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Dealing With Depression and Anxiety

Surgery can be a major turning point in your life. Afterward, you may feel sad or worried. And these feelings after surgery are more common than you think. You should know that you're not alone.

What am I feeling?
These feelings you have may be what doctors call depression and anxiety. And they can be treated. Your first step should be to learn what they are.

Depression. Depression is a strong feeling of sadness that lasts more than 2 weeks. You may feel sad, tired, or irritable and you may lose interest in daily activities. You may lose or gain weight and have trouble sleeping.
Anxiety. Anxiety is a strong worry that won't go away. You may feel fear or stress about something that is unlikely to happen. If this feeling lasts for at least 6 months, you may be experiencing anxiety.

How can I feel better?
If you are diagnosed with anxiety or depression by your doctor, there are many ways to start feeling better.

Support Group. Finding a group of people that can relate to what you are going through can be very helpful. The group can share experiences and recovery methods for coping after surgery.
One-on-One Counseling. Another option is counseling. Counseling is when you talk with supportive counselors or with other patients about how you feel. The guidance can help you understand and adjust your thoughts and manage your feelings.
Medication. Sometimes, medicine is prescribed. Over the last 40 years, many helpful and safe drugs have been developed to help treat depression and anxiety. Other treatment options include self-help, spiritual, holistic, dietary, and alternative or complementary treatments.

What can I do now?
Here is a list of things that you should keep in mind during your recovery to help avoid depression and anxiety. Just remember, if you are feeling very sad or anxious, there are things you can do about it.

Learn What to Expect. Knowing what to expect after surgery is very important to your recovery. Knowledge is empowering—fear, worry, and confusion can all be lessened. If you're not sure what to expect after surgery, ask your doctor.
Exercise. Exercise can strengthen the heart, as well as improve your mood, body image, self-esteem, and quality of life. Talk to your doctor about an exercise program that's right for you.
Stay Connected. Staying close to your friends and family can improve your mood. Also, according to studies, being social can have a positive impact on recovery and survival.

Remember, the more you're in touch with how you feel, the smoother your recovery can be.

We spoke to Howard Farkas, PhD, a clinical psychologist who works with recovering ICD patients at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. "In my experience," Dr. Farkas says, "anxiety after the implant of an ICD is more common than depression. Sometimes, people also feel depressed because they believe that they no longer have control over their lives. The reality is, they have less to fear and more control because of their greatly reduced risk of sudden cardiac arrest."

To help, Dr. Farkas recommends that patients join support groups after the implant of an ICD. "Most patients make a very good adjustment to life with the ICD and part of this adjustment involves seeking out support." And he thinks being prepared for what to expect can help. "I find that having a really good understanding of what's going on is the best preventive medicine for any type of adjustment difficulties," he says.

Dr. Farkas concludes: "The vast majority of patients do very well. Everyone will have some concerns. This is completely normal. And most people make very good recoveries—psychologically and physically."

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The Mayo Clinic: Mental Health Center