easiest at all.
I think the main thing that has gotten me through it all is having my 10month old baby to look after as my partner soon had to return to work after having my operation so I basically had no choice but to get on with the fears which has done me the world of good.
Having a morning routine has helped me out too, I try to meditate which helps calm me down before I start the day.
I hope you get sorted as I know how hard it is ❤️❤️
hi there
My husband had a cardiac arrest out the blue 2 years ago and suffered ptsd and anxiety. It is very normal due to the shock.
Also he was on ramipril which can cause anxiety according the leaflet. He had now changed to Losartin which did help a lot.
Good luck. It will get better.
Yep!! I get it. I had a STEMI almost 3 years ago ( I also needed a cardio version 3 months after my heart attack) at first the anxiety didn’t creep in but by 18 months I’d developed generalised anxiety and had my first intense anxiety attack. I wasn’t and am not worried about dying ( I had a very good near death experience as i had a cardiac arrest). I’m left with bits of some arrhythmias and reduced ejection fraction.
Anyway I decided on counselling which I would recommend. My family didn’t really understand and thought I should just be accepting of the changes in my life but I’ve always found them very frustrating.
The counselling was helping but the anxiety was aggravating my arrhythmias ( PAF NSVT SVT), so as I’ve got heart muscle damage from the event I discussed medication with the electrophysiologist and he agreed he felt it would be best for me so my arrhythmias might be more stable ( they want to avoid anti arrhythmiics after a heart attack).
He went and researched which one would be best with the medication I’m on and came back with sertraline ( nothing is risk free in life but he said this was the safest for me). So I’ve been on it now for about 15 months. I’ve kept it on the lowest treatment dose. It’s given me my life back I still am aware of my anxiety but it’s put me in a place I can manage it. My arrhythmias are stable 🤞and I can be’me’ again.
Sertraline can make the anxiety worse for a few weeks when you first start in and it certainly did which was awful but then when my body got used to it it’s helping.
SianiWallis
Hi, I have anxiety, and felt low after Pacemaker. Actually I have anxiety on/off for a while, I have mentioned on previous posts that i am a believer in Flower Essence Remedies, I use Dr Bach, Crystal Herbs, and Australian Bush Remedies.
Dr Bach - Mimulus and aspen for anxiety (Holland & Barrett, Baldwins, Boots)
Crystal herbs - Inner Calm (on line)
Also helps to talk, friends and family will be supportive, I tell anyone who will listen, everyone seems supportive. Also I regularly go to Pilates classes, again helpful.
Good luck.
Try not to worry Sian. I had a mild heart attack, and feel fine now. Are you seeing a Cardiologist? From Rabbit 55.
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