If you recently diagnosed with heart issue, you may be overwhelmed with a range of feelings.

Heart disease is widespread among the general population. And you are probably familiar with the significant medical challenges associated with it. This includes regular hospital visits, surgical procedures, and adherence to medical treatment. Therefore, it is not surprising that you can experience emotional trauma after diagnosing with a heart disease. 

Yes, living with heart disease can be challenging both physically and emotionally. Adjusting to new lifestyle, different diet, or just dealing with side-effects of new medications is troublesome. 

Heart disease can impact your emotional health much more than your heart. It can affect many other aspects of your life including family, work, and relationships. Facing other challenges such as finances, employment, and insurance are challenging. No doubt, there is a significant impact on your attitude and mood, future plans, and confidence to fulfill your responsibilities. 

Uncertainty, anxiety and depression become debilitating and start to interfere with the daily functions of your life. Life can feel more restricted and limited. You find it hard to make concrete plans about the future. And when there is uncertainty, regaining the control over your emotions is a big challenge. You are afraid of future consequences, and that is damaging your quality of life. Unfortunately, getting dissatisfied with life is common.

Having a heart disease in the family member can turn everyone’s world upside down. It can change your family balance and mental peace. And if you are the only breadwinner of a family, the struggle is real. Your family, in particular your spouse, also commonly experience psychological distress. Providing daily support to you can be tiring for your loved one, no matter how caring they are to take on this role. The same may be true with friendship.

Chronic diseases like heart disease don’t always come with visible symptoms. You may not have the energy to get out of bed, go for exercise and change your lifestyle. And for the same reason, you will be considered as a careless or lazy person. You may experience stigma due to negative judgement by others. You may be labelled as a follower of bad habits.

If mental health deteriorates, there is low motivation to follow healthy daily routines resulting in skipping important heart medications, avoiding exercise and proper diet. This has been linked with poorer health outcomes and higher medical costs. The combination of mental health issue and heart disease makes you more susceptible to higher risk of death.

Everyone has different experiences and finds certain situations more stressful than others.

Finding hope

It’s normal to feel down after getting diagnosed with a heart attack. But it’s important to get help the sooner the better. Recovering from a heart or other serious cardiac event needs many types of psychological support. 

Getting back to a normal life after a heart disease is challenging. Joining programs that can supervise on exercise, psychotherapy and nutrition plan are helpful.

If you are suffering from depression and anxiety secondary to heart disease, psychological interventions are of great help. You can discuss your psychological problems with your healthcare provider. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. In fact, it is a sign of courage.

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Fortunately, there are effective treatments available such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and anti-depressant medication. Addressing these problems will make it easier to continue your heart disease treatment plan.

Maintaining a positive attitude about treatment can have a beneficial effect on your own health. Your attitude have a powerful effect on your ability to make healthy lifestyle changes that are often necessary to reduce the risk of heart disease. A positive attitude allows you to diligently follow healthy heart habits such as exercise, proper diet and medications intake.

It’s natural to get disconnected from outside world and lose social confidence after heart ailments. But you need to re-engage and socialize with people around you. The bigger your social support network, the easier it is to cope.

Remember your longevity matters and your life depends upon a healthy heart. It’s important to know you’re not alone in this journey. There are many resources available to support you in looking after your emotional well-being.

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Disclaimer 

Mediclin Brain Health’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.