Doctors & patients are saying about 'A-Fib.com'...
"A-Fib.com is a great web site for patients, that is unequaled by anything else out there."
Dr. Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
"Jill and I put you and your work in our prayers every night. What you do to help people through this [A-Fib] process is really incredible."
Jill and Steve Douglas, East Troy, WI
“I really appreciate all the information on your website as it allows me to be a better informed patient and to know what questions to ask my EP.
Faye Spencer, Boise, ID, April 2017
“I think your site has helped a lot of patients.”Dr. Hugh G. Calkins, MD Johns Hopkins,
Baltimore, MD
Beat the A-Fib Mental Games: Try an Anxiety Thoughts Log
Up to 40% of patients say their ‘quality of life’ has suffered due to their Atrial Fibrillation. For many that manifests as stress, fear and anxiety. It’s my opinion, electrophysiologists (EPs) generally don’t focus on or effectively help patients deal with the distress that A-Fib often creates.
In his personal A-Fib story, Anthony Bladon shared his techniques for dealing with the mental stress of his A-Fib. He wrote, “The constant lurking fear that A-Fib may spontaneously return, is insidious. I absolutely needed to develop coping mechanisms.”
Anthony’s Two Anxiety-Busting Techniques
Anthony Blandon
First, he used a 17-minute audio relaxation exercise 1 on a daily basis (or more often) for months. He then went on to describe his second technique:
“In addition I developed an “anxiety thoughts log,” making myself write down word-for-word what the anxious thought was, as well as noting the physical event that seemed to trigger it.
By confronting my most extreme fears very explicitly (i.e. ‘Is this a TIA or A-Fib?’ ‘I’m afraid of a stroke, I might die or be disabled.’ ‘I can’t contemplate a third ablation!’), it became easier to re-state and contextualize them in a more reasonable frame of mind, thereby reducing my anxiety.
And lastly, he offer this advise:
If fears of A-Fib prey on your mind, I encourage you to seek out the help of a professional psychologist, as I did. After a few sessions of consultation, and with the continued use of tools like these, I was fully able to cope.”
To read all of Anthony Bladon’s A-Fib story, go to: Two CryoAblations, Difficult Recovery Period, Dealing with the Fear that A-Fib May Return.
Beat the Mental Stress of A-Fib
Fight your fears! Ambush your anxiety! Seek your freedom from anxiety and improve the quality of your life.
You may also want to read my article, Seven Ways to Cope with the Fear and Anxiety of Atrial Fibrillation.
A-Fib may be in your heart—
But it doesn’t have to be in your head.
- Still available: You can listen to the free 17 minute audio relaxation exercise on the Dr. Dean Given website (or download the free mp3) at http://drdeangiven.com/?page_id=76.↵
