Natural
Tips for Surgery - The Mind
by Linda Mackenzie,
Ph.D. (c)
Having surgery, whether elective or unexpected, can be a traumatic
experience but there are some natural things that you can do on a mind
level that may aid your healing process and boost a better, positive
outcome. Remember every body is different. Select the ways and methods
that feel right for you.
FOR
THE MIND:
-
Do remember that YOU are responsible for
your body
No one knows your body better than you do. Your doctor is going
by generalities but every body is different so don't give away your
power to anyone. Take the responsibility of yourself. Here are some
tips on how you can work WITH your doctor:
- Before having surgery ask your doctor the right questions: Why,
How, What, When, Where; what
happens if I don't have surgery; are there other alternatives other
than surgery; what are the risks and benefits; what % of these types
of surgeries are successful; how long is the recovery period?
- Get at least one or two other medical opinions prior to having surgery.
- Tell your doctor about the medications, herbs and supplements you
are taking. Most Western MDs are not familiar with alternative therapies,
including herbs, but that does not mean they do not work.
- Consult with your doctor to see if you can have less invasive laparoscopic
surgery for your procedure.
- Ask about the risks and effects of anesthesia.
- Ask questions and do not apologize for asking questions. Remember
you're paying the Doctor. He is working with you as a partner, not
as a Medical Deity or your boss. Make a list of your questions prior,
during and after each meeting with your doctor so you don't forget
them and ask them!
- Be persistent and use caring assertiveness.
- Participate as much as you can in your healing process.
-
Do Deal with Your Emotions
Learning that you are going to have or getting surgery comes with
its very own pack of emotions: denial, anger, bargaining, sadness
and acceptance. Learning to cope and deal with this in positive ways
can help your healing process. You are what you think - so for a positive
outcome - THINK POSITIVE! Here are some of the emotions you may have
to deal with and some suggestions on how to handle them:
- Denial or "Numbness": Look to balance your mind and work
on looking at the real picture until you work your way into acceptance.
- Anger: acknowledge it, take an appropriate action (e.g., Punch a
pillow, go into a room by yourself and scream, walk around the block,
draw a picture) then let it go.
- Sadness- Let it out and cry, get support from friends, loved ones
or a support group, start and write a your own healing journal, do
artwork therapy, write a letter to yourself.
- Worry - is a useless emotion which accomplishes nothing and eats
up your time. Time in which you can be doing something positive to
help your healing process. When you get a "worry" thought
acknowledge that you have it and let it go immediately.
- Change your emotions to positive ones like hope, joy and happiness.
- Make your Environment Happy. Bring your favorite personal pictures,
paintings, music, flowers and plants, aromatherapy fragrances with
you to the hospital or even spruce up your room at home.
- Avoid negative people and situations.
- Make a list of supportive people and groups in your life and use
the list!
-
Nice To Use: Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy Oil |
Activity that aid, help or restore
|
Rose, Lavender, Neroli, Bergamot,
Chamomile |
Anxiety |
Frankincense, Sandalwood |
Fear & Insecurity |
Jasmine, Grapefruit, Neroli, Sage,
Ylang, Ylang |
Depression |
Jasmine |
Lack of Confidence |
-
Do Face Your Fears:
Once you get a clear picture from your doctor on what is going to
happen to you before, during and after your surgical procedure you
will have eliminated some of the fears. If other fears persist as
to outcome, possible death, etc. remember a couple of things:
- The only thing to fear is fear itself. You are in God's hands
and will be all right - no matter what. Even if death occurs remember
that it is not the end, but a transition. There is life on the other
side, so you really never die you pass over to a better place. So
reconcile with your fear of death.
- You create your reality with your thoughts. So if you feel, know
and trust that the outcome will be positive and that you will heal
- YOU WILL.
- Positive Energy resonates to a higher energetic frequency than
negative. Positive energy that can make you feel good and help you
face your fears can be activated by thought. The higher frequencies
correlate with the upper chakras (esoteric electrical energy centers
in the body) starting with the heart chakra and up to the crown
chakra. To activate these centers -BUZZ. That's right just buzz
like a bee. You will be surprised as to how this works.
- Another helpful hint for fear is to BREATHE. Breathe in through
the nose slowly and deeply and then breathe out with the mouth in
a rhythmic pattern. This will immediately lower your pulse and heart
rate and get you centered. Physically it activates the Vegas nerve
which is the major quieting nerve in the body. The Vegas nerve starts
at the base of the brain and branches out to the heart, lungs and
intestinal track. By just breathing deeply it automatically quiets
your body and centers you.
- Remember fear is your friend, not an enemy. Society teaches us
that fear should be avoided but you can reprogram your mind to make
fear a friend. You can always learn something you fear and once
you learn it the fear usually doesn't come back.
- Remember there are 4 steps to managing fear and turning it into
a positive emotion:
1) Acknowledge your fear;
2) Feel how the fear is affecting your body;
3) Think about and determine what the best action is and
4) Do the action. Putting off the action delays releasing the fear.
- Let go of your fear, ego, rigid goals, expectations, negative
attitudes and negative feelings and replace them with to Living
in the Moment, trust, hope, positive intention and attitudes and
positive feelings.
-
Nice To Use: Bach Flower Remedies
Bach Flower Remedy |
Activity that aid, help or restore
|
Rock Rose, Aspen, Cherry Plum |
Fear |
Gentian, Cerato, Hornbeam |
Uncertainty |
Crab Apple, Willow, Elm |
Despair |
Rescue Remedy |
Stress |
-
Do Deal with Stress
To help your healing process here are some helpful hints you
can use to deal with stress before, during and after surgery:
- Use the POWER of Positive thought and positive intention
- Meditate
- Practice Relaxation for Rejuvenation
- Use Visualization or Self-Hypnosis. You can visualize a time
when you were in perfect health and everything was going 100%
right in your life. Then anytime you are having a stressful
time go back to that place, visualize it and feel the joy and
happiness.
- Listen to calming music
- Pamper yourself with a candlelit bath, etc.
- Use color therapy like soothing blues and greens.
- Take a 1 minute stress break. Close your eyes. Tell yourself
you are going to be stressed for 1 minute and at the end of
1 minute you will be stress free. It works!
- Look in the mirror and use Positive Self-Talk to describe
the outcome as you want it to be.
- Avoid using negative words like I can't, I won't, I shouldn't,
I couldn't. Replace them with I can, I will, etc.
- Live in the Now, not the past or the future
- Don't try to control things
- Feel, trust and know things will be all right and they will
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