Ways To Reduce Pre-Surgery Jitters

For many patients, the idea of surgery might be daunting, and most of them try to avoid it as much as possible. However, if you are getting gallbladder surgery, kidney transplantation, or having a tumor removed, in these cases, surgery is necessary.

However, you may experience anxiety, fear, and high levels of stress in the days or even weeks leading up to your surgery. The feeling of anxiety before surgery, also known as preoperational or preoperative anxiety is incredibly common. Pre-surgery jitters are essentially described as unpleasant stress or tension arising from the patients’ fears and doubts.

If you are intimidated by the idea of an upcoming surgery, don’t worry – you are not alone. Many individuals face pre-surgery anxiety, and there are some great methods to deal with it.

Here are the top six ways on how to manage your anxiety and get ready for your procedure.

Discuss Your Concerns With Your Doctor Or Surgeon

One of the main causes of anxiety is unknown. The more you know about your medical issue and your surgery, the better you will feel about having the procedure. However, doctors have probably seen all kinds of fears in their patients and are ready to help you cope with them, no matter how small they may be.

When you are having discussions with your doctor, make sure to ask him or her about everything you need to do before the procedure. Trust your doctors to be the best option for dealing with anxiety. Their experience with patients and surgery makes them experts in solving your problems!

Take Care Of Pre-Surgery Instructions

Before any procedure, surgeons will give you instructions, and it is essential to observe them for health reasons. You will feel better knowing that you have followed all directions and done everything you can to make the surgery as good as possible.

Taking those pre-surgery instructions seriously also will take up your time, which leaves no room for fear. Additionally, being organized is the key to everything we do and to a successful outcome. So, the better prepared we are, the less we are anxious about what lies ahead.

Get Support From Your Friends & Family Members

You also need to create a support system that is made up of people whom you trust and whom you know you can rely on. Support comes in all shapes and sizes and can be found in several amazing places. But your family members, friends, and loved ones can be your best resource when it comes to pre-surgery nervousness.

Tell them about your concerns and that you need someone to make you feel better from time to time. Or ask for their own surgery stories, funny cases, and gentle reminders that they have been there and had very positive results. Knowing that you will not be made to feel bad or ridiculed about your anxiety before or after surgery is often enough to make you feel a little better.

Distract Yourself

Sometimes the simplest thing you can do to reduce anxiety is to simply get distracted from what’s going on. The longer your mind has to run in circles, the worse experiences and scenarios it can come up with. Therefore, try to take your mind off your surgery by reading a book, grabbing a puzzle, watching movies, or going for a walk – choose any activity that puts your mind elsewhere. This might seem like hiding from the inevitable to some people, but if it keeps you from getting anxious, then it is a great thing.

What’s more, music is a potent relaxing and healing agent, as proven by numerous studies. In fact, listening to music right before your surgery can help to relieve stress and anxiety. You can turn on your favorite tracks, or even an audiobook or a podcast to help reduce tension and help you relax.

Use Alternative Therapies for Anxiety

While surgery can be the only treatment option for specific conditions, distracting yourself is not the only way to diminish stress before surgery. In fact, many excellent alternative medicine treatments offer promising results, including:

• Yoga. It has been used as a stress-relieving activity for centuries as it includes a variety of physical postures, controlled breathing, relaxation, and meditation to help lower blood pressure, heart rate, and stress levels;
• Massage. Massage is one of the first options that many people think of when it comes to decreasing tension, anxiety, and stress. A massage can be great, not to mention a relaxing way to prepare for your surgery;
• Mindfulness meditation. This technique involves concentrating on your breath, your feelings, and your thoughts at this very moment. While daily meditation provides plenty of benefits, meditation before your surgery can help to reduce anxiety and calm your constantly raising thoughts.
• CBD oil. CBD (cannabidiol) has proven health benefits for a variety of conditions, including mental ailments like depression and different anxiety disorders. Due to interaction with the endocannabinoid system and its specific receptors, CBD is able to provide relief, whether you suffer from pain, anxiety, or lack of energy. However, always consult with your doctor or another licensed medical professional before using CBD oil for anxiety or including this supplement in your daily life.

Trust Your Doctors

One of the best things you can do to cope with pre-surgery jitters is to make the decision to trust your doctors and all medical teams. While it’s easier said than done, you need to be able to trust the people who are tasked with keeping you alive and healthy. This is crucial both for the outcome of the surgery and for relieving anxiety before the surgery.

Make sure to do a little research on the hospital, surgeons, and surgeons you will be dealing with and find out what experience and accolades they have. Focus on how successful your surgical and hospital team are and what reputation they have with previous patients. In case you don’t feel like you can trust your doctor, it might be a good idea to look for another medical team.

Originally posted 2020-12-17 18:41:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter