Help feelings of regret

[marroyo 30]

Hi everyone I was sleeved in on 12/15/15 and following my surgery I had extreme feelings of regret and depression as well as panic anxiety attacks which I never had before. I don't understand why I feel this way. I prepared for surgery for 1 year and was excited to do this but then all of a sudden after my feelings changed drastically. Has anyone dealt with this as well and how did you handle it? I words of advice?

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[Support Sisters 19]

I was sleeved same week as you... What is your progress? Doesn't that give you a sense of accomplishment? Feeling good helps feel good about your decision. Last night I went to a fantastic steakhouse and I could only eat a small amount - i wanted to eat more so at that moment i had some regret but then i saw myself in the mirrors in the bathroom and regret gone!

[marroyo 30]

I am happy with the weight loss but it is hard to explain that before surgery I was happy and now not so much. I have been seeing a therapist for about 1 month which seems to help. My stats are hw220 sw204 cw175

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[Bobbis 15]

It is hard at first because much of your old life is changing and it affects you, your friends and family, co-workers, etc. Lets face it, most of our "old" life was about food and many of our activities had something to do with food, going out and eating and drinking. All that has changed with your surgery. It is hard in the beginning, but it does get easier as you adjust to your new stomach and so do the people around you. You will learn to make it work for you. As you continue to drop weight and you are able to do more, have more energy, and feel better, you will realize it was the best decision you made - for you! It's permanent, so when you are feeling bad or sick it's easy to get the "what have I done" feeling. Hang in there, it gets easier.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Hi everyone I was sleeved in on 12/15/15 and following my surgery I had extreme feelings of regret and depression as well as panic anxiety attacks which I never had before. I don't understand why I feel this way. I prepared for surgery for 1 year and was excited to do this but then all of a sudden after my feelings changed drastically. Has anyone dealt with this as well and how did you handle it? I words of advice?

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I think a major factor is that this is a MAJOR life change: physically, emotionally, psychologically, socially, etc., etc.

If you are like most of us, we have always used food to cope with change, stress, and difficulties in general.

Now that we physically can't use food, at least to the extent that we did before, we are going to feel uncomfortable.

Finding new ways to cope and/or realizing that it is ok to feel uncomfortable takes a lot of work.

One book I recommend that may help you is Eat it Up! by Connie Stapleton.

A counselor or therapist, a bariatric support group, and/or a 13-step recovery group like OA are also invaluable for helping to learn how to live life without using food as a coping mechanism.