Post Heart Attack Anxiety

[Wotdyaknow]

Pleased to have signed up but finding anxiety disorder postings a little irksome on 'post heart attack anxiety' searches

[Andyman]

What is it you want to find out.

I think we all have Anxiety post Heart Attack. Personally I was content to be a victim for a long time so I would get lots of sympathy. In the end this wore thin and I realised I had to get on with life but that when I realised I was not in a good place. Eventually I sort help and got a counsellor to talk to. 8 session with just me talking all my woes out. She was a great listener and helped me no end. She recommended Mindfulness and so I sought this out too and now I can always fall back on this when I get a little worked up/anxious. Took time for it to reduce to an acceptable level. But now I have it under control and glad I found both the counsellor and mindfulness.

[brewster36]

Not sure what you find irksome and why. Anxiety post HA is very common and is a set of emotions and bodily feelings that need recognition. everyone is different but I have found it helpful to be more open about this as I did not realise how difficult it is to hide this at times.

[Wotdyaknow]

Thanks for the replies Andy and Brewster. I'm only day 9 post heart attack so perhaps my wording wasn't as clear as I would have liked. I was looking to hear others experience of any anxiety they might have felt post-HA but felt irked by seeing a lot of posts by people who have not experienced HA but instead have anxiety disorders centred around the concern of potential heart attack risk. Perhaps I wasn't looking on the right search results - but I am fairly savvy about these kind of support services through my work, so...

I downloaded a very good mindfulness app whilst still in hospital and am lucky enough to have great friendships that allow me ample space to talk about my feelings in general. Talking to others who have been through a similar experience is what I was looking for - so Andy your contribution was both interesting and timely. So just to reiterate I wasn't disappointed by any thoughts about anxiety after a heart attack but instead by people who are suffering from general health anxiety disorders - hope that is clearer

[moco]

I think most of us feel vulnerable post heart attack, I didn't feel confident enough to go out on my own. In the first instance the local heart rehab programme helped me regain my confidence enough to start walking into town and eventually a gradual return to exercising. As time passes you don't notice the normal twinges that at first you worry indicate a further attack. As I didn't know I had had a heart attack (none of usual symptoms) I found I was concerned that I therefore wouldn't know when /if I had another. It's seven years ago now and it was a wake up call for me. I have doubled the amount of exercise I do and changed my diet still have problems keeping weight down though! Best wishes foryour recovery.

[Wotdyaknow in reply to moco]

HI Moco - you describe exactly the sort of thing I am experiencing - the twinges and the unexpected nature of the attack leading to ongoing anxiety. Although I have found that I am getting less anxious already and hope that I too can look back in seven years time having heeded the wake-up call. All the best!

[Chadon1111]

How to know if u got angina after heart attack

[brewster36]

Hi All just wanted you to know about a good website that provides a lot of support. You need to register but it has members around world with differing heart conditions and can be a great source of support in the here and now. Best wishes to you-I also have struggled with adjusting to new limitations and demands with depression and anxiety in the background. web-British Hearties: Worldwide Hearties Survivors Support Group

[tonawandacreekrd]

To me it's not irksome it's reality and have lived with it for 25 yrs but I also have memory loss due to post pump syndrome. (. Lack of oxygen during the surgery. Heart was slowed down too slow during operation. !!!'

[Wotdyaknow in reply to tonawandacreekrd]

I think you might have missed my point - please see my earlier reply to Andie and Brewster. Best wishes