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Living with Cardiovascular Disease, such as arrhythmia, heart failure, high blood pressure, or coronary heart disease, can impact a person’s quality of life and increase the risk of emotional wellbeing difficulties (anxiety and/or low mood symptoms).

Often a person can worry about internal symptoms that they may experience, for example dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, and palpitations. This worry can then lead to the worsening of these physical symptoms, creating a vicious cycle.

The impact of this may stop someone from doing things that they enjoy, which can then lead to low mood and a reduction in their quality of life.

If you would like to refer yourself for NHS talking therapies treatment where our treatment has been specifically tailored to your condition, to help improve your mood and quality of life, please complete the digital self-referral form.

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Self-refer

If you are suffering from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, low mood or excessive worry, NHS Talking Therapies can provide you with advice, guidance and support.

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CBT techniques focus on improving symptoms of anxiety and low mood, which in turn can help alleviate Cardiovascular related symptoms. CBT uses strategies to help people improve their quality of life and self-manage their heart condition.

Some of the key areas you might address in therapy, may include:

  • How CBT can help with the self-management of Cardiovascular Disease
  • How mental health and physical health symptoms link together
  • How to manage triggers and warning signs
  • The fight or flight response
  • How to manage anxiety provoking thoughts
  • How to manage safety behaviours and learning to pace yourself
  • Relaxation techniques
  • How to recognise and manage worry and overthinking
  • The role of safety, avoidance and withdrawal behaviours, and how to include rewarding activities in your week and overcome barriers
  • Developing self-compassion
  • How to stay well and how to maintain the strategies learned

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Struggling with your mental health can affect all aspects of your life. You don't need to navigate your struggles alone, we provide a range of self-help guidance to help you manage your thoughts, feelings, and symptoms.

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