What Effect Does Congenital Heart Disease Have on Mental Health?

Congenital heart disease can impact our mental health. Click here to learn about these problems, and how chronic illness therapy in Silicon Valley can help.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects 1% of births in the United States. Kids with CHD may face additional struggles in daily life. Adults with CHD may find it more difficult to maintain a job, stay physically active, and may limit travel due to worries about being far from their doctors. All of these factors can affect your emotional well-being, however individuals with CHD can also thrive despite their condition with proper care and identifying the appropriate supports and services.

Identifying a mental health condition isn't always easy and it may be feel overwhelming, especially if you're already focused on your physical health. However, it's important that you identify a professional to discuss your mental health symptoms and get anxiety therapy in Silicon Valley if you feel you need it. Here's more information about CHD, your mental health, and when it may be time to seek professional help.

Emotional Impact of Congenital Heart Disease

It's normal to be emotionally affected by your heart condition since it can impact your daily life and well-being. Even though others struggle with CHD, you may not have many friends or know others who suffer from similar illnesses. It can be difficult to talk about your struggles and you may also fear how others will perceive you and your heart condition. It is common for individuals with CHD to fear being a burden to their loved ones or being viewed differently due to their condition. However people with CHD often display a resilience and fortitude as a result of their health struggles.

It can still be beneficial to talk about your concerns and process your experience. Studies show that children with CHD struggle with anxiety and depression more than their peers, and may even be more hyperactive. Children with CHD may also struggle to focus, especially in school.

This is where depression or anxiety therapy in the Bay Area can come in. If your child has CHD, it is important that the parents get their children the help they need. The same advice also applies to adults with CHD.

Mental Health Symptoms and Conditions

How do you know if you or your child has a mental health condition stemming from CHD? Everyone experiences mental health problems in different ways, so it can be difficult to identify the signs and symptoms. There are symptoms that many can experience, regardless of the type of mental health condition. These symptoms may include:

• Feeling down

• Helpless

• Moody

• Showing physical displays of emotion, such as crying

• Unable to cope with your emotions

• Feeling overwhelmed

It's also worth it to know the signs and symptoms of specific conditions.

Anxiety

Those with CHD may experience a specific type of anxiety, called health anxiety. Health anxiety is when you have intense fears over your health. You may pay attention to minor health symptoms and worry that they're serious especially since you've been coping with a serious health condition since birth.

However, health anxiety isn't the only type of anxiety disorder that those with CHD may face. That's why it's helpful to know the signs of an anxiety problem:

• Sense of impending danger

• Feeling nervous

• Breathing rapidly

• Increased heart rate

• Trembling

• Sweating

• Trouble concentrating