mental health & heart conditions

[Lilbandit88]

hi all, hope your all doing well, I’ve been pretty alright physically since January but the depression has definitely began to creep up on me over the last 3 days. I guess I just feel angry at my diagnosis and the constant checkups. I know they’re trying to help but I’m having a rough time of it now, I was on 200mg of sertraline since August last year but I stopped a few months ago, don’t really want to go back on them.

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I think when we get any kind of heart diagnosis it can for many make us feel depressed as we go through all sorts of emotions feeling our body is letting us down and the meds we have to start taking as well as the tests we go through so to some degree this is normal we feel depressed

However if you have suffered with depression before something like this could make it even easier to trigger it again

I know you have said you took sertraline and stopped a few months ago this could be also adding to why you feel depressed as maybe you stopped to soon

Were they helping when you were taking them and if so why do you not want to take them anymore would it not be better to go back on them while you feel this way rather than struggling as you are now

I would give it some thought which might be a better option to take meds again for your depression or struggle and feel like you do now

Let us know how you get on x

[Cocoadonkey]

Hi there

My husband had a cardiac arrest 2 and half years ago out of the blue and was in shock for quite a while after.

He does get some anxiety and had PTSD as well, but he has had counselling and seen a hypnotherapist which all really helped.

Perhaps seeking some counselling to discuss the feelings would help you through this - as BEKind said, any heart issues are hard to deal with, but talking about your fears/concerns and getting sound medical advice from your cardiologist or GP will make you feel better in yourself.

Good luck

[scentedgardener]

May I ask why you don't want to continue taking sertraline? Is it because you have side effects, because you don't feel "right" on them, or because you are finding it hard to come to terms with the diagnosis?I was only 23 when I first needed medication for mental health, they didn't know as much about it then as it was 50 years ago. I had to contend with so many "friends" who had no knowledge or experience telling me not to take the pills and to just pull myself together.

I reasoned that if I had a long standing infection I would need antibiotics long term to combat it, there really is no difference. Sometimes we encounter a shock, or stress, or huge burdens, that we struggle to cope with, and we need a bit of help, like taking painkillers for a broken bone.

The best advice I can offer is to be honest and open with your medical professionals about your reservations, I'm pretty sure they will have heard it before, and could well be able to work through it with you.

I have had one or two setbacks over the years, but quickly dealt with, rarely needing medication.

All the best.

[Hidden]

I guess it is a judgement call whether these feelings are appropriate and feeling them is going to bring some relief in a few days or is it the depression creeping back up on you. Given the circumstances being angry seems healthy and something to expect along with being uncontrollably upset, distressed and disturbed. Live has changed and, while the appointments etc. are to make sure all is going as best it can, they are an extreme nuisance making it hard to plan from one week to the next or feel much control of life. There is so much uncertainty to bear and confidence waxes and wanes. Lots of people here talk about the emotional roller coaster they feel they are on. If you do think you are sinking into depression rather than feeling depressed in an appropriate way about how your life has changed then do consider the medication again. The general advice if taking anti-depressants for deep-seated , recurring depression is to take them for at least 1 or 2 years so that you get a protected period of not suffering with the depression and can heal from it before stopping them. It is difficult given that when you start them there will still be a period before they kick in to get through too.