vt, This condition can effect every aspect of our lives in such a negative way, I think we all experience some anxiety with it. To have depression before the episodes I can imagine it is unbearable to deal with episodes. You may already know this, and Im not sure if youve been on meds 15 yrs, but they basically hide and mask with little success (less than 50% become symptom free). I would find a good Naturalpath and look into some promising herbs for help. A few of the same supps we use for AF. When it comes to chemical imbalance, putting more chemicals in our bodies certainly cant be good. An obvious deficiency in most is Magnesium, vital for heart and mind health. Best wishes.

Try to get out and exercise. Join an exercise or dance group.

Hi, I am truly sorry, and I admire your courage!!!! You are not alone, I know when I have an afib episode, I get depressed...it takes the wind out of me and my plans and I have to wait indefinitely for it to end. I know it could be something worse, but especially when I am struggling with other issues, it is tough to have something that one has no control over. I hope you will stick around here, and I hope you are having a good day. It is good of you to have reached out.
Take Good Care of You~

I also have depression, the chronic nagging kind that is called dysthymia. It has been much worse; I was in a bad marriage for way too long and was frequently suicidal. Now the depression is more of a background noise.

It's really worth trying to find a good therapist -- someone you can build a relationship with, not just a person who does a quickie med check. I found that when I had the active support of someone who would encourage me to challenge my depressed thoughts and seek out things to do that helped me feel better (and physical movement, even a walk around the block, is one of those things, then I began to get a sense of being more in charge of my thoughts and feelings.

I also try to do some breathing and relaxation exercises every day -- if you have I Tunes, do a search for "progressive relaxation." There are literally hundreds of podcasts that you can download for free.

Hang in there -- depression is a feeling that comes and goes. It will get better.

I'm not a big fan of antidepressants. In my experience, they cause more problems than they solve. If you're not already, you need to get in with a good therapist. Major depression is very difficult (if not impossible) to deal with on your own. And if you are already seeing a therapist, but you're still suffering after 15 years and the max dose of antidepressants, it might be time to select a different therapist.

Afib only adds to the feeling of helplessness you already have. Most of us on this board have experienced depression at one time or another because of afib. And it's not stupid at all - far too often, I think doctors overlook the mental aspect of afib, they simply don't want to talk about it.

You guys have been very supportive and helpful, and I feel so lucky to be apart of this site. It's nice to have folks I can talk to who know exactly what I'm going through.

Thank you.

So sorry you are suffering from depression. This is not a stupid subject at all. Our bodies and minds are a part of our whole being and we cannot deny the connection. Doctors generally are focused only on the medical conditions they can control with drugs, etc. There are some very good comments on this subject here. If you, after fifteen years, are not getting relief, try to seek out a different remedy. Are you going to a cognitive therapist who has looked at the drugs you are taking and understands they may not help? Have you looked at integrative wellness help such as acupuncture, alternative psycho therapy, massage, meditation, guided imagery, exercise, etc. There may be a connection between your a-fib and anxiety issues, which lead to depression, if no other medical reasons are found. I know how difficult it is to focus when feeling depressed, but try to seek out new help, even perhaps starting at your library. I wish you success in finding a new path. Never stop searching.