I have a surgery coming up and I am having anxiety attacks, what to do?

Hi. It’s Jenny at AnxietyBoss.com. Our question today is from John in Little Rock, Arkansas. I have a rather very simple surgery coming up soon, but I cannot stop thinking about it going wrong. I keep getting crazy anxiety attacks thinking about it.

Surgery can be scary, even if it’s a minor procedure, so talk to your surgeon about your fears. Go to an online forum for people who have had the same procedure and also look at the facts about the surgery and safety. Identify what your fears are. Is it the anesthesia? That’s the scariest part for most people. Is it getting an IV put in? Some people just hate needles. Recovery time afterwards?

Mainly, for most people, it’s about the loss of control and having to trust others to do their job and tend to you, so learn the facts about the procedure that you’re having. What are the complications? What is the mortality rate? What drugs will be administered? And also, what are the side effects? How many of these surgeries has your surgeon performed? It’s your body and you’re paying good money for this, so don’t be afraid to ask questions.

A hundred years ago, surgery was a very high-risk venture. Patients succumbed to surgical complications, problems with anesthesia, and post-operative infections. Today, surgery is much safer than it has ever been in history. You will be tended to by a team of experts who will take every precaution possible to keep you safe and comfortable. Very likely, your surgeon has performed several hundred of these procedures and the surgical team, a surgeon, an anesthesiologist, surgical nurses and an OR or operating room technician are among the most highly trained and skilled medical personnel who do the amazing job of cutting into people and fixing them and then sewing them back so that everything works again. In most cases, even better than it did before the surgery. That’s pretty amazing that there are people who can repair the human body.

Another option is to actually watch some YouTube videos on the surgical procedure that you’re having done. It depends on how graphic the image is; this could, of course, increase your anxiety. I was thinking more of the preparation involved with the surgery, the precautions that are taken, and the recovery process.

Speaking to people online who have been through the same procedure and they’re still here is another way to relieve your anxiety. If all else fails, you may want to ask your surgeon if a medication to calm you on the day of the procedure is indicated.