Ways to Get Over Pre-Surgery Nerves – Many people will have to undergo some kind of surgical procedure at some point in their lives. The vast majority of these are simple, routine procedures that pose little risk. However, it can still be a stressful time, and a degree of nerves beforehand is perfectly normal.
If you find that your pre-surgery nerves are impacting your quality of life and you are suffering from excess stress and trouble speaking, then you may have to think about using some coping strategies. We’ve listed five of these below. Check them out to help get over your pre-surgery nerves.
Learn About the Procedure – Ways to Get Over Pre-Surgery Nerves
They say one of our greatest fears is the fear of the unknown. Going in for surgery means surrendering control and putting your complete faith and trust in the hands of strangers. This can be incredibly daunting and difficult to handle for some people.
Sometimes, reading up about the procedure ahead of time can help allay your fears. You’ll learn exactly what’s involved, such as how long the procedure will take and whether they’ll use tools such as a self-retaining retractor. This can help demystify the process and leave you feeling much more confident.
Prepare in Advance
Surgery generally involves a hospital stay of one night at least. As well as the surgery itself, the thought of an overnight hospital stay can leave people feeling nervous. An effective way to reduce stress is to ensure you are prepared well in advance.
Look out for a bag to take with you and have everything ready as soon as you can. You’ll need spare clothes, toiletries, and a book to read when you’re bored. Having everything ready to go will give you one less thing to worry about.
Speak to Your GP
Your GP can be an excellent resource if you are feeling overwhelmed with anxiety. They can talk through the procedure with you and address anything in particular you might be worried about. They will also tell you how to best prepare to ensure a speedy post-surgery recovery.
Use Relaxation Techniques
There are various different relaxation techniques that can be used to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. The majority of these can be done at home with no special tools or equipment.
Deep breathing is a popular technique that has been proven to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Meditating is another approach. This technique has been used for centuries and can help focus the mind and achieve a more positive emotional state.
Distract Yourself
Our final tip in our guide to reducing pre-surgery nerves is to distract yourself. This might sound obvious, but it’s impossible to overstate just how effective it can be.
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Pre-surgery nerves give you the perfect excuse to start a new hobby or to pick one back up again. Whether it’s bird watching, stamp collecting, or painting, a hobby can help take our minds off things and give us something new to think about.
Conclusion
Worried about an upcoming surgical procedure. Follow the tips in our guide to get rid of those pesky pre-surgery nerves.