Does anyone also suffer from anxiety?

[Scoones]

Yes, I do. I had severe anxiety for a number of years, although now I am much better at controlling it. It still rears its ugly head if it really wants to though!!

[crystal_willow]

Yes, I've had anxiety for a long time. I have gotten much better at dealing with it by learning about how anxiety physically and psychologically works. I now have the confidence and ability to reduce and prevent anxiety attacks and feeling of general anxiety. There is a good book about it that I learned from: humangivens.com/publication...

I thoroughly reccomend it xx

[Hidden]

Thank you for your answers. I had a really bad episode last year and it forced me to face up to it (after about 8 years of trying to hide from it!) This might be a silly question but does having an anaesthetic have a bad affect on anxiety? For some reason I am really worried I will wake up after having the laparoscopy and have a panic attack! x

[crystal_willow]

I had the same fear.... I mean I can't promise that this will not happen as we are all different but what I can tell you if what happened to me.

I have had 2 operations this year, both requiring me to go under general.

I went into my first surgery well preparedf that I may well have a panic attack and fully expecting to have one. I went in crying and shaking but not actually having a panic attack. I didn't try to surpress my fear as it seemed an appropriate time to be scared. I had told all the staff that I get anxiety and that my biggest fear was that I would have nausia when I woke up so they reassured me that I would be pumped full of anti emitics while I was asleep and I could have more if I needed it.

The surgeon was really nice and said that once i had been given the medication it should calm me down alot. He was not wrong! and once I was laid down they injected me with the strong stuff and immediately I was far, far too drug-calm to be anxious anymore. It was nice to suddenly not give much of a monkeys. You just need to be prepared that the drugs will make you very sleepy and choose to go with it.... enter in the spirit of aqcceptance and curiosity.

I think you need to be really specific about what your fears are... if you have any specific conserns then you need to find out where you stand in relation to these conserns. Once you know where you stand then you need to work on acceptance of the proceedure.

The second surgery was much simpler emotionally because I had been through the general anesthetic proceedure before. I was nervous but I knew the calm would come

I also had a mantra which I made up the first time:

"The surgeon is competent and the proceedure is safe"

I kept repeating this to myself between controlled breaths and it seemed to help my mindset.

Also I woke up and I felt so happy..... morphine... I hadn't even throught that I was basically going to be on a drug people use to feel good..... I nommed my toast amd had many nice naps lol

xx

[Hidden]

Thank you so much Crystal! Your post has really helped me. I am sure I will still be very nervous going into the operation but I'm not worried about the anaesthetic so much now. It's funny how you worry about being anxious less when you know it is in an acceptable situation. I'm glad to hear that your second lot of surgery was less emotional. Have you heard of a course called Right Steps? xx

[debbienufc]

has any one been given diazapan for this

[Hidden]

Hi Debbie. I take Citalopram. The doctor did suggest Diazapan once but I was too scared to take it! x