Anxiety

Anxiety

What is anxiety?  

Anxiety is more than just feeling stressed or worried. You can get anxious feelings when you feel under pressure, but they usually pass once the situation is over, or the trigger has been removed. However, for some people, feelings of anxiety may arise without an obvious cause or can persist even after a stressful situation has ended. Living with heart disease is one of many things that can trigger anxiety. The good news is there are many ways to manage and treat this common mental health condition.

Signs and symptoms of anxiety 

Feeling anxious is a common emotion after a heart condition or diagnosis. You might be worried about experiencing another heart event, or practical things like when you can get back to work. 

However, anxiety is more than just feeling stressed or worried. It often comes with strong physical feelings too. Symptoms of anxiety can include: 

• feeling like something bad is about to happen or that you are in danger
• excessive worry about the past, present or future
• difficulty appropriately managing fears and worries
• physical symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness/feeling lightheaded, racing or pounding heart, sweating or feeling hot, trembling, dry mouth.

How to manage your anxiety? 

A range of strategies such as mindfulness, healthy eating and regular physical activity can be helpful. For some people, psychological therapy and medicines are also needed to help manage anxiety. 

Mindfulness and relaxation techniques like controlled breathing, mindfulness meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation can calm the nervous system and reduce symptoms of anxiety. 

Sharing how you feel with someone you trust can also help lessen the emotional load and help you see patterns in your anxiety. 

Professional support: if anxiety is overwhelming or persistent, your general practitioner (GP) or psychologist can provide a tailored treatment plan. This may include psychological therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy to explore how thoughts and behaviours impact how you feel. Your GP may also prescribe anti-anxiety medicines.

When to seek help 

It’s important to reach out for support if:

• anxiety makes daily tasks hard to complete
• you feel unable to control your worries
• physical symptoms or panic attacks are frequent
• you feel hopeless or trapped
• you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide (see crisis support below). 

Where to find support:

Immediate crisis support 

If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself or someone else, call Triple Zero (000).

For immediate emotional support 24/7, contact: 

• Lifeline – 13 11 14 
• Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467 

Discuss with your GP or health clinic 

Your local GP or health clinic can help with understanding how you are feeling and what support you require. 

Medicare Mental Health 

A free service (funded by the Australian Government) that connects you with a Medicare Mental Health Centres in your area and provides information online. Call 1800 595 212 or visit the Medicare Mental Health website.

Beyond Blue – information and support for anxiety and depression: www.beyondblue.org.au/

Healthdirect – health info and helplines including anxiety resources: www.healthdirect.gov.au/

MindSpot Clinic – free online assessment and treatment: www.mindspot.org.au/

Black Dog Institute – factsheets and programs on anxiety: www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/