Depression in heart disease - how does it develop?
A chronic heart condition such as heart failure naturally means physical limitations in the first place. Things that used to be taken for granted are suddenly no longer possible. In addition, people who have suffered a heart attack are often increasingly concerned with their own mortality. These experiences of restriction in personal freedom of action can overstrain the psyche. Those affected withdraw, and quite a few suffer depression.
However, there is also the reverse combination: the depression has arisen for other reasons and paves the way for chronic illnesses because it weakens the body.
Symptoms of depression
Depression usually manifests itself in the following symptoms:
- Depression, great sadness
- Lack of drive, lack of energy
- Severe anxiety
- Hopelessness
- The feeling of no longer being able to react adequately to situations
This can be accompanied by physical symptoms such as a lack of appetite, weight loss and sleep disorders. However, there are also atypical symptoms of depression that are not always recognized or correctly attributed. These include, for example, weight gain and an increased need for sleep. Affected people are often quickly offended when they are rejected and appear very "thin-skinned" to other people.
Relatives and caregivers can also be affected
Depression can affect more than just the person with heart disease. Too often forgotten are the people who go part of the way with those affected. For them too, the chronic illness of a close relative , for example, is a major psychological burden. Many care for the person alongside their actual work, worrying a lot about the future, money or how they are going to manage it all. They reach the limits of their resilience.
What can you do?
A healthy psyche has a proven healing effect and if it gets out of step, it can also make you physically ill. It is therefore very important to look after it. If you notice that you are very depressed, your thoughts are going round in circles or daily life seems like a big hurdle, don't blame yourself. Such a psychological reaction to a serious chronic illness is very human and in no way an embarrassing weakness.
Getting help
Don't lock yourself away at home out of shame. It is better to talk about what is bothering you. You may find it easier to talk about it with your family doctor than with your next of kin. They can classify your symptoms and refer you to the right specialist or psychotherapist if necessary. However, this is not absolutely necessary, but depends on various factors such as the severity of the symptoms.
It is also important to rule out other causes. For example, listlessness can also occur with an underactive thyroid.
Be mindful of yourself
What else you can do: Take care of yourself! Allow yourself sufficient rest, healthy food and positive social contacts. Pay attention to what is good for you. Exercise in the fresh air has been proven to lift your mood and also provides you with important vitamin D. A lack of this can also exacerbate depression.
Also give your psyche time to adjust to the new condition. But make sure you get support in good time if the feeling of depression persists. And don't be discouraged if your condition doesn't improve immediately! Even with professional psychotherapeutic or medication support, it can take a while for the symptoms of depression to subside.
External offers of support
The British Heart Foundation Mental health offers a lot of further information, a self-test and useful contacts on its website. Relatives of people with depression can also find valuable support here. The Mind organisation, on the other hand, is an association dedicated to self-help for depression. Here you will find many useful offers from self-help groups and internet forums moderated by experts. For many people, the exchange with other sufferers helps them to better understand and accept their own illness. In addition, the Internet is a low-threshold entry point.
Conclusion
Depression is common in people with chronic heart disease. It is important to get good support in good time. The acceptance of mental illnesses has increased significantly in society in recent years. The fact that depression, for example, is a serious illness makes it much easier for those affected to deal with it more openly and then get the support they need.