Psychology

Clinical Health Psychology for Heart Health

Having a heart attack or undergoing heart treatment can be a very frightening and shocking experience, and can bring other feelings such as resentment or loneliness. The process of recovery is made up of different stages both physically and emotionally and each person will experience this differently.

While some people can feel quite hopeful, for example feeling that they have been given a second chance, for other people adjusting to what has happened can be much harder, as they need to trust their bodies again.

Some of the ways that having a heart condition can affect people psychologically. Below we have listed some of the affects it can have. This site aim to help you deal with those affects better and move on from them.

Possible Psychological Affects
  • Feeling low or depressed
  • Feeling frustrated and angry
  • Feeling anxiety or panic in relation to cardiac symptoms or treatment
  • Finding relationships difficult
  • Fearing death
  • Experiencing trauma reaction to a medical event or procedure
  • Finding it difficult to cope with changes to work or social life
  • Feeling a sense of loss or grief
  • Finding it difficult to cope with uncertainty
  • Finding it difficult to concentrate
  • Losing confidence

 

A good starting point to help your recovery in this area

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Bradford Talking Therapies

Bradford Talking Therapies is a free NHS service to help people manage everyday problems such as feeling low, having problems sleeping, feeling anxious and experiencing stress.

Access BTT
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Better Health

Healthy changes start with little changes. Whether you want to lose weight, get active or quit smoking, Better Health is here with lots of free tools and support.

Access Better Health
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British Heart Foundation

Insight Timer is an app that helps you build healthy habits and create a wellbeing routine that works for you. Use the link below to access insight timer

Access Insight Timer
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Calm

Calm is a app that helps you in sleep, meditation and relaxation, with over 100 million downloads. Use the link below to access calm

Access Calm

Answering some of your questions about support for psychological recovery

What can I do about how I feel?

It is important to remember that it is natural to feel upset or distressed after an experience such as a heart attack or heart surgery.

If you are concerned about how you are feeling, the most important thing you can do is to talk to someone you trust about the way
you feel. This could be a relative, friend or a health professional. Everybody is different, and you may prefer to talk to someone other than those you are close to, in which case another option would be to meet with a psychological therapist.

Talking through feelings can not only help to relieve things but could also help people to find better ways to manage difficulties.

How could a psychological therapist help?

Therapists in this service are trained to help people cope with the psychological and emotional effects of an illness. This is done through talking rather than prescribing medication

You will be offered the chance to talk about your concerns or feelings. Often having time to talk to a professional, outside the family, can help. This may help to make sense of what has been happening, such as understanding vicious cycles that involve our health, feelings and thoughts

Who is this service for?

All adult patients at any stage of heart disease and under the care of Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust can be referred to this service.

Your doctor or cardiac nurse might discuss a referral to a psychological therapist with you if they think that it might help you, or you could request a referral if it sounds that it might be helpful

What will happen then?

You will be sent some information about the service, and an invitation to opt into it if it is something that you would like to do.

You can do this by post or phone. You will be offered an appointment when one is available. Your therapist will arrange an appointment with you. Appointments usually last for 50 minutes.

At the first appointment you will spend time finding out what problems are important to you. You will both then decide whether seeing the therapist will be helpful for you. You would see the same person each time.

How long would I need to see the psychological therapist for?

People vary in the number of sessions that they have with a psychological therapist. Some people see a therapist once or twice; others may see them once a week or once a fortnight for several weeks or months. This will be discussed with you in your first appointment.

However, even when you begin to work with the psychological therapist, you can decide to stop at any time. This will not have an effect on your medical care or treatment.

Where will I be seen?

Outpatient appointments are usually held in the Horton Wing at St Luke’s Hospital, Bradford. We also offer appointments over the telephone or by video.

What about my confidentiality?

Confidentiality is an important part of working with us in Clinical Health Psychology. This will be discussed with you when you meet the therapist.

What if I have more questions?

If you would like any further information about Clinical Health Psychology Services please contact the department between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm at:

Clinical Health Psychology St Luke’s Hospital
Little Horton Lane Bradford BD5 0NA
Tel: 01274 365176

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