Hi anyone else suffering badly from this? It's been five weeks since it happened. All I do is worry every day I don't feel in control of my life at all any more. I thought I would start to feel better but I don't. Is it worth it?
Depression since heart attack - British Heart Fou...
Depression since heart attack
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PositivityForAll
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Hello, firstly yes it is most definitely worth it. My situation is different to yours but I do understand your struggle. Please reach out to someone like the British Heart Foundation and talk to them. The emotional recovery from anything pertaining to your heart is just as important as any physical recovery. Talking to your doctor or cardiologist may help too. They will understand and help you. You also have a whole community here who you can reach out to, even if it's just to have a rant or share your feelings and emotions. You have taken the first step with your post so well done. Good luck and take care
Dear Knavesmire
I have recovered totally from open heart surgery. The fantastic surgeons and medics spent several hours saving my life and there is no trace of depression etc etc relating to heart surgery. It took two years to physically recover then another year whilst I realized I was 100% over the surgery.
So please hang on in there until you get a super quality of life.
Five weeks is no time at all. I took 14 weeks to get physically back on song. But I did feel a little better every two days.
Please have faith in yourself. It’s a new phase in your life and you can overcome depression given time.
Best wishes
Sooty
Yes, it's a normal reaction but unfortunately all we are offered after any life changing heart diagnosis are anti-depressants or talk therapy. The emotional impact can be just as dramatic & as debilitating as the physical.
Exercise is supposed to help because when we store up unused energy it causes anxiety & depression, over thinking is not good for us,
but if we're mentally or physically exhausted, suffering from severe fatigue, as I am,
or just frightened that over exertion during exercise might do us harm, what are we to do?
If you do have the energy I'd get as much exercise as possible but don't over do it, we're supposed to be able to talk whilst exercising without becoming too breathless.
Talking therapies can be very powerful - don't knock 'em. Depression and anxiety often go together and talking it out can certainly work.
Be aware that some of the drugs you may be on (especially beta-blockers) may lower your mood. As Knavesmire27 says, talk to your medical team about how you feel. They may be able to help and they'll certainly have heard similar concerns before.
As Churchill said, KBO (Keep Buggering On).
quite simple really…you can look at it two ways….negatigively…where you let it get to you…or you can say fuck depression…I’m alive , my life has changed…I’m not going to sit on my ass but change things…
Like your diet….walk everyday for 30 mins….get checked twice a year with your cardiologist…if in doubt go to to A&E….take up a new hobby …what makes you laugh…go to a comedian show….buys comics like when you were a kid….
Do a kool challenge….walk the Camino de Santiago….am I overweight….then lose it….
The world has changed your alive! Embrace it
Glad you don't work for the samaratins. Congratulations you were able to fight it. But not everyone has that strength. Have empathy with others struggling.
I agree.
The physical side of things can take a while but in my experience the mental side took a long time i was always worried about it all happening again it was in my head all the time , i Spoke to the rehab nurses and they where brilliant . It still took a while to get to the stage im at just now. i had some really dark days, but it definitely gets better now. im living with my new normal . Im back working, but talking about how you're feeling is a must . I hope you will be feeling in a better place soon . All the best .
Two years ago l had a Stemi H A, when l came home from hospital l felt tired and depressed and all l could do was cry and think about how much longer l had left to live. I just want you to know that with every day that passes you will become stronger and more positive and by following a good diet and getting some exercise and speaking to the right people for any advice that you need. I wish you all the best and please believe me it does pass and l promise you will definitely feel better X
Hi there had my heart attack at 32 less then a year ago and now im back to work ... but sometimes I still cry myself to sleep...coming from someone whose had a very very small positive supportive system literally made of 1-3 people! It is definitely its worth it I've been where u are where I thought it would never get better time is a great healer and the best thing i did was distance and or cut off myself from everyone that made me feel more shit about sistuation and werent there to physically or emotionally help or support but just throw around hurtful words!!!! And only engage with ppl commited to uplifting me..... ... I would advise investing in therapy ... taking walks, doing the things b4 u did that made u happy and most of all be KIND and patient to urself it will never disappear ur heart condition but u can learn to live with it and everyone's timeline of healing is different and remember healing is linear .... some day 10 years from now u may feel as sad and vulnerable as the day it happened and that's OK give urself grace always ❤️
I had an HA and emergency angioplasty in December with a diagnosis of cardiac artery disease and no chance of being of my drugs cocktail for life due to a very strong family history. ( grandfathers died at 36 & 52 of heart attacks / heart disease and I’m 49).
This has been really difficult to process and I’m still having physical issues even now that scare me when I overdo it BUT I am alive and you just need time.
It does get better but just make positive changes in your life. I make sure that I walk at last 30 mins every day, I’ve lost weight, I’ve changed my diet completely. I’ve concentrated on what I can control and you should do the same.
Get up everyday and take a look around. YOU are alive too.
I had a STEMI and five stents fitted last May '24. It's taken me ten months to physically get back to work, but some days I still struggle and get tired. We are all different and so is our recovery. The mental side of things has been the worse (and still is, some days). My dog has got me through. He gets me out in the fresh air. Don't know how I'd cope without him. Do you have any pets? If not, would you consider getting one? Things will slowly get better for you. Life will be different from now on. But things will slowly start to get better. Good luck.
yes it is worth it. You must enjoy what is left as much as you can. For physical advice follow this forum.For mental some find ChatGPT very helpful. Use every minute.
Tavishock
Its definately worth it. My heart attack was just over 3 years ago. Physically I recovered fairly quickly...but mentally took a lot longer with hypersensitivity to every ache and pain, anxiety and depression. As a previous reply indicated, I stopped all the "what if..." thinking (eg what if this ache is my heart going wrong) and started to think more positively. I started to take control back. Improved my diet and gradually increased my exercice regime. It wasn't easy and it took time. But after about 18 months I felt healthier and fitter than ever before. One small step at a time...good luck.
Hi, it’s probably over 1.5 years since I have been in here but you message made me want to respond .. I’m 68 and was treated for many years for anxiety and depression but managed to wean myself of the medication around 7 or 8 years ago now .. but i have Always been conscious that it was there in the background..
Then 2 years ago in February I had a heart attack.. completely out of the blue , in fact I’d been out running earlier that day … it was a no doubt a life changing event … 4 days in hospital and 3 stents later I was sent home .. extremely emotional, and extremely nervous… 2 days after coming home I went for my first tentative 10 minute walk …
I was terrified, every morning as I woke up my first thought was ‘Oh !! I’ve had a heart attack’ I was watching for every little twinge or sign of discomfort ! I was literally worried about doing anything ..
I was thankful for being alive but anxious about the future ..
Over the coming weeks my fitness was SLOWLY improving but the emotional recovery was just as challenging..
I took the cardiac rehab course and after completing that I enrolled on a GP referral course at my local gym …
3 months after my heart attack I was then diagnosed as type 2 diabetic , as you can probably imagine this was another blow and another physical and mental challenge, I could of course have thought ‘What’s the point’ But I didn’t !!
I took on both challenges …
Fast forward 2 years … I’m a regular at the gym , I re run couch to 5k .. and walk most days … I am 19 Kg lighter and my diabetes has been in remission for well over 12 months now with my glucose levels not just below diabetic levels but below pre diabetic levels .. my overall fitness is better then it has been for over 20 years and I feel more optimistic about my future than I did even before my heart attack…
Yes it was 2 life changing events .. but I was given a chance and grabbed it with both hands .. I live alone also but loving life again .. I was out travelling China on my own in Nov/Dec last year and will be out there again in a couple of months …
In a strange way , the heart attack and diabetes could even have been the wake up calls I needed .. I have completely changed my life around for the better … both physically, emotionally and mentally..
And I have no doubt you could do also !
Yes it takes time , yes it takes determination, yes it takes will power..
Is it worth it ??
ABSOLUTELY..
Best wishes , Ian
Brilliant response. And well done to you too.
wow Ian what an inspirational story. I too have type 2 diabetes and heart failure, and 1 stent. Also an ablation 2 years ago. I have had a long road mentally and I am now trying to increase my exercise(although finding it hard after so lomg being flat bound). I hope this will inspire me to get fit as I have controlled my diet well so far. Cheers and all the best
I was diagnosed with PTSD after my ,'widow maker'HA in Oct 2019.The severity of it on my body and mind certainly took its toll. It got to the point that i had to slerp with lights on as the dark madevit even worse. I was offered free counselling which helped. My cardiologist offered me an ICD due to the damage to my heart (EF 31%), but he also believed it would help with my PTSD. I have got to say it helped on both accounts. I still get the odd day where panic sets in but these are now very few and far between. It is completely normal to feel like you do a HA is a major thing. Give it time, speak to your cardiologist about counselling etc. The cardiac nurses at your hospital may be able to offer good advice too .
My heart attack in February this year was a direct response to something that happened in my life. So combined depression of physical impact and life stuff. I would say therapy is best unless there is an amazing support system around you. Thing is expect a long wait with NHS unless your lucky and probably be offered CBT with a PWP. Me I decided to manage my money and currently paying for someone.
⁸I suffer with depression. I coincidentally came across a program, unrelated to heart health, in the recent past. And it opened my eyes...That's not exactly right.
My eyes were open already. I had contemplated just about everything I could contemplate, over a very long period. To little avail.
What I discovered was another perspective.
I had been looking at the right things from a very slightly wrong angle. It was a bit of a shocker.
I have been taught/am learning a new way of looking at things.
Keeping things simple.
Keeping things in the day.
We cannot change the past and we should neither regret it, or wish to shut the door on it.
Acceptance.
We are not who we were yesterday.
And if we do it right, we will continue to evolve, one day at a time, with an overall positive direction of travel. To become a more resilient and contented person.
Altered attitudes, I was told.
Asking, for example...
Instead of 'why me' rather 'why not me'.
Being grateful for what we have rather than concerned by what we haven't.
What we CAN do, rather than what we can't.
Appreciating the small things. Make a list. Everyday. A new list. Gratitude.
It's a matter of progress not perfection.
Have patience.
You have been given a gift.
A gift that countless others were not given.
You can help yourself and you can help others going through the same things you have, and in general.
You are a miracle in a great many respects.
Things will get better with practice and patience.
Whatever you do... Steer clear of temporary and harmful relief...
Alcohol, for example.
I wish you all the very best in your recovery.
Oh... And turn off the news. Seriously... Turn it off and leave it off. There is nothing we can do about any of that. Same goes for 'anti- SOCIAL media'.
Avoid mainstream TV and advertisements.
They are designed to manipulate you to buy things by creating discontentment.
Lovely isn't it! 🤣
You are enough.
Keep going
You are not alone I have similar thoughts having had heart attack at 51.
Dr s do understand speak up
Enjoy the little things and try and stay in the moment
Hi,I think it is very normal for you to feel down after a cardiac event. I had a cardiac arrest on the 27th Dec and spent four weeks in hospital.I had a ICD implanted and a stent I was symptomatic for three months prior, visited hospital A&E twice and my GPa twice and was told it was acid reflux, even though all the classic signs were present that my symptoms were heart related.
My heart was going into spasm ,The Dr's don't know why and I am now on medication to control the arythmias.
I was always very active , I felt down/depressed once I had come around and understood what had happened to me after a couple of weeks of being in hospital. The medication we now have to take will have side effects and there is also the fear will it happen again , for me that meant I was afraid to excercise in case I triggered anything.
I started a cardiac rehabilitation programme a couple of weeks ago at my local hospital ,It has really helped me build my confidence and learn to listen to my body. It has taken the fear out of exercising, I try to walk for an hour each day and feel so much better for it.The programme lasts for 8 weeks and some hospitals will have a Cardiac Phycologist that they can refer you to help come to terms with what has happened to you.
Hang in there, It does get better , realise though that you may need some help to get back to feeling yourself.
Good luck !!
It is still early days both physically and mentally . Rest up,take it easy and if u can,try and get some counselling.x
Thank you for asking this question. It chimes with my experiences and covers an area I've been thinking of writing about. I'm 63 and have worked with people who need help making choices or understanding where they are in their lives for over ten years . Originally this was work I did alongside being a manager in a large organisation, now it's my main source of income.
What appears to have been a heart attack during a bike race late last year has had a similar impact on me. I too feel like I've lost control of something central to me. It's given me similar reactions as well in terms of low mood. I've had the benefit of being able to take the issue to my clinical supervisors, and to discuss it with a small group of my professional peers. One of the reasons why I'm here is to have a peer group of people who will recognise the things I describe who aren't professsionally committed to one way of working with these issues.
I know that telling you that you're not alone is not enough, on its own. Lots of people in this thread can tell you about their solutions. The variety of those solutions is part of the answer to your question - the route out of this low mood will be unique to you, and you will probably feel better if you own it.
Of course people will say I'm biassed. As a fellow of a professional psychotherapy organisation I'm bound to say that therapy works, but here's the caveat. It doesn't work for everybody. Heart issues are, for a large proportion of the people who experience them, traumatic. If you pick up one of the great textbooks on trauma, a book called the Body Keeps The Score, you'll find it has lots of chapters on the different types of therapy that appear to work with trauma. Most therapists, in my experience, are utterly committed to the belief that the patients choice of, and consent to, therapy is central to the outcome being beneficial, which it often is. The NHS page on this is here - nhs.uk/mental-health/talkin...
First things first; talk to your GP. Get them to check that your low mood isn't so low as to require immediate intervention. They're likely to offer a variety of talking therapy called CBT, or anti depressants. The first part of taking back control is choosing how you tackle your low mood, whether it be talking therapy, medication, new hobbies or physical rehab. I'm doing a bit of all four, and my mood is improving. For me, it turns out, being in control is overrated. That's been quite a pleasant shock.
Good luck!
I cried all through the night because I was tired of taking medication for my heart. Some days are good and some days are bad and last night was one of my bad days. I cried so hard cos my life is just at a standstill after I started treatment for my heart.
Please don't give up. Read the responses above to the original post .... we're all still here and been given a second chance at life which some don't have. I hate taking medication...have to put little alarms on! But if that's what it takes to stride out and live my life, so be it. I haven't lost a limb, I don't have cancer or many other debilitating diseases...rock on medication 😅! Supportative and preventative.
If you need a cry, go ahead. Reduces stress! Or go somewhere and scream instead! Then pick yourself up and go grab your life!
Good luck 👍🏽. You can do this.
Thank you so much ❤️
I know were your coming from. I’m now nearly 4 years on the roller coaster that you’ve just started. And yes it’s worth it.
Long ramble warning
After my HA at 59 I started with generalised anxiety. It’s hard to explain to people who’ve not had anything like that but once you’re in it it’s hard to rationalise and see out of the dark box. So just getting on with it as and be positive as some people say to you isn’t going to fix anything. As your in the box and can’t rationalise getting out. It’s good you’ve recognised it.
When I recognised it I knew I couldn’t have my life going on like that so please try and take the next step.
I told my family although they couldn’t really understand. I was lucky to be alive and should feel that way. So I went for counselling. Privately as the nhs wasn’t helpful with this at all. I went with the second counsellor I approached ( the first was a bit weird), the right fit is important. Some do the first session as a meeting to see if it’s the right fit.
I bought a positivity book and used it at the start and end of each day. I didn’t expect it to but it helped.
I tried those light lamp things but for me that was a waste of money.
The HA left me with bits of a few arrhythmia’s. 3 months after my HA I had a cardio version for AFib which put me back into sinus rhythm. But I’ve still get bits of breakthrough of 3 arrhythmia’s. So when seeing an electrophysiologist I discussed my anxiety and we decided to help my me avoid any further medications which having would be difficult difficult with the heart damage the HA left me with I started sertraline at a low dose. The counselling had been working but it was slow and it would take time. So after humming and haring about it I started sertraline at the lowest treatment dose as I felt Ive still got a life and want to be able to enjoy what I’ve got left.
It’s working for me. At times I thought it needed increasing but I don’t want to. It’s helped me see my anxiety and manage it.
Thinking of you.
That's not depression, it's shock. it's a normal reaction. I'm sure everyone feels exactly like that after a heart attack. They usually hit with no warning, completely unexpected. You get dumped with a huge pile of tablets most of which also have side effects and make you feel rotten and get sent home with no advice.
. Of course it's worth it. Give it time, it's very early days yet to come to terms with it. You will soon realise just how lucky you are. You're still here, you survived. with medication and a change of lifestyle you should now live a normal life. In 3 to 4 weeks you will hear from cardiac rehab which is supervised exercise and lots of advice on how to avoid another attack. Make sure you go to it. It's the best thing you can do for your confidence and to get rid of these feelings. For now just potter around the house; don't sit all day but don't do too much. gentle exercise is what you need. For any unbearable tablet side effects see your GP. I had a bad time with tablets; one knockedme out, one gave me hallucinations, one hurt my stomach. I asked my GP to explain to me what my discharge letter meant so I knew just what had happened and how bad it might be. He was brilliant. You need a medical degree to read those things. Mine was 6 years ago. I now only take one aspirin and a statin. I changed our diet; cut out the cakes biscuits crisps, ready meals and fried stuff. Smoking and husband's obsession with pies and fries was my downfall. I don't drink so that was easy. They fixed my blockages with stents so now it's down to me to stop it getting worse. Well done survivor.
please understand this is very normal and part of the recovery process. You will get better. I suffered from depression after my events. Please talk you you doctor about appropriate antidepressants. I wish you well. You will be back to your old self soon! Best, John
Just look at the number of comments you have received! It really shows how many of us struggle with anxiety or depression after something goes wrong with our heart. I only had one stent fitted but was surprised by what a psychological challenge it was. it has been great to find most of us go through something similar - it is our HEART after all! I felt i turned a corner after 2 months and the cardio rehab definitely helped as well as this forum. I just wish the cardiologist or someone else had warned me that this was likely. No one can stop us worrying but once I realised it was part of the process i was much more able to accept being on meds and get on with my life. I wish you peace of mind.
Hi. It is definetly worth it. It will pass i am sure.I had a mild ha last july and ohs in september. So i am still revovering and still get muscle pains on my left, which scares me and my anxiety shoots up. I started a free CBT program called NHS Silvercloud. I've only done module one and i have started writing things down and analyze my negative thoughts. There are 8 modules. If doesn't work for me i will definetely seek a professional help as i want to get life back and don't want to panic everytime i get a strange pain on my chest..
Good luck to us all
Thanks very much everyone for all the replies to my message yesterday. I didn't expect so many. I've read through them all carefully. The person that said it's shock instead of (or as well as) depression is right I'm sure. I've been through the worry of every little pang and wondering every night if I will wake up the next day. Plus a lot of self blame and wondering how this could have happened. Was my diet really that bad? Should I have paid a bit more attention to the odd chest pain that was probably angina? Should I have got checked out etc. I also haven't told that many people about it so when people ask are you well I say yes. That feels weird. One person even told me I was looking well, I thought to myself I doubt that. I used to laugh a lot before all this, not sure that will ever come back. Thanks again for all your replies, take care everyone
I had a HA in 2016 aged 49 and to be honest I still have depression and anxiety over it. I’ve tried to post many times about how I feel but it’s very difficult for me to put it into words, the only way I can describe it is as if I’m broken beyond repair.
Me and my life are so different now to how it was, I lost everything in a very short amount of time. Both parents, family business of 50 years (not my fault can’t really talk about it here) and my health too, so much to this story I could write a book about it. 😞
I don’t think anyone who hasn’t had a HA can really understand, I just can’t get past the sadness of everything and I have really really tried.
Everyone is different some people can move on and just get on with their lives and I do, it’s just the sadness is always in the background.
Sorry for the long post.
PJ.
Hi PositivityForAll I went through much the same for months after my bypass, the emotional recovery is very hard for some. I actually went and seen a physiologist who helped me immensely to deal with me feelings
💯 it’s worth it get the right help and you will start to feel different either speak to your GP or a call to the BHF
You can do this there is light at the end of the tunnel as the saying goes. I am 3 years down the line and yes it was hard trying to sort feeling and emotions out and yes I still get the odd blip but I now have coping mechanisms that I was taught some meditation that I found helpful
Keep talking x
Your words resonated with me. It is definitely worth it .I was feeling the same way . I am now 18 months in after my HA . It does get better , As they say time is a great healer, slowly but surely the worry and anxiety begin to fade into the background. I took six months to be able to get back to work which for me was a major milestone in moving forward from the initial shock of the attack. Try to keep yourself occupied and as others have said exercise and just being out and about even for half hour gives some sort of sense of purpose. I wish you good luck on your journey
It's definitely worth it. I suspect most, if not all, of us suffered with the emotional turmoil of what happened. It's worth getting in touch with the Talking Therapies stuff if it's available in your area. Talking about emotional issues can, as others have said, be very powerful and provide coping strategies to help you through. MIND is another option so talk to your GP about it. I found rehab really useful, the nurses and physios were brilliant and being with and talking to others who were going through similar was a great help. It's early yet but please hang in there. Take care and all the best.
I have been suffering from Clinical Depression since 1979 although sadly my 5 month old son was killed (I refrain from using the word murdered, since charges were never made) in 1970 and at that time help for depression or dealing and with sadness was non existent. After many years of abusing my body, becoming diabetic, putting on weight to 18 stone I completely reformed, gave up drinking completely in 1979 and smoking in 1990. Some time later after losing 7 stone was able to reverse the diabetes. Had I not taken these steps to sanity and going back to a sensible diet, the heart attack I suffered on 26 May 2018 would have killed me. My recovery (the reason for the short story that I sincerely apologise for and assure you have never disclosed before - ever!) was very traumatic because of the pain with lack of movement, especially in bed. The worry and seeing others and how easily I found others recovering just made me feel worse. However, the exercise recovery classes and a true brick of a second wife (since 1973) who was the very best all round nurse I have ever come across. The doctors and everyone around me gave me encouragement with a dedication that can probably only be given from those dealing with patients close to death willing them to face and encourage the long road to recovery. My success to date has been my personal battle from within dealing with doubts and fears that are 99% of the time just my imagination. The other 1% might be attached to recovery, adjustment to medication or just the pains from within that are quite natural to be experience.
Everyone here is different and no matter where you are in your journey, be assured yours has just began but believe me now you have been in the hands of a dedicated cardiac team, your health and well being will from now on, never be the same again. You will experience the very best treatment, be given every conceivable test with the best support and backup. For this help to remain focused on you, you must be totally honest with those who are trying to help and believe me, there will be nothing they have not heard of or seen before so do be honest and when you return to full health and work (if you are of the age) if someone asks you to do something and you believe it may not be good for you - simply say no and give your reason. Probably for the first time in your life, you must become the most important person in your life and relax. Learn to relax and how to say no and to ask for help. You must also involve your partner at every point and never to shut them out for if you do that they may become resentful but most importantly, they will never know when you are feeling down. The BHF and the little booklets they have in heart hospitals are mines of facts and written in a way everyone will understand. Start believing in yourself and your worth and just how much you know. There may come a point where you may feel you are strong enough to help others, the first step you have already taken by contributing to this page for you have helped me to write about something that still.............................we all help each other and now you have found us do please keep in touch for learning and communication is a two way street. Take care my friend and realise that no matter how deep the hole is there is always a way to get the help to rejoin everyone. Good luck, "J "
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