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Managing Anxiety with an Aneurysm

Posted by pearl1714 @pear1714, Jun 10, 2025

Hi,
Last year I found out I have a Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, I believe is a 4.5 so they just monitoring for now. I can said that’s so scary and I have a lot of questions but one is how you manage anxiety. I noticed I get a lot of anxiety and stress because I know so many things can happen. Can someone give me tips on how not to think on the Aneurysm and maybe try to live a normal life without being afraid all the time.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aortic Aneurysms Support Group.

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davidtrey | @davidtrey | Jul 30, 2025
In reply to @moonboy "Finding out about a thoracic aortic aneurysm can seriously shake you up. But honestly, at 4.5..." + (show)
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Finding out about a thoracic aortic aneurysm can seriously shake you up. But honestly, at 4.5 cm and with good doctors keeping an eye on it, you're in a great place. Trust me—I had zero warning before mine dissected 10 years ago. You're already way ahead of the game Feeling anxious about this stuff is normal. Here’s the thing: you're doing exactly what you're supposed to. Monitoring is super effective, and your team knows exactly what they're looking for. Here's how I handle the anxiety—because believe me, I've been there:

Trust your docs: These folks literally spend their days watching aneurysms and keeping people safe. They've got you covered.

Step away from Dr. Google: Seriously, don't overdo it on the web searches. Stick to the basics and trust your professionals. Too much online can drive you nuts.

Breathe, chill, and relax: Simple mindfulness exercises or breathing techniques can really knock the edge off anxiety. A few minutes a day makes a huge difference.

Stay active in a safe way: Walking, light exercise, anything cleared by your doc is awesome for keeping anxiety down and spirits up.

Talk it out: Connecting here or in other groups with folks going through similar things can be really comforting. You're definitely not alone.

Bottom line—you got this. You're aware, you're being monitored, and your aneurysm is still safely in the watch-and-wait range. You're doing great.

I'm sitting here 10 years after my dissection, doing just fine, and I didn’t even get a heads-up. You’re already miles ahead of where I was. You're going to be okay. Take a deep breath and go enjoy your day. Peace.

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What a wonderful post and fantastic advice. I needed this advice myself - thank you for sharing.

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flaxxy703 | @flaxxy703 | Jul 31, 2025

fearful anticipation could be worse than realizaion, every nervous fear is a unrealistic fear and neverous fear is the fear of discomfort, when an intruding thought enters into the brain we don't have to entertain it, we are a capable lot but we paralyze ourselves with needless fears, acccept or reject

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lori555 | @lori555 | Jul 31, 2025

Have you seen a color photo of your aneurysm from a CT scan?
Seeing my aneurysm helped me not to worry because it didn’t look weak at all!! It looked every bit as strong as the rest of my aorta. I don’t worry about it! It is now at 4.9, but it continues to look strong!!
Try getting a 3d photo at your next CT scan!! 4.9 photo below..
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jeshurun72 | @jeshurum72 | Jul 31, 2025

I was given some anxiety meds for while. It helps but is short term. I know prayer works as well and breathjing exercises seem to help calm too.

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pearl1714 | @pear1714 | Aug 1, 2025
In reply to @lori555 "Have you seen a color photo of your aneurysm from a CT scan? Seeing my aneurysm..." + (show)
Profile picture for lori555 @lori555

Have you seen a color photo of your aneurysm from a CT scan?
Seeing my aneurysm helped me not to worry because it didn’t look weak at all!! It looked every bit as strong as the rest of my aorta. I don’t worry about it! It is now at 4.9, but it continues to look strong!!
Try getting a 3d photo at your next CT scan!! 4.9 photo below..

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That’s a nice picture. I saw my new cardiologist and he did mentioned that the Echo I had done it was a 3D and the pictures were beautiful but I didn’t get to see them. I’m more calm know because my aneurysm didn’t grow from a year ago, so I’m still at 4.0 in the original post I had put 4.5 but it was not right. I guess we will have our good days and bad days but I’m praying for the good days. Next time I will ask to see the pictures. Thank you for your comment

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pearl1714 | @pear1714 | Aug 1, 2025
In reply to @jeshurum72 "I was given some anxiety meds for while. It helps but is short term. I know..." + (show)
Profile picture for jeshurun72 @jeshurum72

I was given some anxiety meds for while. It helps but is short term. I know prayer works as well and breathjing exercises seem to help calm too.

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Thank you 🙏 No anxiety meds yet but I’m learning how to control it by breathing and take time to myself. And after I saw the cardiologist and got my results I feel much better

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chebo1954 | @chebo1954 | Aug 11, 2025

Well it doesn’t bode well with drs., I can tell you that, but I went to mental health after my onocologist turned me down, requested Xanax because I was going into a-fib too much and I have an aortic aneurysm but it’s so small it’s not worth mentioning. She prescribed me some Remeron 15mg 1@HS that would be at bedtime and 1/2 1mg Xanax when I do too much, over exert myself, over excite the brain which creates panic attacks which leads to a-fib then I take the 1/2 Xanax which stops me from going into a-fib or takes me out of a-fib. I’m proud of it because it was my research and my theory, but since there are so many a___holes out there abusing them that you might as well be asking most mds. for a shot of heroin!! Same holds true for opiates- I mean they were made for us, yeah that’s right, for us, people with legitimate pain!! I’m sorry I’m just adamant about it. That’s all I got. Chebo1954 out.

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pearl1714 | @pear1714 | Mar 8 8:56pm
In reply to @houston13 "Hi, well I happen to live in Houston, and my repair was done here, these are..." + (show)
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Hi, well I happen to live in Houston, and my repair was done here, these are the two specialists that treated me:

Surgeon: Dr Anthony Estrera, probably the best in Houston and an absolute delight of a person

Cardiologist: Dr Siddharth Prakash, he is an aortic disease specialist, I call him an aneurysm nerd. There are videos of him in this forum talking about exercising and aneurysms, as he has done research in the subject. He is still my cardiologist, I see him every year.

They are both part of UT Health and communicate with each other.

Hope that helps

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@houston13 it’s been awhile since this post but I wanted to thank you 🙏 I was able to see Dr. Prakash back in July last year and I love him. He gave me a bug peace of mind and actually my aneurysm was smaller than what they had told me here in McAllen. He really took the time to listen and explain everything to me and because I have a daughter he recommended a genetic test, just in case. I don’t have the gene so that was another peace of mind. I don’t have to be worrying about passing the gene to my daughter. He did recommend for her to start checking herself when she gets older just for precaution. Once again Thank you !

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houston13 | @houston13 | Mar 8 10:18pm
In reply to @pear1714 "@houston13 it’s been awhile since this post but I wanted to thank you 🙏 I was..." + (show)
Profile picture for pearl1714 @pear1714

@houston13 it’s been awhile since this post but I wanted to thank you 🙏 I was able to see Dr. Prakash back in July last year and I love him. He gave me a bug peace of mind and actually my aneurysm was smaller than what they had told me here in McAllen. He really took the time to listen and explain everything to me and because I have a daughter he recommended a genetic test, just in case. I don’t have the gene so that was another peace of mind. I don’t have to be worrying about passing the gene to my daughter. He did recommend for her to start checking herself when she gets older just for precaution. Once again Thank you !

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@pear1714 I am so glad, and yes he is wonderful, not only incredibly knowledgeable (he is an absolute authority in the subject) but really spends quality time with his patients, I feel lucky to have him as my cardiologist. Thanks for the update!!

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jamiemj | @jamiemj | Mar 9 7:20am

I just turned 79.
Found out I have: a 50% Superior Mesenteric artery calcification , a Splenic Artery aneurysm, a common iliac plaque, osteopenia, bladder and bowel problems, partial lung collapse, lung calcifications, partial plate of my chewing teeth that doesnt fit, implants that are in but not effective due to no one can make a proper overdenture ( I've gone to two prosthodontists)
2 hip operations, one botched, on one leg which still hurts, very small basal cell which had operation on above lip that was a disaster and after one year is messed up and scarred. Thyroid disease , pre diabetes, and kidney disease.
Most of this was found out In 2025..and yes, I have had Anxiety for 30 years.
Now I just say... Let It Go...and I get some peace of mind for awhile. 🙂

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