When a heart rhythm disorder occurs, psychological support is a fundamental component of the care process. The psychological impact of the disease must not be underestimated, so that you can regain a certain quality of life afterwards.
The psychological consequences of heart rhythm disorders
Heart rhythm disorders can have many psychological consequences. Anxiety, depression or stress linked to various factors can appear. The diagnosis, hospitalizations and interventions can have emotional consequences that lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Heart rhythm disorders are invisible to others, which can sometimes cause misunderstanding for family members. When the patient feels their heart is malfunctioning, real anxiety can arise. Since the heart is an organ essential to life, any rhythm disorder can be perceived by the patient as a vital issue.
These disorders can also have an impact on daily activities and affect the quality of life of patients and their families. It therefore seems essential that they all receive psychological support to help them deal with their psychological suffering and strengthen their resources to cope better with what is happening to them.
Treatment options
Patients are usually offered psychological support. If this is not the case, or if it proves insufficient, it is important to speak quickly to your primary care physician or cardiologist, who will refer you to the most appropriate specialist.
This specialist may be a psychologist, who will encourage talking therapy, or a psychiatrist, who will take a similar approach and may also prescribe medication if necessary, in their capacity as a doctor.
Consulting a mental health professional means you can talk to a neutral person who is a good listener, in a caring, non-judgmental environment.
The approaches available to patients
A number of approaches, which may well be complementary, can help people with heart rhythm disorders:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT has been shown to be effective in various areas of psychiatry, including anxiety disorders, depression and phobias. Focused on the present, it takes into account the environment, thoughts, emotions and behaviors, while giving patients an active role in their treatment.
Mindfulness meditation
Part of CBT, this approach has been shown to be effective in reducing stress in the general population. It is used to help people learn to manage the stress and emotional distress associated with chronic illnesses or heart problems by themselves. More generally, relaxation techniques have a particularly beneficial effect on understanding the heart problem and on the general wellbeing of the body and mind.
EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)
EMDR is also a scientifically proven therapy. It provides effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorders often encountered in cardiology after a cardiac incident, the delivery of an internal electric shock, an operation, etc. It also has a broader impact on all types of trauma.
Support groups
Support groups are also invaluable. The experience of other patients and their knowledge of the difficulties they encounter make them valuable allies in the long-term management of day-to-day life. In a very practical way, these groups are also mines of essential information for administrative procedures. A number of associations that provide this type of support, some of which organize discussion groups (see box).
Support from family and friends
Lastly, the importance of support from close friends and family at such times must not be overlooked. Support can be improvised but can also be supervised, through dialogue between carers and healthcare professionals, and with the help of associations.
The benefits of psychological support
Psychological support often brings many benefits. Among these, the risk of re-hospitalization will be reduced, and it will also be easier to accept changes in daily life. Medication, new eating or lifestyle habits, physical exercise, restrictions and recommendations are all better understood and accepted, and therefore better lived. This improves the patient’s entire wellbeing, as they are then able to find resources to deal with other events, as well as their thoughts and emotions.
Dedicated associations
A certain number of specialized associations support people suffering from heart issues, as well as their loved ones. Among them is the AMRYC, the Association des Maladies héréditaires du Rythme Cardiaque, and the Alliance du coeur, which brings together various associations across France. More specialized associations include the, Association des porteurs de dispositifs électriques cardiaques (APODEC), the l’Association pour les patients insuffisants cardiaques et leurs proches (ASPIC), and Coeur des Mamans Priorité Prévention, not forgetting the Association vie et coeur avec insuffisance cardiaque (AVEC), created for patients and their loved ones.
Reviewed and approved by Adeline Banos, Clinical Psychologist at Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU)
