Mental Wellbeing: Depression and Anxiety

You are not alone. As many as one in five people with heart failure experience depression or anxiety.

Why is this happening?

Being diagnosed with heart failure requires huge changes to your daily life. It is natural to feel:

  • Worried that something serious will happen suddenly.
  • A loss of control over your health.
  • Sadness about physical limitations.
  • Difficulty relaxing.

Accepting these emotions instead of fighting them is the first step to managing them.

The Challenge of Diagnosis

Depression causes symptoms like low energy, fatigue, and physical ailments. Because these are very similar to heart failure symptoms, diagnosis is often delayed. This can lower your quality of life and make it harder to keep up with your medications and self-care.


Understanding Anxiety

Anxiety is often overlooked. It is a "fight or flight" fear reaction that your body triggers to protect you, even when there is no immediate danger to run from.

Common signs of anxiety:

  • Difficulty breathing or feeling dizzy.
  • Racing heartbeat or sweating.
  • Nausea or upset stomach.
  • Tingling/numbness in hands or feet.

Is it Heart Failure or Anxiety?

Since fatigue and shortness of breath happen in both conditions, use this rule of thumb to tell the difference:

Heart Failure Symptoms

The Trigger: Generally worsen with physical exertion.

The Relief: Generally decrease or improve when you rest.

Anxiety/Depression Symptoms

The Trigger: Can occur anytime, regardless of whether you are moving or sitting still.

The Relief: May actually improve after physical exertion (movement helps burn off the anxious energy).

Always discuss these symptoms with your doctor or heart failure nurse.

Treatment Options

There are effective ways to feel better. Speak to your doctor about:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This is a psychosocial intervention proven to improve outcomes in heart failure patients by helping you develop coping strategies.
  • Medication: Most anti-depressant drugs, such as SSRIs, appear to be safe for people with heart failure.