When you undergo bariatric surgery, you experience some amazing and major physical changes. You have a new journey ahead of you with an aim to keep your body fit and healthy, which can mean some big lifestyle changes too.

While these changes are both so positive, they can put extra stress on your mental wellbeing. Starting your bariatric journey with good mental health can make a world of difference—read on to find out why, and for a few tips on dealing with some common challenges you might face after your surgery.

Good mental health is important for staying fit and healthy

A vital part of your post-op journey is creating healthy eating habits and a regular exercise routine, to ensure you get the most out of your bariatric surgery and stay healthy. This can require some strong determination, dedication and resilience, and a lot of positive thinking. Some days won’t be perfect, but it’s important that you have the ability to bounce back from these days and get back into your routine.

Having a strong, positive mind will help you continue eating well and exercising regularly, and in turn, healthy eating and exercise will improve your mental health. So, once you get in the swing, you’ll find yourself on the way up!

Challenges are a normal part of any journey

Everyone is on their own journey, and everyone faces bumps in the road along the way—however, some bumps can definitely be harder to get over than others and can start to take a toll on you mentally. In regard to bariatric surgery, here are a couple of examples.

Family and friends

While 99% of the people around you will most likely share their love and congratulations with you after your bariatric surgery, there may be that 1% that doesn’t respond as positively you hope. Insensitive comments and remarks might be unintentional, but it doesn’t mean they hurt any less.

The first thing to remember is that many negative opinions come from a lack of knowledge about the topic or your situation, so keep the conversation open, and keep the people around you informed (if you feel comfortable).

The second thing is that you’ll be looking pretty great after your surgery, which could instil some jealousy in others and result in negative comments.

Neither of these scenarios make these comments okay, but it makes them easier to understand and helps in not taking them personally. Remind yourself that you are incredibly strong for undertaking such a tough journey, because you really are!

Body dysmorphia

We mentioned earlier that a big physical change, such as a extreme weight loss, can affect you mentally. This can come in the form of not recognising your new body shape and still seeing yourself as ‘big’, also called body dysmorphia.

You might think how or why this is possible—how can I/others not see how great I/they look? This paragraph from My Southern Health and Giovanni M. Billings, Psy.D. (psychologist who works with surgical weight loss patients) explains it well:

           ““While weight can quantified by a stepping on a scale, a person’s self-image is a more abstract thing,” Billings said. “Our beliefs, past experiences, relationships, cultural context and behaviour all play a part in how we think and feel about ourselves.” If some of those areas haven’t changed despite the weight loss, he said, a person might still feel the same way about themselves as they did when they were heavier.”

Body dysmorphia can be very serious and can really affect a person’s mental health. If you or someone you know is exhibiting symptoms such as compulsive grooming, seeking constant reassurance from others about appearance, constantly checking the mirror, or experiencing constant anxiety surrounding size and appearance, it’s a great idea to chat to someone like a counsellor or therapist.

There could be some deeper-rooted issues causing these thoughts and feelings, which a professional can help you deal with and get you on the path to feeling happy with your new self.

A few ways to take care of your mental health

There are plenty of great things you can do to keep yourself feeling good mentally, which will reflect on your total wellbeing. Check out the list below:

Take a break

Whether it’s a holiday, a day to yourself or just ten minutes of meditation, make time for yourself and relax your brain. Be in the moment, and let your senses take over, rather than your constant thoughts.

Take care of your body

As we mentioned earlier, a healthy mind can make a healthy body, and a healthy body can make a healthy mind. Eat well, exercise, and drink plenty of water and your brain will reap the benefits.

Help someone else

Volunteering your time to help others is great for improving your self-esteem, as well as supporting your community.

Gratitude list

Each morning, make a list of three things you are grateful for. Psychology Today states, “gratitude has been clearly linked with improved well-being and mental health, as well as happiness… Find something to be grateful for, let it fill your heart, and bask in that feeling”.

Open up

Chatting to someone about your worries, whether it be a trusted friend, family member, colleague or counsellor, can relieve a lot of stress from your mind. Talking about issues out loud can help you see them more clearly, and different people can offer new and even positive perspectives on the situation. A professional can help you create strategies to deal with moments of anxiety, stress and other worries before they take over your mind, which we all would benefit from!

We care about your wellbeing

We make sure every patient is not only physically, but also emotionally and psychologically able to undergo surgery and the lifestyle changes necessary for effective results. If you start to feel a bit unsure of your mental wellbeing in any stage of your bariatric journey, please don’t hesitate to give our team at Emerge a call on 9544 5200. You can book an appointment with Dr Padovan who will be happy to chat and point you in the direction of people who will be able to help you further.

If you’re not feeling great and need to speak to someone now, here are some great resources that give you the option to call or chat online, 24/7:

Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support

Kids Helpline (25 years of age and under): https://kidshelpline.com.au/

Contact us

Book an appointment at Emerge Surgical now by calling 9544 5200 or sending an enquiry via our website. We can’t wait to get you started on your bariatric journey, and will be there to help every step of the way.