How to cope with the fear of surgery using general anesthesia. How not to be afraid of surgery and anesthesia? How not to be afraid of the upcoming operation

Everyone is tested before surgery normal people, even a routine appointment with a doctor causes some psychological discomfort. Fear of surgical intervention is the body’s defense of the unknown, and the person is unable to formulate the idea of ​​what exactly causes fear: a hospital environment, the operation itself, or a long rehabilitation period. How to do it before the operation will be discussed further.

Etiology of the phenomenon

The most obvious and main reason is, although he knows about his diagnosis. It is not the responsibility of the surgeon detailed explanation how the operation will be performed and how long the rehabilitation will take. The main goal of the operating personnel is to do their job efficiently, and the psycho-emotional component should be dealt with by a psychotherapist.

On the other hand, a complete understanding of all stages of the operation and the recovery period is also not beneficial to the patient. Today, many resources offer information on all the intricacies of treatment. However, everything is not so simple; each patient is individual case, this requires the professional opinion of the attending physician. Having read about how the operation is performed, how anesthesia works, and much more, a person falls into.

Another “terrible” circumstance is the fear of upcoming anesthesia. Some are afraid that poorly administered anesthesia will lead to them not falling asleep and feeling everything. Others, on the contrary, are afraid of the consequences of anesthesia. For example, there is an opinion that general anesthesia significantly shortens life. Still others. I'm afraid I won't wake up after anesthesia - that's what they say.

It is hardly possible to find a person who would not be afraid upcoming operation. However, most are capable, because health is more expensive in any case. But for some, the inexplicable happens - they are attacked by uncontrollable panic. Medicine knows such cases when patients simply refused surgical treatment just out of fear.

How to overcome yourself

The patient can always choose whether to have surgery or not. However, if doctors do not see any other treatment options other than surgery, the refusal must be formalized in in writing. Doctors need this to a greater extent to relieve themselves of responsibility if something happens. sharp deterioration the patient's condition.

Not agreeing to undergo surgery out of fear is unacceptable. But it happens that a person, even having chosen for himself good clinic and specialists, refuses surgery - all because of internal anxiety that haunts him.

It would be logical to ask yourself the question: how to get rid of the fear of surgery? And the answer will be the understanding that you can’t do without it - it will get rid of the disease, and maybe even save your life. But everything is simple until you encounter the problem yourself.

The following tips will help you stop being afraid of surgery:

A good, friendly atmosphere in the ward also plays an important role. There are many people worse off than you, so try to help each other and not make the situation worse.

Physical component

The psychological attitude is very important, but physiological readiness also plays an important role. Usually you can get by with simple rules:

• giving up alcohol and;
• compliance with nutrition and diet;
• refusal of cosmetics and perfumes;
• compliance with all doctor's instructions;
• independent control of body temperature and pressure.

You need to understand that all fears are unfounded, you have no control over what will happen. However, everything can be explained, for example, you learned about the incompetence of a doctor. Then refusing the operation is quite natural. Seeking help from another professional should change everything. General condition the patient may also cause the operation to be postponed. Therefore, any changes in your health should be reported to your doctor.

Trust between patient and doctor will help avoid many psychological troubles. You cannot hide any information from a specialist; for example, some people are embarrassed to talk about past sexual diseases or simply forget to report some fact from their medical history. And before the operation, the person understands that what was left unsaid could affect the diagnosis and choice of treatment method. This circumstance can cause real problems, so don’t lie and tremble, thinking about what will happen, it’s better to talk again with a specialist.

Remember those fearless girls who go under the knife plastic surgeon, sometimes completely unfounded. The desire to look better than others overcomes all fears of surgery.

Normally planned surgery- the same. Think about the fact that this is a necessity that will help you become healthy and help you get rid of the disease. You will live fully and freely.

There is no need to panic before surgery. Be afraid of what comes next. Think about what to do if you give up now and leave, and whether the gamble is worth the candle.

Surgeons are doctors whom, despite the great respect for their courage and professionalism, I would like to contact only for preventive purposes. Nevertheless, most people have to go on the operating table at least once in their lives, sometimes to save their lives, and sometimes not only (for example, when a woman is indicated for a cesarean section).

There is only one thing left for us to do - come to terms with this thought and trust the competence of doctors. Because than longer person delays in making a decision, the more complicated his problem becomes.

Few people are able to manage their emotions so well that they do not feel afraid of surgery at all. It's normal to feel nervous. How to overcome anxiety and how to mentally prepare for surgery? Some tips are in our article.

Tip 1

Talk to doctors

If surgical intervention is prescribed to a person as planned, and not as a urgently, there is always a chance to understand how to calm down before surgery, so that on the important day you can come to the medical facility in full combat readiness, optimistically. It is no secret that in recovery it is the patient’s mood that plays almost the key role.

Often we worry about something due to primitive lack of information. The prospect of surgical intervention is no exception.

Patients may be worried about a variety of fears - and among them there are both rational ones associated with real risks, and completely irrational, for which there is no basis.

For example, people undergoing surgery may worry that:

• The operation will be performed by incompetent specialists.
• Unforeseen difficulties will arise.
• During the operation there is a risk of becoming infected with something.
• The surgeon will leave an object in the patient.
• There will be postoperative pain.

To dispel these doubts, it is very important to first communicate with the surgeon and anesthesiologist to ask all your questions. For example, how to prepare for surgery general anesthesia. In most cases, doctors must carry out not only a series of medical examinations and tests, but also consultation with the patient specifically on the issues of the upcoming operation. For example, you could ask:

• How exactly the risk of complications is minimized;
• what difficulties are possible and what you can do to avoid them;
• what modern medical inventions make it possible to perform surgery with a minimum of risks and high efficiency;
• how anesthesia is administered before surgery (or rather, what type of anesthesia is used);
• how a person feels during and after surgery;
• what pain relief medications will be used;
• How many such operations has the surgeon already performed? Usually after answering “Ten” it becomes much easier.

If necessary, you can talk to another surgeon from another hospital to compare answers and put your mind at ease.

When a person is well informed and imagines what exactly will happen in the operating room, it is easier for him to figure out how not to be afraid of the operation.

Tip 2

Follow the rules

The doctor must tell you what can be done before the operation and what absolutely cannot be done: what tests to take, what to eat and drink (or not to eat at all), what specific procedures and preparations to carry out.

It is very important to strictly follow what the doctor said. And, for example, if you can’t eat in the evening, you shouldn’t wake up at night and, out of nerves, gnaw on cookies in the kitchen until the morning.
All the rules for preparing for surgery were invented for a reason, but for some important purpose.

Tip 3

Support from loved ones

It’s great if a person has developed good relationship with close people - family and friends, and there is someone to support him. But here it is very important that the tone is chosen correctly. Someone might find it helpful to be able to complain about their fears and cry on someone’s reliable shoulder. But you absolutely cannot feel sorry for someone - as soon as a person sees emotions in the eyes of others, this is transmitted to him, and even a strong spirit can become unstuck, while you need to remain optimistic. Your friends are probably thinking about how to find words of support before surgery. Voice your expectations: ask you not to regret, but to maintain faith in a positive outcome. Try, if the situation allows it, to joke more and think about the future - when everything is left behind.

Tip 4

Go to your confessor

For believers this is also very important point. When preparing for surgery, it is helpful to visit your church and tell the priest what important event you have to ask to pray for you.

Before surgery, you need to pray not only for yourself - you also need to pray for the surgeon before the operation (and other participants in the process).
Tip 5

About amateur performances

Often, patients who are about to undergo surgery, especially if the doctor has not provided them with enough information, tend to fill in the gaps on their own. Usually, to do this, they read articles on the Internet, forums and watch videos (note deleted by the owner) recordings of similar operations. This can be done, but it is important to consider your character and not overdo it. Still, there may be materials on the Internet written by not very competent authors, on forums there are too many emotions, not objectivity, and videos (note deleted by the owner) recordings... Such a sight is not for every eye.

If a person is suspicious and emotional, it is better to abstain. It is optimal to strive to obtain information first-hand – from a doctor.

Tip 6

Pleasant activities

Instead of sitting near the window all day a week before the operation and biting your nails because of your nerves, it is better to do something useful and pleasant, to distract yourself - even if it seems that you can’t think about anything else. Do what you like: be creative, take care of your family, watch positive films...

Tip 7

Think about the future

When surgery is ahead, it is better to think not about the process itself or the recovery period, but about what exactly it will bring. For example, if a girl is thinking about how to prepare herself for gynecological surgery, you can dream about how this will help maintain her women's health.

Conclusion

Conclusion

I would like to hope that most people will still pass this cup - at least regarding major operations. And if intervention is still required, then only in a planned manner, small and without negative consequences. When a person has to go through such a test, it is important to try to pull himself together and be positive. To do this, you need to collect as much objective information as possible, accept support from loved ones and pay attention to spiritual preparation.

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How to get ready for surgery? Regular vaccination or going to the dentist can make a person nervous. Fear of surgery is a normal psychological reaction. The individual does not know what awaits him ahead, what the surgeon’s intervention will be. Before you understand how not to be afraid of surgery, you need to understand what exactly the fear arises from. This could be force majeure, the rehabilitation period, or reluctance to stay in hospital next to other patients. Such a phobia is difficult, but it can be overcome.

Main reasons for fear

The most common reason for fear before surgery is a lack of information. A person cannot imagine what exactly the intervention in his body will be like. Not all doctors want to share details and descriptions of the disease and mechanisms for eliminating it. Doctors do not always have time to talk with a patient, since there is a queue of patients in the corridors. For some medical specialists, it is difficult to tell the average person what the disease is and why it occurs. All this causes misunderstanding and fear.

People often get the impression that doctors are soulless people. They don’t care about the problems of an individual, they do not always strive to help, they can easily cause harm to health in order to finish their work as quickly as possible. In practice, everything looks different. The medical officer has a plan for receiving patients, he took an oath that he would save people's lives and improve their physiological health. Therefore, such fears are far-fetched and unjustified. If necessary, you can have a heart-to-heart talk with a psychologist or psychotherapist. It is not the doctor's responsibility to talk to the patient.

It happens that a person knows too much information about his disease.

Most often, the search comes down to studying information written on the Internet. In practice, to make an accurate diagnosis, the patient needs to undergo a series of tests, which will then be analyzed by several medical specialists. Only after this can you find out what kind of disease the patient has and what treatment methods should be used.

Psychologists also advise you not to watch videos on the public network that show details operational process. There are a number of professions in which the sacrament must be preserved. A person’s consciousness may simply not tolerate what he sees, and phobias instantly develop. Medical specialists did not immediately come to carry out operations; their psyches were prepared (they spend more than 6 years at the university, study the structure of organs in detail, and attend autopsies). All this is not necessary for the average person to know.

How to get ready for surgery? Fear of surgery is often associated with anesthesia. This is another type of surgical intervention in the body. It causes panic. Some people think that the anesthesia may not work, there will be painful sensations that are incompatible with life. In practice, the process is monitored experienced anesthesiologist, it has indicators that determine the readiness of the patient’s body for surgery. Additional fears are associated with the consequences of anesthesia. A small percentage of people believe that it is possible not to wake up after a drug-induced sleep (these are very minimal risks compared to driving a car).

How to get rid of the fear of surgery

The patient has the right to choose to accept or refuse the operation. When a surgical intervention on the body is established by a council of doctors to save a life or improve health, a person must refuse the operation in writing. This way, doctors will not be held responsible in case of an accident or unforeseen circumstances.

How not to be afraid of surgery? Why is there fear before surgery? In most cases, you just need to deal with the causes of fear. A person may realize that medical institution high level services, large number satisfied clients, high level of training of medical specialists. Despite the minimal risks, the patient continues to be haunted by internal anxiety.

To get rid of such a phobia, it is enough to tell yourself about the need to improve your health. Sometimes it is impossible to do without surgical intervention. You need to try to cope with your emotions, write down rational arguments on paper, and re-read them several times.

Here's what you can do to minimize fear of surgery:

• read prayers;
• being distracted by extraneous matters;
• weigh risks;
• think positively;
• do not escalate the situation;
• take sedatives.

Prayer is one of the most simple ways get rid of a phobia for those who believe in higher powers. For skeptics, this method will not bring much benefit. It is absolutely not necessary to go to church and light candles. It’s enough just to pray, ask for help, health and patience for yourself.

The most unpleasant time is the evening or night before surgery.

How to overcome fear? It is important not to be alone with your own thoughts. It is best to ask your loved ones to come visit, talk about pleasant topics, or go to the cinema or theater. There is no need to withdraw into yourself or dwell on negative thoughts.

A small percentage of the operation is due to force majeure circumstances. It is worth treating this as the structure of the world and nature as a whole. You won't be able to control everything. This fear can only be combated by collecting as much information as possible about the clinic and medical specialists. Please note, due to medical error Only one patient per 250 thousand people dies. That is, the chances of dying for this reason are reduced to almost zero. The patient has a much higher chance of passing into another world due to the lack of therapeutic measures regarding his illness.

Positive thinking can help overcome fear of surgery. You need to try to think only about good things. It is important to force yourself to replay exclusively pleasant memories in your head before going to bed, and not to focus on the upcoming surgical intervention. You can try to visualize how life will change in positive side after the operation.

For example, if a person is about to have his appendicitis removed, then one can imagine going to a restaurant or visiting entertainment venues. At gynecological surgery It is advisable to think about future births and pregnancy.

Under no circumstances should you escalate the situation.

It is advisable not to seek information about force majeure during the operation, how death occurs and for what reasons. You need to tune in to a positive wave.

If none of the above points help, then you can simply drink a sedative. It will stimulate deep sleep, will improve overall physical and mental health patient.

Suitable means for taking inside the body are:

• chamomile;
• St. John's wort;
• mint;
• fireweed;
• linden.

Please note that before taking such herbs, you must consult your doctor. It happens that the patient experiences allergic reaction, or the simultaneous use of several drugs is contraindicated.

How not to be afraid of what will happen during and after the operation? The answer is obvious - just relax, forget about the bad, trust the doctors and yourself.

If a person is in the hospital before an upcoming surgical intervention, then you can walk along the floors of the medical facility and talk with other patients. Information about how other people struggled with their fears may be useful; you can ask how patients feel after surgery, whether the experience was worth it. So much it will pass faster time, and there will be no room for negative thoughts.

Physical preparation for surgery

Before the upcoming surgical intervention, it would also not be superfluous to physical training patient. It is worth adhering to a few simple rules:

• do not drink alcohol several months before surgery;
• try to smoke as little as possible;
• follow the diet prescribed by the doctor;
• do not use perfumes and decorative cosmetics;
• use internally only those medications prescribed by the doctor;
• measure and record your own temperature and blood pressure every morning.

In order not to be afraid of surgery, you just need to not let fear into your mind. It is important to remember that surgery is performed by a team of doctors and nurses. If there is a reasonable fear that the specialist will not cope with the task, then it is better to seek help from another surgeon. At unreliable analyzes, you can always undergo a re-examination. How not to be afraid of accidents? It is important simply not to focus your attention on this fact. You just need to accept that this happens in the world, but it affects individual lives.

To get rid of fear as soon as possible, experts advise telling your doctor about your phobia. It happens that patients hide facts from their anamnesis. They do not provide information about transferred venereal diseases, injuries. Before setting the date of the operation, the patient can realize what he has given medical specialist false information. In practice this can lead to negative consequences.

There are fearless people who are ready to go under the knife without any rational explanation as to why surgery is needed. Here we're talking about about those who are fixated on plastic surgery, correction of individual parts of the body. Such people are not afraid of anything. Their fear is often false, since unjustified surgery (without appropriate medical indications) can significantly worsen their health.

Basic rules for preparing for surgery

How not to be afraid of surgery? First of all you need to purchase psychological health, calm down, try to achieve a state of peace. The patient needs to clearly understand that the operation will have a positive effect on his body and will help him function better. The sooner surgical intervention occurs, the better for the patient.

It is worth preparing not only from a moral point of view, but also from a practical point of view. It is important to choose a clinic where experienced specialists work. This will increase the chances of a favorable outcome of the event. If there is such an opportunity, then you need to go preoperative preparation.

It consists of the following stages:

1. Providing necessary tests to the attending physician before surgery.
2. Refusal bad habits several weeks or months before surgery, depending on your health condition and the complexity of the procedure.
3. Changing your diet towards dietary foods.

We must remember that every day thousands of people undergo surgery. This is how they take care of own health. Those patients who do not know how not to be afraid of surgery should pay attention to the recommendations.

It is important to be confident that the doctor has the appropriate competence to carry out the procedure. The outcome of treatment will be positive, practically excluded side effects. You need to believe in yourself and not doubt the presence of internal strength in order to recover safely after surgery.

A few days before surgery, the patient may seek psychological help(such people usually give parting words and set the mood for a positive wave). Additionally, experts advise using an audio player with relaxing music, watching comedies, and reading jokes. The patient will benefit from reading positive reviews about the operations performed, about the clinic itself and the doctors. The most important thing is that there is no need to fantasize and visualize the negative consequences of the operation. Any medical officer First of all, he strives to help the patient, not harm him.

Maria Kalinina

10 Dec 2012, 09:12

Maria Kalinina, anesthesiologist and resuscitator at the Novosibirsk clinic of aesthetic medicine “Golden Section”, spoke to Taige.info about doctors with whom you are not afraid to fall asleep, as well as about 10 phobias of patients before anesthesia.

Anesthesia as a way to make sure that the patient not only does not feel pain, but so that he does not feel or see a surgical intervention, was first introduced into practice by dentist Thomas Morton in 1846. The inscription on his monument in the United States reads: “Before him, surgery was always an agony.” But here’s the paradox: more than a century and a half later, patients in most cases fear anesthesia and its consequences much more than the operation itself. And this despite the fact that, based on world statistics, anesthesia is safer than traveling in a car.

Of course, it is also not necessary to say that anesthetics and their use are absolutely harmless. Sir Robert Mackintosh, the first head of the first department of anesthesiology in Europe, more than 60 years ago, expressed the idea that anesthesia is always dangerous, and therefore requires special training specialists. At the same time, a recent survey of UK residents showed that almost 40% of the population have no idea who an anesthesiologist is. One can only guess what this percentage is in Russia.

An anesthesiologist-resuscitator at a Novosibirsk clinic told Taige.info about doctors with whom you are not afraid to fall asleep, as well as about 10 phobias of patients before anesthesia. aesthetic medicine « Golden ratio» Maria Kalinina.

Fear of anaphylactic shock. They say that in Russia allergy tests for anesthesia drugs are not done. Is this true? How, then, is anesthesia for surgery selected? How is individual intolerance to a particular anesthetic drug determined in a patient?

— According to medical publications, the incidence of anaphylactic shock 1 in 5-25 thousand patients receiving injections of general anesthetics. Allergy tests for some general anesthesia drugs are not really carried out in our country. However, when choosing an anesthesia method, the doctor carefully determines the possibility of developing this complication. A qualified anesthesia team is always prepared for the development of this serious complication.

Fears: “anesthesia takes away 5 years of a person’s life,” “anesthesia affects the heart!” Does anesthesia have a frequency limit? Why does proper anesthesia carry no risks? How to understand that an anesthesiologist is in front of you - a true professional?

— Anesthesia is inevitably associated with surgical treatment. If surgery is absolutely indicated, then anesthesia is only part of a complex of treatment measures. If we talk about general anesthesia, or anesthesia, then this is, first of all, the protection of the body during surgery, and the task of the anesthesiologist is to protect the patient from surgical trauma. Moreover, adequate anesthetic care can significantly reduce the need for treatment in the perioperative period, that is, during the period of the body’s stress reaction to surgical aggression and physiological adaptation to it.

Fears of anesthesia date back to the period in the development of medicine when toxic drugs were used for anesthesia

Often, all these fears of anesthesia are unfounded and relate to the period of development of medicine when toxic drugs were used for anesthesia. On at the moment complications caused by general anesthesia are minimal. Before administering anesthesia, the doctor explains to the patient the method of choosing anesthesia and possible risks. If the patient has questions that the doctor cannot answer, then he has the right by law to refuse help this specialist. Considering the fairly high responsibility, there are not many amateurs in our profession.

Fear of “anesthesia is the same drug.” Is it true that the most the best drugs for intravenous anesthesia are not available in Russia, and therefore, when performing such anesthesia, doctors often use drugs that are good at putting to sleep, but poorly at anesthetizing? Is it really true that drugs are added to medications to avoid this?

— Intravenous anesthesia is a multicomponent technique. The effect is achieved by a combination of several drugs, the action of which is aimed at creating sleep, pain relief, and muscle relaxation. And only their competent combination provides comfortable, effective anesthesia. Today in Russia there is no shortage of drugs for this type of anesthesia.

Fear “What if I wake up during the operation?!” How is the process of falling asleep and waking up controlled? Is it really possible for a patient to wake up during surgery? How will he feel in this case? Will anyone notice operating team?

— According to medical publications, the problem of “intraoperative restoration of consciousness” is the most common cause lawsuits in the United States. But, as a rule, it is associated with a period of awakening in which the patient can hear the conversation of people around him. Today, in order to exclude such cases, the depth of anesthesia is monitored, which makes it possible to reduce their number to a minimum.

The patient should not endure pain. Adequate pain relief is one of the main tasks of the doctor supervising it.

Fear “Even if I don’t feel any pain during the operation, then after waking up it will all be restored!” How to cope with pain postoperative period? Many believe that it is better to endure it than to “stuff yourself with chemistry.”

— Pain, unfortunately, is an integral part of the postoperative period. It is associated with inevitable tissue damage during surgery. Its severity may vary, and this is due to the surgical technique. At the moment, there are many methods and drugs for adequate postoperative pain relief. The patient should not endure pain! Adequate pain relief is one of the main tasks of the doctor supervising it.

Fears “In my sleep I will be delirious, and the doctors will laugh at me. What if I hear this?”, “What if I blurt something out under general anesthesia?” Are there common cases of patient delirium during surgery? And how is the ethical side of the matter resolved?

— Ethical issues are topical for our society as a whole. Failure to comply with these canons lies with the personal responsibility of each person. But in general, if we are talking about professional ethics, then the medical staff of any clinic, including the Golden Section, is legally responsible for the disclosure of both medical confidentiality in general and what a patient under anesthesia may inadvertently say.

Fear: “anesthesia cripples the psyche of children”, “any anesthesia is dangerous for old people - the heart cannot stand it, a stroke may occur.” Is it really growing? children's body and a weakened old man automatically puts these people at risk?

— If surgical treatment is necessary, then the lack of adequate anesthesia in childhood and older age group significantly more dangerous than the risks associated with anesthesia. In children, regional anesthesia is usually combined with general anesthesia. There is a principle: the child should not be “present” at his operation. Because for him this is a psychological shock, a fear that can remain for life. That's what's important. This principle must be followed 100% of the time.

Fear of spinal and epidural anesthesia: “I’m afraid of an injection in the back - they’ll hurt me.” spinal cord, I will either die or remain crippled.” Are these fears really so groundless? How can this be avoided?

— According to studies conducted in Switzerland, the incidence of serious complications caused by regional anesthesia techniques varies from 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 200,000 patients. With strict, prescribed protocol, adherence to the methodology and sufficient technical support these complications are minimal.

Modern methods of anesthesia allow you to comfortably begin it already in the ward and thereby eliminate fear

Fear “What if I have a panic attack before the anesthesia?” What to do with neurotics?

- Firstly, it is important here psychological preparation the patient - both how his conversation with the doctor will turn out, and how the person will set himself up. And secondly, modern technique Anesthesia allows you to start it quite comfortably already in the ward and thereby level out fear. Thus, in the “Golden Section” anesthesia begins not on the operating table, among special equipment and instruments, which creates even more fear, but in a comfortable room, in which the patient will also have to wake up.

Fear “I will fall asleep and not wake up.” Can a patient insist on local anesthesia if he is afraid to fall asleep?

— Adequate local anesthesia in some cases it may be a priority in selection. But only the presence of an anesthesiology team can clearly control the situation and create comfort.

If the clinic has an anesthesiology team on staff, this indicates high professionalism, the availability of expensive equipment, safety and the ability to minimize all risks. With such doctors you can fall asleep without fear.

Photos by Tatyana Lomakina

A typical trip to the doctor for many is severe stress, not to mention the operation. Fear of surgical intervention represents defensive reaction organism, and represents the fear of something unknown ahead. At the same time, people cannot accurately express what specifically scares them: the operation itself, the rehabilitation period, the hospital walls, or something else. Having already received a referral for a surgical procedure, almost all patients ask themselves the question: how to overcome the fear of surgery?

Reasons for fear of surgery

• One of the main reasons for preoperative phobia is complete uncertainty. The patient knows his diagnosis, knows approximately what will be done for him, and that’s where all the information ends. Not every surgeon will explain to the patient what is happening in his body, how the operation will take place, what specific actions he will perform, how many days the body’s recovery will take. The main task of the surgeon is to perform his work professionally, and a psychotherapist should calm all mental anxieties.
• The absolutely opposite reason for fear of surgery is the patient’s excessive awareness of both his illness and the methods of treating it. Nowadays, you can find a lot of information on the Internet about any disease and methods of getting rid of it. You should not always trust the articles you read; each case is individual and requires a professional assessment by the attending physician. Having read about how surgery should be carried out, how anesthesia is done and other points, patients begin to panic about the operation.
• The third reason for fear is anesthesia. Some patients are afraid that the anesthesia will have a bad effect and they will feel pain, others are afraid of the possible negative consequences of anesthesia. Surely many have heard the popular belief that one dose of anesthesia shortens a person’s life by several years. Well, another group of people who are afraid of surgical intervention is the fear of not waking up at all after anesthesia.

It is unlikely that doctors will be able to remember at least one person who would not be afraid of surgery. The only difference is that many are trying to overcome their phobia and go through this stage of treatment, while others, on the contrary, experience real panic attacks at the mere mention of surgery. There are frequent cases in medical practice, when patients voluntarily refused surgery due to their panic fear.

How to overcome fear

Each person is given the right to choose whether to agree to surgery or not. If we are talking about a small cosmetic procedure, say, removing burn marks, then the patient’s life is not in danger if it is refused. But most often, surgery is performed according to medical indications and refusing it may entail serious complications. If the patient simply needs surgery, for example, removal malignant tumor, but because of fear of the upcoming procedure, the patient refuses surgical treatment, he must write in his own hand a refusal of the proposed treatment. Thus, doctors relieve themselves of responsibility for the unfavorable outcome of the disease.

Having weighed all the pros and cons, the patient understands that he simply needs the operation, but what to do if horror constrains the whole body? Psychologists give a number of recommendations on how to get rid of the fear of surgery.

Get distracted

Usually the fear of surgery reaches its peak the day before the procedure. In order not to completely go crazy, you need to try to distract yourself. Watch an interesting movie in the evening, read your favorite book, in a word, let your thoughts be occupied with anything, but not tomorrow.

Pray

Skeptics will, of course, grin and skip this paragraph. But for some, prayer brings emotional peace, and with its help, many people actually manage to get rid of the fear of surgery. It is not necessary to go to church or remember the exact text of the prayer, you can simply mentally turn to God and ask for good outcome procedures.

Really assess the situation

Calmly think about what exactly are you afraid of? If the reason is anesthesia, try talking to an anesthesiologist. Tell us about your fear, and a competent specialist will reassure you by telling you how anesthesia will be applied. According to statistics, only one person out of several hundred thousand dies from improper anesthesia, and every tenth person dies from burst appendicitis.

Think positively

If you can’t get rid of thoughts about the upcoming operation, try to turn your thoughts into a more positive direction. For example, a woman cannot have children for many years, and the upcoming surgical intervention gives her a chance to become a mother. Think about your future baby and the fear of surgery will subside a little.

Don't escalate the situation

How can you not be afraid of surgery if your roommates spend the entire evening telling horror stories about surgeons who forget a scalpel or a roll of cotton wool in a patient’s body? Ask to change the topic of conversation or watch a movie on your laptop using headphones. You should not use the computer to search for “failed transactions over the past few years” and the like.

Take a sedative

Do not forget that taking any sedatives This is possible only after consultation with your doctor! Only he will tell you what you can drink and what you can’t. In any case, a decoction of mint, chamomile, motherwort or other medicinal herbs will not hurt.

Preparing for surgery

To overcome the fear of surgery, the patient must be calm and confident in the professionalism of the operating surgeon. The patient must understand that surgery is the only way to recover from the disease, and the sooner it takes place, the better. You need to prepare for the upcoming procedure not only morally, but also from a practical point of view. Choose a clinic that employs competent specialists, because the favorable outcome of the event depends on the professional skills of the doctor. If possible, complete preoperative preparation. Mainly it includes:

• Passing all necessary tests long before surgery;
• Give up bad habits at least a couple of weeks before the procedure;
• Do not go to the bathhouse or do other things cosmetic procedures at least a week before surgery;
• Keep a diary of changes in general health, body temperature and blood pressure;
• Monitor your diet. Before surgery, you should not eat fatty and salty foods, carbonated drinks, chocolate and other sweets. It is necessary to give preference to lean meat, vegetables and fruits.

You should not withhold information about others from your doctor. chronic diseases, this can lead to complications both during and after surgery. If some moments still worry you ( bad tests, negative reviews about the surgeon), you should not submit to circumstances. Perhaps your fear serves as a signal for some action: change doctor or clinic, retake tests, or treat another disease. Feeling unwell may also serve as a basis for postponing the date of the surgical procedure.

It is quite possible to overcome the fear of upcoming surgery and anesthesia; to do this, you need not to panic, but really weigh everything. Collect information about the practicing surgeon, follow all doctor’s orders, do not search the Internet for information about unsuccessful operations, in a word, don’t get hung up on the upcoming procedure. Thousands of people go on the operating table, afraid as much as you, and in the end everything goes well. If alternative treatment is not provided, trust your doctor and throw all worries away.