Your feelings matter: heart disease and emotional health

Worry, sadness and fear are common after a heart diagnosis. Learn the signs of depression and anxiety, why they matter, and where to find support.

5 min read · last reviewed September 28, 2026

A heart diagnosis affects more than your heart. It can shake your sense of safety, your plans and how you see yourself. Many people feel scared, sad, angry, guilty or numb. Some feel all of these in one day.

If that sounds like you, you are not alone, and you are not weak. These feelings are a normal response to a big life event. For most people they ease with time and support. For some, they grow into depression or anxiety, which are real health conditions that can be treated.

Common feelings after a heart event

• Fear and worry. Many people worry about another heart attack, or check every ache and twinge.
• Sadness or loss. You may miss your old routine, your job or your sense of being "healthy."
• Anger or frustration. "Why me?" is a very common thought.
• Guilt. Some people blame themselves. Heart disease has many causes, including genes, age and things out of your control. Blame doesn't help your heart. Support does.
• Feeling on edge. Trouble sleeping, being jumpy, or reliving what happened in the hospital.

Something you can do: Name what you feel, out loud or on paper. Just naming a feeling can make it easier to handle.

Why your mood matters for your heart

Depression is common in people with heart disease. Studies reviewed by the American Heart Association (AHA) suggest that roughly 1 in 5 people with coronary heart disease, including after a heart attack, has major depression, and many more have milder symptoms.

Depression and anxiety matter for two reasons. First, they make daily life harder. Second, they can make recovery harder: when you feel low, it's harder to take medicines, go to rehab, stay active and eat well. Research has linked depression after a heart attack with a higher chance of future heart problems.

That's why the AHA recommends that people with heart disease be checked (screened) for depression, and why looking after your mood is part of looking after your heart. The good news: treatment works.

Signs of depression

Talk to your care team if, for two weeks or more, you have:

• Low, sad or empty mood most of the day, or
• Lost interest or pleasure in things you usually enjoy

along with some of these:

• Big changes in sleep or appetite
• Feeling tired or low in energy all the time
• Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
• Trouble concentrating or making decisions
• Feeling slowed down, or restless
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Signs of anxiety

• Constant worry that is hard to control
• Feeling tense, restless or irritable
• Sudden waves of panic, with a racing heart, sweating or shortness of breath
• Avoiding activities, places or exercise out of fear

Some anxiety symptoms, such as chest tightness or a racing heart, can feel like heart symptoms. If you're not sure whether it's your heart, get checked. Follow your care plan, and call 9-1-1 for heart attack warning signs.

What helps

Talk to your care team. Tell your family doctor, cardiologist or rehab nurse how you're feeling. They may ask a few short questions to check for depression. Mood is a normal part of heart care, not a side topic.

Go to cardiac rehab. People who take part in cardiac rehab have fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Rehab often includes counselling, stress management and a chance to meet others who understand.

Consider talking therapy. Counselling, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), can help you manage worry and low mood. Ask about programs through your rehab team, family doctor or workplace benefits.

Ask about medicines. Some antidepressants are considered safe and effective for people with heart disease. Your doctor can check they work well with your heart medicines.

Move your body. Regular physical activity, such as a daily walk, can lift your mood. Ask your team what's right for you.

Stay connected. Support from family and friends can help you recover and can reduce depression. Let people know what help you'd like, and what you'd rather do yourself. Peer support groups, in person or online, can also help.

Look after the basics. Keep a regular sleep routine, eat regular meals, and go easy on alcohol, which can make mood worse.

Something you can do this week: Book a visit with your doctor or rehab nurse just to talk about how you're feeling.

For family and caregivers

Watching someone you love go through a heart event is frightening. Caregivers can feel anxious, exhausted or low too. Your feelings count as well.

• Ask the care team your questions. You're part of the team.
• Take breaks and accept help from others.
• Look for caregiver support groups.
• Notice signs of depression in your loved one, and gently encourage them to get help.

If you are in crisis

If you are thinking about suicide, or worried you might hurt yourself:

• In Canada or the U.S., call or text 9-8-8 to reach a trained crisis responder, any time of day or night.
• If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.
• Stay with someone you trust until help arrives.

You deserve support, and help is available right now.

Questions to ask your care team

• Is what I'm feeling normal after a heart event?
• Could I have depression or anxiety? Can you check?
• Does cardiac rehab near me include counselling or stress management?
• Could any of my medicines be affecting my mood or sleep?
• What counselling or support groups are available to me and my family?
• If I need an antidepressant, which ones are safe with my heart medicines?

This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your health care team about your own situation. In an emergency, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.

In an emergency, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.

General information, not medical advice. It does not replace your own care team. If you think you or someone else is having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada and the US).

Back to Heart disease