Question:
My fear of surgery has gone on for too long. i really want it to stop. can i overcome this?
I have an annoying habit of worrying about things tjat havnt happened yet. It all started when my mum told me she had had appendicitis and that she had to have surgery in order to have her appendix removed. I started to pannick and think - what if i get appendicitis? And i started worrying about it for ages then the anxiety settled down. When my freind told me he had had surgery for his broken arm i also started to freak out. He said they injected him and he felt cold liquid flowing up his arm and he felt all dizzy and then fell asleep. I was just so worried and anxious at this point because i do not know the feeling of being knocked out and what if it goes wrong and i am not fully asleep for the operation. I eventually told my parents about my anxiety and they said "why are you worrying about thinys that have not happened?" however, my mam mentioned tjat they stuck tubes down your throat and hooked you up to a breathing machine, which is my worst fear. I feel sick at the thought of that, so unnatural, creepy and freaky (i am very squeamish). I started to have nightmares etc. I never used to worry about this problem before. And i just scared of the possibility of having surgery one day. I have tried writing positive things down about why i shouldnt worry about it but those thoughts keep coming back. Plz can someone help me with my anxiety. I am fit and healthy. I find it hard to take each day at a time wihout giving a ****. Will my mum and dad give me support? Is it likely to happen? i am constantly worrying and is affecting my schoolwork. i have already seen a councillor obout previous anxieties. is it worth seeing her again?
Answers:
Well you can look at it this way, which is more frightening, dying or having surgery. Most people will choose the surgery. I've also been sick a few times in my life, and there are times where the pain gets so bad, that you actually look forward to going to the hospital or doctor. At least they can give you some pain relief.
I also like to do what dogs do. They don't worry about dying or anything else. How do they do it? They aren't smart enought to know what dying is so they don't worry about it. So basically, just do what dogs do, and don't even think about it.