Contents:
- Medical Video: Anesthesia and Surgery in Children: Reducing Pain, Fear and Anxiety
- What can be done to overcome anxiety before surgery?
- 1. Collect as much information as possible
- 2. Talk to the doctor who is handling you
- 3. Do things that can make you relax
- 4. Eat healthy food
- 5. Get enough sleep
- 6. Positive thinking
- Can you overcome anxiety before surgery with tranquilizers?
Medical Video: Anesthesia and Surgery in Children: Reducing Pain, Fear and Anxiety
Many people feel anxious and afraid when they have to undergo surgery. Anxiety and fear are natural 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 before surgery. But there are a number of things you can do to overcome anxiety.
1. Collect as much information as possible
In order not to feel anxious and afraid to overdo it, you can dig up information about the method of surgery performed, know the type of anesthesia to be applied, and the risks that may arise when the operation takes place. When you know for sure, what your doctor will do when surgery goes on, your anxiety will decrease.
2. Talk to the doctor who is handling you
You can tell the doctor who is dealing with you regarding the anxiety and fear you feel. Express what makes you anxious and afraid. That way, the doctor will provide an overview, what operating procedures will be performed and the possible outcome of the surgery that you will get.
If anxiety is caused by surgery, explaining the procedure will not provide relief. In this case, if indeed a patient experiences severe stress, the doctor will give him sedation.Meanwhile, if you or your closest person has a bad experience related to surgery, then ask the doctor who handles you again and confirm whether this will have the same end or not.
3. Do things that can make you relax
You can do things that you like to deal with anxiety and anxiety that arise as a result of getting closer to the operating schedule. Or do activities that can make the body relax, such as massage, acupuncture, or yoga.
However, if you have been hospitalized, you can do things like listening to instrument music, reading a favorite book, or chatting with people closest to you. These things will make you forget some time regarding the operation schedule that will be carried out in the near future.
4. Eat healthy food
Without your realizing it, the food you consume has its own effect on your mood. Therefore, it is not surprising that you will feel irritated or tired when you eat late.
To overcome anxiety before surgery, first discuss with your doctor what you can and can consume before entering the operating room. Because most surgical procedures require patients to fast for a few hours.
If allowed to eat, minimize the consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates, but increase the intake of B vitamins because of lack of vitamin B (such as folic acid and B12) can trigger depression. Some foods that can overcome depression are foods that are rich in omega-3s such as salmon, tuna, etc.
5. Get enough sleep
Sleeplessness can be one of the symptoms of anxiety before surgery. To overcome this, try to change your sleep pattern a few days before the D-day. Begin to sleep enough at least 7 hours per day, and get rid of things that can disturb the quality of your sleep.
6. Positive thinking
One thing that can make anxiety worse is negative thoughts about your body condition or the disease you are experiencing, or it can also be a negative aura from the environment around you. Therefore, one way to overcome anxiety before surgery is to think positively.
Can you overcome anxiety before surgery with tranquilizers?
Patients who experience excessive anxiety will usually be given sedatives. Indeed, there are no specific provisions where drugs can treat anxiety before surgery, but benzodiazepine drugs are often used drugs. Benzodiazepine drugs will make patients relax and can sleep comfortably the night before the surgery day.
