Dealing with Depressing after any Traumatic Surgery!

Extended stay at the hospital post a traumatic procedure can often make patients feel lonely and isolated, limiting their access to coping strategies that can further make them more anxious. Patients may need to receive medical help under such circumstances to prevent depression. Patients can get in touch with the best psychiatrist in India, and receive counselling before, during and after their operation to avoid any type of emotional trauma.

All surgeries are stressful, because of the risks involved in it, especially if it’s unanticipated, major or medically necessary. Life transforming physical factors associated with it like pain, life-threatening illness, and possible disfigurement can make it much worse for the patient to deal with these changes emotionally and mentally. Mental factors surrounding the operation can be exhausting or challenging for the individual and the family to cope.

Patients can locate the best psychiatrists in India, before, during and after receiving any type of surgery, that might affect them mentally or emotionally. Most healthcare centers in India has a psychiatry center, making it easier for patients to receive help.

These are some factors that can affect a patient’s mental health after undergoing any major surgery with a few tips that can help in making them bearable.

Note: Despite being mindful of all these things and tips, patients find it difficult to reason with them self to take positive steps to feel better about themselves. Patients are recommended to seek professional under such circumstances.

Situational depression

Undergoing surgery requires the relinquishment of control from the operation itself and the outcome and general involvement associated with health during hospitalization. Patients can only be responsible for his/ her condition after he/she is discharged from the hospital. Underlying mental health conditions can get exacerbated by treatment anxiety, trauma and extreme stress of surgery. Patients can do the following things for minimizing situational depression:

• Staying informed so that they know what’s coming next. This way, they can prepare themselves financially, emotionally and physically by making necessary amends before the surgery.

• Share accurate and thorough information about their mental health history with their health care team.

• Delegate responsibilities for minimizing worry & strain.

Body Image Changes

Often weight gain and scarring are associated with surgery that can affect body image. Young adults, as well as adolescents, are sensitive to these changes in the body, which can lead to depression. Following measures can be taken for coping with these body image changes:

• They should talk with family members or a psychiatric about how these changes are making them feel.

• Get in touch with patients who have had a similar experience.

• Reframe these changes from negative to positive.

• Explore new scar management creams and techniques available, like topical vitamin E, silicone gel, and steroid injections.

Separation from supportive others

In most cases, during illness, treatment, hospitalization and recovery, patients can drift away from their family or partners. This prevents them from accessing their normal support systems. Patients can seek family counselling for sustaining their relationship. For minimizing feelings of separation:

• They can talk openly with friends and family.

• Write letters, read, journal or explore social media to stay busy from such thoughts of isolation.

• Seek family counselling from a psychiatrist.

Inability To Access Coping Techniques/ Strategies.

Apart from being always away from friends and family, hospitalization also limits patients access to coping mechanisms like music, yoga, art, sex, exercise, baths, pets and showers or whatever, that might normally help them feel relaxed. This becomes extremely difficult if the patients require to stay at the hospital for extended periods. For continuing coping strategies at the medical center:

• Carry comfort items from home and keep them in the room.

• Ask the hospital staff to assist you with your comfort items, like putting the stuff within reach.

Limited mobility

Often certain procedures might limit a patient’s mobility until they completely recover. This often makes patients conscious of being dependent on others. Some people might not cope with such changes positively that can make them incorporative. Limited mobility in one section of the body can be very frustrating and can directly impact a patient’s physical and mental well-being over time. For coping with limited mobility:

• Patients should be patient, and remember the immobility they are experiencing is temporary, and most patients recover or adapt to it.

• Join physical therapy services to keep the muscles flexible.

• Consult a psychiatrist in case of emotional turmoil.

Pain and Nutritional Deficiencies

Pain can often make patients feel irritated and negative. Nutritional deficiencies don’t help in these cases either, a shortage of any vitamin in the body can lead to negative impacts, causing mood swings, dizziness, emotional changes that can be too much to deal with after surgery. Patients can turn to their doctors to help them with their pain management.

Medication

The close anticipation of postoperative pain can be helpful in minimizing it, using epidural catheters, systemic narcotics and nerve blocks. The density of pain is highest around 3–7 days after the operation.

Patients can often develop anxiety or become depressed before, during and after the treatment because of the chronic pain. Some patients might depend on medicines and become addictive to them. The patient’s advocate and the prescribing physician must use care to avoid them from becoming dependent on painkillers.

Overview

Getting through an illness, operation and recovery is amongst life’s greatest challenges. Acknowledging the fact that it can be a stressful experience and taking measures to minimize the trauma can be an effective tool for recovering faster. The body & the mind work together during the healing process making it important for the patient to feel happy. A positive mental attitude about the surgical experience can help the patient recover faster and begin their new healthier life.

These are just a couple of factors that can cause patients to become depressed, but the list goes on and on. Patients may have different reactions to pain, isolation and surgical marks. These anxious thoughts can be controlled by talking to a specialist. Patients can locate the top 10 psychiatrists in India, and receive assistance for any type of mental disorder or emotional anxiety caused because of a treatment.