Protecting Your Emotional Health

Living with heart disease may cause fear, anxiety, depression, and stress. You may worry about having heart problems or making lifestyle changes that are necessary for your health. Talk with your health care team about how you feel. Your doctor may talk with you about:

Talking to a professional counselor. If you have depression or anxiety, your doctor may also recommend medicines or other treatments that can improve your quality of life.

Joining a patient support group. This may help you adjust to living with heart disease. You can find out how other people manage similar symptoms. Your doctor may be able to recommend local support groups, or you can check with a local medical center.

Seeking support from family and friends. Letting your loved ones know how you feel and what they can do to help you can relieve stress and anxiety.

Here are some great resources that provide information about heart disease and your emotional health:

• Coping with Feelings, published by the American Heart Association.
• Living with a Chronic Illness–Reaching Out to Others, published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. 

Let us be there to support you. Our DM program has marriage and family therapists and registered nurses who specialize in helping people who are experiencing stress, anxiety or depression. If you would like a referral, your CAD nurse can assist.

Learn more and begin the enrollment process now.  

Source: From Coronary Heart Disease, published by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2019