Mental health support

[GrahamVA]

I really need help with my mental health.

I suffered a heart attack in September 23. I have struggled with confidence and anxiety ever since.

[Happyrosie]

i expect you were given cardio rehab after your heart attack, and they would have given you leaflets or access to further resources to manage your anxiety as this is a common outcome after an episode of heart trouble - can you revisit these?

Another excellent resource is to go to the NHS website and put in “heart attack “ or similar and following the links through to depression and so on. Breathing techniques should be helpful.

Your doctors practice probably employs a social prescriber. There should be information on your practice leaflet online. They isn’t be able to indicate pathways you could follow.

[Cocoadonkey]

HI GrahamVA

My husband suffered from PTSD (as it was so out the blue) and anxiety after his cardiac arrest a couple of years ago.

We did find a couple of different local therapists and paid for some sessions, as the NHS waiting list can be quite long. They do have the talking service, where you can call them without referral though, which may be worth trying.

The local therapists were not too expensive, around £45 per session and he only had a few to get some coping techniques. Also had some hynotherapy as was struggling with claustrophobia badly since the cardiac arrest which has helped him a lot with relaxing.

You will get there, but getting help is a good idea. Good luck.

[Murderfan58]

Is there a group near you for people who have had a heart attack? Your GP or hospital should beable to help you. I have found that the best people to help are people going through the same thing as you are. As they know exactly how you are feeling . I have found counselling is useless unless the person is feeling exactly like you and how they coped. But counsellors don't understand and they never have anything helpful to say just what they have learnt from books .

[Alfie33]

What antidepressants are you on? Also get your doctor to get in touch with someone to talk to you over the phone, it helped me

[Thismorning]

Is there not a rehab class at your hospital ? They can restore your confidence and sharing with others it never seems so bad !

[heart_surgery]

Dear Graham,

I had an ascending aorta aneurysm, finally receiving surgery in 2002 in the middle of Covid. I am grateful to be alive but the recovery was very difficult for me, I undersatand how you feel. It took me 24 months to deal with the sense of panic and anxiety following surgery. I tried to get the hospital where I had the surgery to refer me to their psychological support, I was referred twice but didn't get any help. NHS did not always work properly. I tried to get help from the physical rehab nurses but that didn't work either. I got almost no physical rehab. I felt very much on my own and spent many months in fear and stress.

I felt like I was at risk of sudden death for months after the surgery and still had discomfort a year after I had the Dacron Implant to replace my Aorta. The surgery went to a very different plan than was hoped for.

I'm sorry you are going through this anxiety and stress, it is tough to go through it alone. I did receive a little bit of support from a mental health wellbeing practitioner at my local GP surgery but that was for other related debt problems and was abandoned half way through (funding). That did help me a bit, you have been through a massive assault on your body and it's understandable that this trauma is having a psychological impact. Pursue all avenues that you can and hopefuly you will get some support. Even if you can't find support let me tell you that it will take time but you will regain your mental strength, it took about 2 years for me to regain my mental and physical balance, a little longer before I was psychologically back again. As individuals our receovery is unique. You have support here. We will help you. All the best Tim

[Gigi70 in reply to heart_surgery]

I do relate to your post replying to the mental health and confidence theme post heart attack,

I am currently being assessed for the psychological side of the cardio rehab team, I’ve had Heart Disease for 11 years and besides Angina I had a minor heart attack in 2019 I’ve been on Fat free plant based diet and I cycle and do yoga.

Then on 15th July out of the blue - I had major heart attack and 3 cardiac arrests and I think PTSD followed / it’s not helped to have developed an irregular heart rate which they are checking out - I’m now told now to do anything not to do cardio rehab exercise untill the result of my 24 hour ecg. While I was in A&E when the HR became erratic a nurse who heard what happened to me said it was so horrific what had happened and my response was absolutely normal!

Don’t feel my life is permanent - everything seems temporary / I don’t sleep well as you can imagine - I know it’s time and therapy that will restore confidence but Ive a long way to go.

Michèle

[GrahamVA]

Thanks all for your kind words and suggestions. Foolishly I thought I would have only the physical challenges to overcome.

Finding out at 57 (slim/fit) that I have Atrial Flutter has really smashed my confidence at work and in my personal life too!

I kinda shunned the initial offers of NHS Cardiac Recovery Support because I actually thought that “I was different and the whole thing was just a blip that I would get over”

I’m not taking medication for my anxiety and mental demons; but I think an open and honest GP appointment will be a good place to start.. Just someone to speak to that understands would be nice!

[PinkKizzie]

Hi GrahamVA, a problem shared is a problem halved, and what better place to start than on this forum, everyone is caring and gives great feedback. Wishing you well. Take care.

[marypw]

If you phone 111, there is now an option to ask for mental health support. This is very new, but I presume it’s available everywhere.

[Partner20]

The most valuable thing you have done is to not only realise this but to have felt able to admit it. You are now on the road to obtaining the help you need and you will get brilliant support from this group whenever you need it.Don't ever feel weak for admitting you need help, although this is often rather difficult for a bloke to do. It has taken my partner, a robust ex-Army type almost 10 years to even consider the fact that he might need mental health support after many disturbing medical events during this time, the latest being a couple of TIAs. He has only reluctantly admitted this after prompting by a new GP and a new consultant, who both saw his situation immediately.

Ask for, and accept, any help available. Waiting lists are unfortunately long, but talking therapies are usually readily accessible, and, of course, there are many private therapists who can help, but make sure you do your research about them first. My partner still refuses to take the first step towards help, but you have already begun that journey. Good on you! Wishing you well.

[Rooksway]

Graham

So sorry to hear you are struggling. I can sympathise - I also believed (wrongly as it turned out) that I was pretty fit and healthy 62 year old, however I suffered a HA out of the blue in February 2024 out down to family genes!

After angio and stent and 2 nights in the local hospital I was discharged. Not one squeak from my GP practice to check up on how things were progressing and so I too felt as if I’d been set adrift. This went on for 6 months until, out of desperation, I contacted GP practice with random pains and not sleeping/panic attacks.

Saw a lovely nurse in my GP practice who referred me back to Cardio ward in hospital and some weeks later they have arranged for a follow up tests including a stress echo. They also referred me to “iTalk” which is the local NHS clinical psychology service for PTSD. I learnt that most NHS trusts have something similar that you can self refer. The alternatives are your local GP practice who may have clinical psychologist or paying privately (as the reply earlier suggests)

Ive had one session with a CS specialist and it helped put things into perspective so that I can at least get some rest. I understand this can be quite a common and very natural occurrence with such an awful shock, but I was reassured that it can be overcome given time and talking. Sometimes you just need to say out loud what your are fearful of and often easier to do this with someone outside your family

Hope you find some relief soon

Best regards Deb

[Furryears]

Hi GrahamVA you have taken the first step here now you need to speak to your doctor or heart nurses tell them how you are feeling, I had my HA & bypass in Feb 2022 and started to suffer terribly with anxiety and confidence amongst other feelings I mentioned this to the Cardio team too and the heart nurses I was under and between them and my doctor I got the help I needed some days couldn’t string a sentence without crying

My recovery for this started when I agreed to see a psychologist I learned different coping methods and things I could do to help myself when these feelings started to creep up on me

Give your doctor or the hear nurses a call tart the ball rolling

You don’t need to keep feeling like this

Good luck

[Jedi14]

But how is your overall heart health? Are you on the mend or facing after effects?

[RufusScamp]

It is so scary feeling your innermost part has let you down. All I can offer is the example of James Lovelock who had a heart attack in his 50s, and died on his 103rd birthday.