|
 The
day you leave the hospital is a happy day. Your heart is healing and now you
have the opportunity to make positive changes in your lifestyle during the months
to come. Complete recovery from your heart attack will take 8 - 16 weeks. During
this time you and your family will have some temporary and some permanent changes
to make.
Have you ever experienced the "feeling of loss"...
- of someone you cared for?
- a job?
- anything that you worked hard for and didn't get?
At first, you felt hurt, then angry and sometimes depressed. These same feelings
can occur after a heart attack. In fact, they are normal, and will fade with
time.
FEAR in some form or other is perfectly normal, especially
as you increase your physical activity. You may worry about further damage to
your heart and, as a result, not do enough. Your family may have the same fear,
and do too much for you. They may also feel guilty and think they were the cause
of your heart attack.
ANGER is also a common feeling after a heart attack. You may
feel bitter, thinking fate has dealt you an unfair blow. You and/or your family
may feel frustrated with the restrictions placed on you. You may also resent
family members for over parenting you while you are trying to regain your confidence.
DEPRESSION may also occur. You are being asked to change the
way you eat, the way you exercise, the very way you live on a day-to-day basis.
You may feel less of a spouse, parent, worker, and/or person. You may even feel
that your life is over, or that it is not worth the struggle.
When these feelings occur, the most important thing you can do is share them.
You should discuss your feelings openly with someone close to you, and not bottle
them up inside. If you feel the need for outside help in dealing with this,
contact your doctor, professional counsellor, social worker, or clergy. There
may even be a self-help group in your area.
- Plan activities that you and your family/friends enjoy doing together each day. Make this something to look forward to.
- Don't try to deal with or change too many things at one time. Talk to your doctor and start with the lifestyle change you feel most confident about.
- Recovery doesn't mean that you have to be "shut in". Check with your doctor
- get out and enjoy life any way that you are able to.
Gradually, as you get back into the swing of things, you will start to feel good about yourself and your life again. This will rub off on your family, friends, and co-workers as well.
:: previous :: main :: next ::
|
