When it comes to the after affects of being diagnosed with blood clots, it can be very much like an earthquake. You have the obvious event that terrifies you and often lays waste to various structures in your body and your personal life. Then there’s the moments that you don’t see coming...the aftershocks. These can oftentimes be as devastating, or more so, than the original event. It’s incredibly important that we do our best to mitigate the risks and potential damage from the aftershocks. One major way is to take care of our mental health.

It’s incredibly common to develop anxiety, depression, and even PTSD after having a traumatic event like DVT, PE, Heart Attack, Stroke. What’s of the utmost importance for us is to treat our mental health with as much care as we do our physical health. Sometimes that means consulting with a knowledgeable therapist and it can also mean having regular therapy sessions and taking medications, like antidepressants. Consulting with a therapist isn’t something to be ashamed of. It can actually be empowering. Therapists can help you to look at things from other perspectives, they can teach you coping mechanisms, and they can do what we sometimes don’t get from our family and friends...they listen.

So, if you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or even PTSD please know that there is help out there. Talk to your doctor and ask for their help. #WTDay20 #survivorstrong #Hope #mentalwellness #Selflove