AboutJames Middleton Expertise I am happy answering questions about handling stress and panic attacks, overwork and similar problems.
Experience I am a practicing hypnotherapist of 18 years experience and a qualified Occupational Therapist in community mental health.
Organizations belong to Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine, Member of the National Register of Advanced Hypnotherapists, Full member of ANLP.
Publications UK Journal of Association for Neurolinguistic Processing.
Education/Credentials Dip Cot, Certificate in Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy, Certificate in Co-counselling, Reiki 1, Reiki 2, and Reiki Masters. Practitioner of NLP
Awards and Honors WARP Freefall Coach for the British Parachute Association.
Expert: James Middleton Date: 12/29/2007 Subject: Post Surgery Depression and Anxiety
Question hello,
my name is Leah and i am 17 years old. i recently ( about 7 weeks ago) had major surgery to correct my spine, a posterior spinal fusion ( using bone grafting and metal rods to hold my spine together). I had an incision all the way from my neck to my lower back. i was in a childrens hospital for a week. I am not able to go back to school or work yet. i recieve home instruction and its grade 12 ( graduation year). i feel sad and lonley, and traped and desperate. My mom took time off to be with me but she has gone back to work, my grandparents help me as much as they can, but i miss my life and my indenpendance. My father makes me feel guilty because it was very expensive for them while i was in the hospital an afterwards and he makes me feel indebted to them. There is also a history of abuse in my life. And i just don't know how to feel better. i constantly worry about my future and goign back to school, i'm concerned that i will never free my self of this pain from the operation. and the feelings of isolation and being trapped with no escape. Some mornings i wake up not knowing why i bother to try and get better at all. i'm really desperate, please tell me whats goign on....am i depressed? Shold i try and get some help?? if so could you please give me some tips on how to tell my parents, they believe nothing that goes on in a home is any one elses business and we should solve problems our selves.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read my question.
God Bless,
Leah
Answer Hi Leah,
Thanks for the question, and I am sorry you are struggling at the moment.
Any serious surgery like yours, will create all kinds of knock on effects, including depression, sadness and other emotional episodes. This is all normal and a part unfortunately of your experience.
Seven weeks is very recent and I would expect in two or three months for you to be feeling better.
If you think you need more help, then just say to your parents that you would like someone to talk to to help you come to terms with the surgery and having to adjust to being out of school. I am sure they will understand. A good friend or colleage can also be a great listener - but if you want professional help, a counsellor or hypnotherapist may help a great deal. There are also excellent self hypnosis programs available, many to be found on the net, or you may like to look at mine at:
www.hypnosistapes-and-cds.com
Finding someone to visit you and talk regularly will also help you feel less isolated and fed up. Do you have any good friends who you could ask to visit occasionally?
I hope this is helpful, if you need anything else, just let me know.
