Having surgery can be scary and it is perfectly normal to experience feelings of worry, anxiety, upset and to be emotional and tearful at times.
What you can do to prepare
If you suffer with anxiety / depression or any other mental health issues, please do let staff know at your pre-assessment appointment. They can then work with you to plan how we can best support you through your admission.
Do think about how you have coped with difficult and challenging situations in the past. How did you cope? How did you get through? What helped? Focus on your strengths
If you have tried and tested ways of coping with stress and ways of relaxing, then where possible ensure you can continue using them before and after surgery.
Keep good contact with family and friends.
If you think you need some help with anxiety or mood management prior to your surgery, consider getting talking therapy via your GP or local IAPT (Improved Access to Psychological therapies) services (opens in a new tab).
Useful contacts
- Claire Ward - Mental health specialist nurse for inpatients at Addenbrooke’s (ask nursing staff to contact).
- Talking therapies available through GP or local IAPT services (opens in a new tab).
Hub of Hope
You can use the Hub of Hope (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab) to search for mental health charities in your local area, or find one that can help with a specific problem. It’s run by Chasing the Stigma, a national mental health charity.