Mental health and weight loss surgery
Reviewed By Patient Coordinator Mim Dickens
Last updated 01/01/2000
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Reviewed By Patient Coordinator Mim Dickens Last updated 01/01/01 |
Understanding the psychological aspects before and after surgery is crucial for achieving long-term success and well-being. This article delves into the relationship between mental health and weight loss surgery, highlighting the emotional challenges and the benefits of psychotherapy after bariatric surgery.
As you know, Bariatric surgery is a life-changing decision that requires ongoing physical and emotional support.
But while the focus is often on the physical transformation post bariatric surgery, it's important not to overlook the emotional challenges that can arise after too, such as depression, anxiety, and body image issues.
Counselling and Psychotherapy can be valuable pre and post-operative tool to help you navigate the emotional and psychologically challenging side of your weight loss journey.
Let's dive into some of those challenges and how post bariatric psychotherapy support can help you.
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The mental health challenges of bariatric surgery
After bariatric surgery, it's not uncommon to experience a range of emotional challenges. These may include depression, anxiety, body image issues, and even feelings of regret.
The reasons for these emotional challenges are varied, but common factors include changes in body shape, social stigma, and adjustments to a new lifestyle.
These changes can lead to feelings of isolation, frustration, and overwhelm, which can affect mental health.
One of the most common emotional challenges experienced by bariatric surgery patients is anxiety.
You may experience anxiety about your weight loss progress, or about your ability to maintain their new lifestyle.
Body image issues can also arise after bariatric surgery. While you may feel excited about your weight loss and newfound health, occasionally you may also feel self-conscious about excess skin or other physical changes. This can impact a your self-esteem and overall well-being, and can be difficult to navigate without proper support.
The mental health challenges of bariatric surgery
After bariatric surgery, it's not uncommon to experience a range of emotional challenges. These may include depression, anxiety, body image issues, and even feelings of regret.
The reasons for these emotional challenges are varied, but common factors include changes in body shape, social stigma, and adjustments to a new lifestyle.
These changes can lead to feelings of isolation, frustration, and overwhelm, which can affect mental health.
One of the most common emotional challenges experienced by bariatric surgery patients is anxiety.
You may experience anxiety about your weight loss progress, or about your ability to maintain their new lifestyle.
Body image issues can also arise after bariatric surgery. While you may feel excited about your weight loss and newfound health, occasionally you may also feel self-conscious about excess skin or other physical changes. This can impact a your self-esteem and overall well-being, and can be difficult to navigate without proper support.
Considering weight loss surgery this year? Find out if you’re eligible and start your journey to a healthier you. |
Benefits of counselling and psychotherapy after bariatric surgery
There are numerous benefits to 1:1 work with a trained counsellor after bariatric surgery, and these benefits can stick with you for life, including:
1. Improved mental health: Working with a counsellor can help you tackle anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions you may experience after surgery due to the significant lifestyle changes and adjustments.
2. Increased self-awareness: Bariatric counselling can help you understand and address the underlying emotional factors that may be hindering your weight loss journey.
3. Enhanced communication: Effective communication is critical in all aspects of life, including relationships with family and friends. Counselling can provide you with the tools you need to communicate more effectively, leading to stronger relationships and better support systems.
4. Better decision-making: If you've struggled with your weight for a long time you may have difficulty making healthy choices. Counselling can help you develop healthy decision-making skills.
5. Increased accountability: Making lasting lifestyle changes can be difficult, and it's easy to slip back into old habits. Counselling can provide you with the support and accountability you need to stay on track and make lasting lifelong changes.
This is why we've partnered with The Centre For Bariatric
Support
Through community, re-education resources, and 1-2-1 sessions with both a therapist and a functional nutritionist, The Centre For Bariatric Support can help you achieve lasting weight loss success by providing you the advice, guidance, knowledge and support needed to manage the psychological and nutritional challenges linked to obesity remission and bariatric surgery success
Benefits of counselling and psychotherapy after bariatric surgery
There are numerous benefits to 1:1 work with a trained counsellor after bariatric surgery, and these benefits can stick with you for life, including:
1. Improved mental health: Working with a counsellor can help you tackle anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions you may experience after surgery due to the significant lifestyle changes and adjustments.
2. Increased self-awareness: Bariatric counselling can help you understand and address the underlying emotional factors that may be hindering your weight loss journey.
3. Enhanced communication: Effective communication is critical in all aspects of life, including relationships with family and friends. Counselling can provide you with the tools you need to communicate more effectively, leading to stronger relationships and better support systems.
4. Better decision-making: If you've struggled with your weight for a long time you may have difficulty making healthy choices. Counselling can help you develop healthy decision-making skills.
5. Increased accountability: Making lasting lifestyle changes can be difficult, and it's easy to slip back into old habits. Counselling can provide you with the support and accountability you need to stay on track and make lasting lifelong changes.
This is why we've partnered with The Centre For Bariatric
Support
Through community, re-education resources, and 1-2-1 sessions with both a therapist and a functional nutritionist, The Centre For Bariatric Support can help you achieve lasting weight loss success by providing you the advice, guidance, knowledge and support needed to manage the psychological and nutritional challenges linked to obesity remission and bariatric surgery success
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