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1. Focus on the present.
In order to calm anxiety before foot surgery, it's important to focus on the present moment. Analyzing situations that cause anxiety in the past or worrying about future possibilities tends to increase anxiety and result in more stress.
Instead, during this time of waiting for your foot surgery, ask yourself what you can do right now to help with your situation.
2. Ask why?
If you are feeling anxious about your foot surgery, it's useful to understand why. Often, anxiety results from fear or worry about things such as possible outcomes, fear of the procedure, fear of the unknown, or many random (often irrational) thoughts.
If you stop and think about how many times in your life, you have worried or thought about something that never happened, then it becomes clear that worrying does not help.
3. Expecting some pain and discomfort.
It can help you prepare for surgery if you know this going in. Anticipating pain also helps people better deal with it when it happens.
Suppose your doctor gives you an idea of what kind or levels of pain or discomfort you may feel. When the time comes, the level of discomfort is no longer something to worry about because you anticipated this. There can be some solace in knowing that to expect.
Things may hurt now, but things will feel better progressively.
4. Having support.
It can be beneficial having a friend or family member there to support you before, during, and after the procedure.
Support can come from advice, encouragement, or simply being present with someone who cares about your well-being in a comforting manner. We feel better when we feel cared for.
5. Don't worry about the "what if's."
Don't get too caught up in the here and now. A certain amount of anxiety about what is happening right then and there is healthy. Still, if you worry about how much pain, how it will hurt, or whether you'll feel well enough to go out with friends, it can cause additional stress—exacerbating anxiety feelings.
6. Focus on what you can control.
Focus on the things you can control or influence. You cannot make your foot feel better by merely wishing it to be so. Nor can you avoid having surgery without doing anything at all. If you're in a situation where there is nothing for you to do but sit back and wait for others to handle everything, then letting go of any anxiety regarding whether things will go well or not allows you to relax more.
This is a good opportunity to practice some meditation. |
