How to Deal with Depression After Surgery?

Anne (29) recently underwent knee replacement surgery in India due to an injury. Although she is recovering, she is unable to deal with the post-surgical pain and movement restrictions. Being young, she wants to socialize, meet her friends and live life wholeheartedly. However, currently, she isn’t able to do it. Her family is supporting her in every way possible. But she still feels alone and left out. That’s pushing her into depression, further worsening the situation!

Post-surgery depression is common. Statistics vary depending on the surgical procedure people undergo and its impact on their lives. However, 12-50 percent of people experience it at various stages. While some feel left out, many others find it challenging to deal with the post-surgery physical and emotional trauma.

Lately, if you or your loved one underwent surgery and are struggling with depression, don’t feel alone. You can overcome it with the right measures and approach. Here are six vital tips to deal with post-surgery mental health symptoms.

Overcoming Post-Depression Surgery

Specific mental health treatments may vary depending on the extent of depression and the patient’s overall condition. Expert consultation, guidance, and hand-holding are imperative to win the battle against post-surgery depression. However, here are some generic measures that can make a difference.

Stay Connected – Socialize

Post-surgery loneliness is common. However, isolation beyond a point can worsen depression. One of the ways to overcome it is socializing and staying connected with family and friends. Talking to well-wishers over the phone or meeting them in person can make a significant difference. Furthermore, joining support groups who’ve undergone similar surgeries can also usher positivity.

Maintain a Routine

Most people experiencing post-surgery depression fail to follow and maintain a specific routine. It is either out of despair or lack of encouragement. Nevertheless, maintaining a routine is one of the ways to end depression. A structured routine, including exercises, diet, therapies, hobbies, etc., provides a sense of normalcy and control. It accelerates recovery and helps you resume normal life quickly.

Indulge in Physical Activities

The body undergoes numerous changes after surgery, making it difficult for the person to move or perform routine movements. Hence, post-surgery pain and movement restrictions are common and normal. However, staying stationary can worsen the condition, delay recovery, and make you feel more depressed. Instead, following doctor-recommended exercises under expert supervision can strengthen your body and elevate your mood, enabling a quicker recovery.

Mental Health Consultation

Often, people don’t express their grief and pain and continue struggling with them in isolation. However, that doesn’t help at all! If you think you need someone with whom you could discuss your state of mind, you can consult experts or professional therapists. These people will listen to you and provide emotional support, helping you deal with depression better. In some cases, they may recommend anti-depressants or other medications to manage various symptoms.

Have Realistic Goals

Setting realistic goals is one of the keys to avoiding and overcoming depression after surgery. A 60-year-old who has undergone hip replacement in India cannot expect to walk normally in a week or so. And if they do, they are likely to feel disappointed and eventually depressed. Thus, you must set goals you can achieve and celebrate small milestones. Understanding that recovery takes time can sort many things out!

Engage in Complementary Therapies

Complementary therapies like music, art, etc., help create outlets for expressing emotions and reducing stress. These support regular treatment and help enhance the overall outcomes. Technology can be really helpful in this as well. Therapy has become very accessible and easily available online through various apps, AI chatbots, etc. Like infiheal’s Healo, their team of diligent Psychologists, and AI experts have worked tirelessly to bring to you HEALO, the world’s most advanced AI mental health and life Coach. HEALO as an AI chatbot has been trained hard by experts to understand the intricacies of the complex web of human mind and strives to bring valuable insight forward to you in your journey of healing and wellness. You can harness the power and capabilities of technology to recover more quickly.

Conclusion

Post-surgery is a temporary phase. Besides, it isn’t the end of the road but a new beginning. So, the more optimistic you are, the more emotionally healthier you stay. As for treatment and surgeries worldwide, Plan My Medical Trip has got you. With our extensive tie-ups, end-to-end support, and amazing deals, we deliver seamless medical treatment experiences. Trusted by thousands, we are here to serve you. Email us at info@planmymedicaltrip.com to learn more or connect with our experts.