Heart & Vascular Program
Heart Health
Diseases & Conditions: Depression
It is common to feel depressed, anxious or confused after having a heart attack or bypass surgery. Varying forms of depression are experienced by 40 to 65 per cent of people after a heart attack. It takes six to eight weeks for your body to heal itself after a heart attack or bypass surgery, and your emotional health also needs time to heal.
Common feelings you may experience include:
- sadness
- hopelessness
- disinterest in the people or things around you
- decreased motivation
- loss of appetite
- increased fatigue
- tendency to feel withdrawn
- desire to cry
- loss of interest in activities you once found pleasurable
- anger
If any of these feelings persist after eight weeks, professional
help may be necessary and is available to you. Please consult with
your family doctor or the cardiac rehabilitation team for further
information.
