Angus meets with the cardiac rehabilitation nurse, to discuss how they might work together to manage his anxiety. The cardiac rehabilitation nurse assesses Angus as being on Step 2 of the Stepped Care model. The nurse uses a motivational interviewing approach, which involves talking to Angus and helping him recognise the things that will motivate him to manage the anxiety his cardiac event has provoked. See HEARTe Key themes: Applying HEARTe in practice: Communication styles for more on motivational interviewing. It focuses on the gains to be had from behaving in a positive way and on identifying what might encourage (or hold back) Angus” progress.
Angus attends the Cardiac Rehabilitation programme at his local hospital, where he learns how to manage his lifestyle in terms of diet, activity etc. (For more on cardiac rehabilitation please see the Cardiac Rehabilitation module.)
Angus is shown some general relaxation techniques:
- Healthy Place: Relaxation Therapy for Anxiety Disorders
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Relaxation Techniques for Health
- Patient: Relaxation Exercises and Mindfulness
Mindfulness
One of the strategies Angus learns about is Mindfulness. Mindfulness is a simple, easily learnt approach to relaxing and taking time out from stress or worries. It is an adaptable and very safe skill that can be used as part of normal life. It is safe and effective in managing stress and worry. It has been shown to help with sleeping difficulties and generally helping people feel less driven. Therefore, it has direct applicability to cardiac disease management.
Please watch the video below on mindfulness. Although the video was made for people who had suffered from a stroke, the content offers a good introduction to mindfulness and is equally applicable to individuals with a cardiac condition.
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland: Being Mindful
Angus is keen to self-manage his anxiety. The cardiac rehabilitation nurse suggests that he may find the following websites useful:
