Heart failure can affect your quality of life by reducing your independence and ability to do some daily activities. As a result of these changes in your life, you may experience depression, anxiety, anger, loss of control, uncertainty, and feeling like a burden to others. Such feelings can be distressing and affect your overall wellness. By recognizing these emotions and where they come from, you can take positive steps to have better control. Understanding the emotions that result from a heart failure diagnosis will help you to manage life with this condition.
This module will provide information on:
- Feelings people can have after they are diagnosed with heart failure.
- Why managing feelings is part of a successful heart failure treatment plan.
It will help you:
- Recognize feelings of depression, anxiety, and anger.
- Develop strategies to help you manage feelings of depression and anxiety.
- Learn when to seek professional help for these feelings.
It is common for people to feel depression, anxiety, anger, loss of control, uncertainty, and feeling like a burden to others after being diagnosed with a chronic disease such as heart failure. Some people’s feelings may decrease or even go away after learning more about heart failure. For others, however, these feelings may continue or worsen over time. For people struggling with their emotions, there are ways to take control and have a good quality of life.
Emotions can affect recovery from heart failure and also increase risk of future heart failure hospitalizations. For this reason, it is important to understand your feelings and get professional help if you need it. It is normal to experience intense emotions when there is uncertainty about how a diagnosis will impact your day-to-day living. However, lasting depression, anxiety, and/or anger can lead to an imbalance of hormones, which are substances produced by your body that can make heart failure worse.
Patients with heart failure often feel anxious and may experience symptoms of depression. Everyone feels anxious or blue sometimes. However, when these feelings do not go away, they can interfere with sleep, appetite, and energy level.
Although fatigue and loss of appetite are common symptoms of heart failure, they are more likely due to depression if accompanied by any of the symptoms listed below. Common symptoms of depression include having any of the following for more than two weeks:
- Down mood
- Feeling blue
- Trouble concentrating
- Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- Withdrawal from others
- Excessive sleepiness
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Hopelessness
- Suicidal feelings
- Preoccupation with death
- Fatigue
- Loss of interest in sex
- Loss of appetite
Symptoms of anxiety are normal reactions to stressful situations. Common symptoms of anxiety are having any of the following for more than two weeks:
- Excessive worry
- Fear
- Tension
- Feeling keyed up or always on edge
- Restlessness
- Feeling shaky
Despite increasing awareness about clinical depression, many people still believe a social stigma is associated with emotional problems such as depression or anxiety. As a result, some people may be reluctant to talk about how they are feeling. It is important for your health to seek professional help when feelings of depression or anxiety continue, rather than waiting for these feelings to get better on their own.
Other emotions you may experience include feeling angry or upset, worried, a loss of control, uncertainty or fear, loneliness, or being a burden to others. Here are some examples of reasons why you may be feeling these emotions:
- Anger or upset: the diagnosis was unexpected and inconvenient
- Loss of control: unable to do usual activities as you were in the past or manage heart failure symptoms
- Uncertainty or fear: not knowing what will happen tomorrow
- Loneliness: no one can understand your illness
- Being a burden to others: dependence on others such as family members, friends, or caregivers to manage your symptoms, diet, exercise, and medications
These feelings are common and may go away as you learn more about your condition and ways to manage it.
There are many things you can do to manage your feelings of depression, anxiety, and/or anger. Below are some suggestions to reduce negative feelings, increase positive feelings, build confidence, and ultimately improve your quality of life.
Starting the conversation …
- Talk with a trusted friend, family member, or someone with heart failure. It is powerful to talk about your feelings. The simple act of sharing a problem or worrying out loud may make them more manageable and less overwhelming. Reaching out to family and friends can be comforting and help overcome isolation.
- Join a support group for patients with heart failure or heart disease. Some people find it helpful to discuss their feelings with people who have similar problems. A support group can help you to better cope with your feelings. Ask your doctor where you may find a support group in your community or online.
- Learn more about treatment options for emotional support. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you are struggling and think you might need further help. They can help with finding the right treatment for your needs.
Actively engaging in your health …
- Exercise regularly to reduce feelings of stress, anger, depression, and anxiety. See Module 5: Exercise and Activity for more information.
- Get involved. Try a new activity you might enjoy. Many people with heart failure find that starting a new activity helps keep their mind off their symptoms and provides a new outlook on life. For example, consider volunteering with an organization or agency you care about, participate in heart failure support group activities, or help other patients with heart failure.
- Take an active role in your own health. Increasing your knowledge about self-care will not only improve your heart failure symptoms but help you feel more in control. Learn more about your condition and actively participate in its management. More details about what you can do can be found in:
- Diet – see Module 2: Low-Sodium Diet
- Self-Care – see Module 4: Self-Care: Following Your Treatment Plan and Dealing with Your Symptoms
- Medications – see Module 3: Heart Failure Medicine
Make a list of things you can and cannot do. You can use this list as a guide for talking with your friends and family about your condition and understand how it may impact your life.
Get a good night’s sleep. Research has shown that people who do not feel rested or do not get enough sleep often feel depressed. If you have difficulty sleeping, ask your doctor or nurse about getting good sleep. You might discuss sleep hygiene, medications, or testing for sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
Try to get outside every day even for a few minutes. Getting fresh air can clear your mind and soothe the mood. Make sure to dress appropriately, especially during extremely hot or cold weather.
If your depression or anxiety is severe, long lasting, or does not get better, you should seek help from a psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychiatric nurse practitioner. These professionals help people manage emotional problems. Your family doctor or your heart failure doctor or nurse can refer you to one of these specialists. It is important to seek help for depression or anxiety because these conditions can worsen your overall health. Medicines can also be used to treat depression and anxiety. If you have moderate to severe depression or anxiety that is long lasting and interferes with daily life, medication may be appropriate. Ask your doctor or nurse about treatment options, especially if your depression or anxiety persists even though you have tried the techniques described in this module.
Viewing and Printing the Module
Patients and caregivers may wish to download and read this PDF on a screen or to print and read this module on paper. HFSA has created a simplified printable version that makes it easy for you to print at home or from any printer on 8.5" x 11" standard paper. See options below.
Providers may wish to use this file in several ways:
- Download and read this PDF on a screen or email to patients and caregivers
- Print professionally using a printer such as Minuteman Press in a high resolution, pamphlet format at an additional fee to your institution (see additional instructions below)
- Print quickly and for free in-house using a simplified version that minimizes ink usage and uses an 8.5" x 11" standard paper size
Explore options below.
Instructions for Professional Printing
If you choose professional printing, HFSA recommends sending these details to your printer along with the file that you can download below:
1. Dimensions: 5.5" x 8.5"
2. Binding: Saddle Stitch
3. Bleeds/Crop: 0.125"
HFSA Patient Education Modules Overview
The Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) has created a series of patient education materials, known as modules, to provide practical information on specific topics to educate and empower patients, caregivers, and their family members. Each module includes background information on the topic, questions they should ask their doctors or nurses, and more. This page contains information specific to Patient Education Module 6: Managing Feelings About Heart Failure. Look below for information on downloading and printing this module.
Disclaimer
Patients should actively work with their health care providers to achieve the best outcomes. These modules are not intended to replace regular medical care.