Life After Surgery - Emotional Well-Being
After surgery you will need to help to
address the psychological and behavioural aspects of weight loss
surgery and then deal with attitude, emotional and behavioural
factors associated with the successful transition to a very
different lifestyle.
Prior to surgery, you were using food for various other reasons, not just as fuel: reward, comfort, socialisation, to combat boredom etc. After surgery, even though you can’t and won’t feel like eating, when the situation arises where food used to be the answer, the desire for food may suddenly raise its head again. This may be quite sudden, and may either be easily dealt with by common sense, or may produce a sense of “buyer’s remorse”- what have I done?, accompanied by an acute emotional response. This is very normal, and can usually be coped with, but it can all become too overwhelming, and this is where our counsellors and psychologists can provide support.
Over the first few weeks after surgery, a number of strange emotions will be felt, including a sense of unreality. This is where the support of those you trust around you is needed, to ground you, to help you realise that your future dreams are indeed possible, and to keep you focused on the rules. The things that have been discussed with our therapists will become a reality, and it is worth continually revising what you talked over with them during this time.
Telling People you have had Weight Loss Surgery
Deciding whether or not to tell others about your surgery is a personal choice and there are pros and cons of sharing your surgery decision with others. Read more.
