Weight loss surgery is no easy operation. Physically it takes its toll as recovery takes a good month. And chances are that you’ve focused all of your energies on physical health after weight loss surgery. But I will bet that you have paid little thought to the emotional toll that such a massive life change can take on you.
Getting home after weight loss surgery will be a relief. You will eat a liquid diet before transitioning to soft food and small, healthy meals. And you will see rapid weight loss and be delighted with your progress. But you may begin to feel isolated and your weight loss journey can be lonely.
Friends and family may mean well, but you are embarking on a whole new way of life that they cannot comprehend. This can cause anxiety to manifest even if you aren’t an anxious person. And you may struggle to maintain a positive outlook.
Emotional Health after Weight Loss Surgery
Let’s explore how to look after your emotional health after weight loss surgery. And you will see how you can claim control of your future.
Emotional Support after Weight Loss Surgery
It can be tricky to talk to family and friends about what you are going through. However well-intentioned, they simply don’t get it. But there are people just like you going through weight loss surgery. So head online to support groups like Bariatric Women and Bariatric Weight Loss Family.
Chatting to people who’ve had weight loss surgery and truly understand what you are going through is extremely beneficial. Sharing your feelings and emotions can be hugely empowering. You will extend your social circle and make friends with people with shared experiences to your own.
If you are suffering with emotional health after weight loss surgery then you need a professional ear to listen. Think about speaking to a therapist. Therapists are objective, meaning that they will not judge or try to coerce you into thinking a certain way. They will guide you through your anxieties to find the root of your worries. Then help you address them and become positive in your mindset for the future.
Alleviate What Ails You
Don’t settle for anxiety as a permanent fixture in your new life. Instead, be proactive! Look into natural and at-home remedies that alleviate anxiety and see what resonates with you. Here are a few places to begin:
Perhaps check out a company like Penguin CBD. Some people manage mild anxiety with CBD instead of prescription medication. And several studies point to the potential benefits of CBD for anxiety. Also consider applying some of their cream to surgical scars or aching joints. Aching knees and hips are not unusual from years of morbid obesity. But a CBD cream can penetrate joints and help to reduce pain.
As well, consider slowly increasing your activity levels to benefit pain-relief and emotional health. The great outdoors are wonderful for stimulating the happiness hormones: serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. This negates the presence and effect of the stress hormone, cortisol. So you feel more content and optimistic. And natural sun rays help to regulate your circadian rhythm and you will sleep better.
Getting outside also will help you with becoming active. Immediately after weight loss surgery, you’ll need to take it easy, but you can still go on short walks. Short walks are how I began to get active after my gastric bypass surgery. As your stamina increases, lengthen your walks and enjoy heading to the park with friends.
Remember, this weight loss surgery was important to you because it would give you the freedom to do things that you could never do when you were morbidly obese. So make your health after weight loss surgery a top priority! And grab these opportunities with both hands! While you might not fancy training for a marathon just yet, consider walking, taking some gentle bicycle rides, and even taking up bariatric yoga. Being active increases your cardiovascular fitness, keeps the weight off, and helps your emotional health after weight loss surgery.
Try Something New
If you feel a deep sense of anxiety after weight loss surgery, you are probably alone with your thoughts a little too much. You need to be proactive and give yourself the opportunity to think about something else. Doing something new that you are passionate about will give you something to look forward to. If you have always fancied learning the guitar, take an online class. If you want to enhance your cooking skills, sign up for an evening class. And if you want to take up yoga, research classes on your local area.
Doing something new channels your negative energy into something more positive. And it can keep your intrusive thoughts at bay. Yoga is a fantastic hobby to take up! It is beneficial to both your emotional and physical health after weight loss surgery. Moving your body into different poses helps to strengthen your core. Coupled with breathing exercises, you learn to live more in the moment rather than worrying about what may or may not happen in the future.
Stay Social
Don’t stay cooped up indoors for any longer than necessary. It might be tempting to embark on your post-bariatric surgery journey alone, but this could leave you feeling isolated. Instead, get out there as soon as possible.
When you receive an invitation, try enthusiastically to accept it. Enjoy going shopping with friends, venture to a belly dance class, go on that evening sail, and host your own dinner party. Yes, you need to be more mindful about what you are eating. But you don’t have to draw attention to it. And you can manage this effectively when you are in control of the menu.
Being with friends allows you to get out of your head and think about other things besides your own negative thoughts. Use your support network and enjoy having a laugh and a giggle. This is a new way of life for you! Enjoy it! You don’t have to consider your weight for every decision that you make from now on. This can take some getting used to, but the world really is your oyster. Follow this guide and take good care of your emotional health after weight loss surgery.
Living larger than ever,
My Bariatric Life
