Overcoming anxiety before surgery, here's the easy way

Many people feel anxious and afraid when they have to undergo surgery. Anxiety and fear are normal reactions. However, excessive anxiety actually makes your health condition worse before surgery. Check out various easy ways to deal with anxiety before surgery.

What can be done to overcome anxiety before surgery?

Actually, there is no sure way to deal with anxiety and fear leading up to surgery. But there are things you can do to deal with anxiety.

1. Collect as much information as possible

In order not to feel overly anxious and afraid, you can dig up information regarding the method of surgery being performed, know the type of anesthesia to be applied, and the risks that may arise during the operation. When you know for sure what your doctor will do when the operation takes place, you will feel less anxious.

2. Talk to the doctor who treats you

You can tell the doctor who treats you about the anxiety and fear you feel. Talk about what makes you anxious and afraid. That way, the doctor will provide an overview, what surgical procedures will be performed and the possible results of the surgery you will get.

If the anxiety is due to the surgery then explaining the procedure will not provide relief. In this case, if indeed a patient is experiencing severe stress, the doctor will give him a sedative. Meanwhile, if you or someone closest to you has had a bad experience related to surgery, then ask the doctor who treats you to explain again and make sure whether this will have the same ending or not.

3. Do things that relax you

You can do anything you enjoy to deal with the anxiety and restlessness that comes from getting closer to the surgery schedule. Or do activities that can relax the body, such as massage, acupuncture, or yoga.

However, if you are already hospitalized, then you can do things like listen to musical instruments, read your favorite books, or chat with people closest to you. These things will make you forget for a while regarding the operation schedule that will be carried out in the near future.

4. Eat a healthy diet

Without you knowing it, the food you eat has its own effect on your mood. Therefore, it is not surprising that you will feel irritated or tired when you eat a meal late.

To deal with anxiety before surgery, talk to your doctor first about what can and can be consumed before entering the operating room. The reason is, most surgical procedures require the patient to fast for several hours first.

If it is permissible to eat, minimize the consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates but increase the intake of B vitamins because deficiency of B vitamins (such as folic acid and B12) can trigger depression. Some foods that can treat depression are foods rich in omega-3s such as salmon, tuna, etc.

5. Get enough sleep

Difficulty sleeping can be a symptom of anxiety before surgery. To fix this, try to change your sleep patterns a few days before the D-day. Start getting enough sleep at least 7 hours per day, and get rid of things that can interfere with the quality of your sleep.

6. Think positive

One thing that can make anxiety worse is negative thoughts about your body condition or illness, or it can also be a negative aura from your environment. Therefore, one way to deal with anxiety before surgery is to think positively.

Can you overcome anxiety before surgery with sedatives?

Patients who experience excessive anxiety are usually given sedatives. Indeed, there are no specific provisions which drugs can treat anxiety before surgery, but benzodiazepines are drugs that are often used. Benzodiazepines will relax the patient and sleep comfortably the night before the day of surgery.