emotions all over the place

[Beta98 93]

Did any you find your emotions and thoughts all over the place before you got your surgery? I have a long ways to go. If my lucky my surgery will be dec 2018 or Jan 2019... yeah so I need to simmer myself down LOL. How did you deal with the crazy thoughts and fears coming up to your surgery? I keep thinking how I've lost 100 pounds twice in my life and couldn't keep it off, why will this be any different. Or I will still be hungry and just won't be able to do anything about it so I'm setting myself up for pain, etc..... What are some good suggestions to keep myself positive because I have a LONG way to go!

[Creekimp13 5,840]

Talk to a therapist. Particularly, one who specializes in bariatric patients.

[Beta98 93]

27 minutes ago, Creekimp13 said:

Talk to a therapist. Particularly, one who specializes in bariatric patients.

I do, she just told me to write the feelings down

[Matt Z 4,139]

@Beta98 my emotions were all over the place as well. I would just internally deconstruct the emotion to see if I could find out where it was coming from, typically it's just misplaced fear. You lost 100 lbs 2x in your life, so that means you've got the will power to do so, but you are afraid you aren't going to be able to keep it off. Well, there is only 1 person that can make sure that happens, and that's you. It's ok to be afraid, hell if anyone says they weren't some level of scared before surgery, I'd call them a liar to their face. Even the most prepared person in the world is going to have some latent fear about the procedure. I've been through this 2x times now, I've watched surgeries being performed, I knew every step of the surgery, the tools, the complications, who was doing what, etc... and I was still afraid to some extent. I had the same "uncertainty" fears, each time I simply told myself that I was going to make 100% sure this time was different. I've even forced myself to do things when I'd rather not... I've been at the gym and been like "I'm done with this... the results are too slow" but, even though that though crossed my mind, I didn't leave. I finished my work out and moved on.
You will have moments where you want to cave, it's your choice to do so. You've just got to make the decision not to cave.
You've got this.

[YeahOkay31 651]

I was in the same boat--kinda. My emotions were not all over the place but I was pretty apathetic. Like you I had lost weight over and over again only to put it back on. I was daunted by the shear amount I had to lose JUST to be overweight. But I figured I owed my children and husband one more try, an earnest, all out try.

In terms of encouragement, my all time record for weight loss was 112 pounds. Today I broke that record --I have officially lost 113 pounds. So like everyone says, its a tool, blah blah, blah, but it is a tool that has the capacity to really work. Good luck.

[Sosewsue61 3,185]

You really get a chance to examine your relationship with food, figure out how to stop the love affair - you have to find the replacements for that, at the very least you notice how you use food. This is an important time actually, get picky - only eat great food that fuels your body. Eliminate all soda, then go from there through the list of those things you know you can just live without. I will never eat store bought cake again, I don't miss Pasta either. There are some items I will indulge in, but it is a planned item and rare. Good luck.

[Godfather 2]

I am a therapist and my surgery is scheduled for 7/6/18. Two years ago I abandoned the idea of surgery due to fear. I have since prayed about this and am approaching with a whole new mindset. The song goes, “I am no longer a slave to fear for I am a child of God”. It is my spirituality which has helped me to get the emotions under control. From therapist perspective- your emotions are a barometer of your thoughts. What are you telling yourself about this process? Is it accurate? Based on facts , habit, or emotional reasoning? Are you engaged in thinking errors/cognitive distortions?(Google list of Cognitive Distortions). If so, you can change what your telling yourself, what you believe, and your emotions will follow. Hope this helps my friend.

[NrseMel77 5]

This is the perfect place to release.. We are all here to support you. But on the back side you should see your therapist or just pray. God will give you the strength. I always tell people in time of pain, confusion and anger. This is only temporary.. All of it will pass and you will find the strength and joy to smile and laugh again.

[BajanSleeve 244]

2 hours ago, Godfather said:

I am a therapist and my surgery is scheduled for 7/6/18. Two years ago I abandoned the idea of surgery due to fear. I have since prayed about this and am approaching with a whole new mindset. The song goes, “I am no longer a slave to fear for I am a child of God”. It is my spirituality which has helped me to get the emotions under control. From therapist perspective- your emotions are a barometer of your thoughts. What are you telling yourself about this process? Is it accurate? Based on facts , habit, or emotional reasoning? Are you engaged in thinking errors/cognitive distortions?(Google list of Cognitive Distortions). If so, you can change what your telling yourself, what you believe, and your emotions will follow. Hope this helps my friend.

I relate @Godfather. As a Christian understanding that self discipline in general and especially in the area of eating is an essential part of maturing in God was part of my eye opener to reign it in and use WLS as a tool. ‘You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is good for you. And even though "I am allowed to do anything," I must not become a slave to anything.' 1 Corinthians 6:12

Here is to fighting for our liberty from being a slave to food addiction!

[BajanSleeve 244]

4 hours ago, Beta98 said:

Did any you find your emotions and thoughts all over the place before you got your surgery? I have a long ways to go. If my lucky my surgery will be dec 2018 or Jan 2019... yeah so I need to simmer myself down LOL. How did you deal with the crazy thoughts and fears coming up to your surgery? I keep thinking how I've lost 100 pounds twice in my life and couldn't keep it off, why will this be any different. Or I will still be hungry and just won't be able to do anything about it so I'm setting myself up for pain, etc..... What are some good suggestions to keep myself positive because I have a LONG way to go!

I am cheering for you! It would be good to find a bariatric therapist who specializes in food addiction.

[J San 1,071]

This Place!!! This Place Right Here!!!!!

Post your fears and questions and there will be an answer. Someone here has been through it. If you have the time look through the older posts and you will find anything you are looking for. I have learned more here from others experiences than from my own surgeon or nutritionist. They gave me all the info but not the detail you get from all the folks here. I havn't had to post many questions that I had because I always find a post about it with more information than I could have thought there would be.

Stay up and best of luck to you.

[saygrace 122]

i feel the same way. i’m in the late stages of getting my surgery date (waiting for insurance approval) and my emotions are everywhere. i’ve been reading threads on here and am doubting the sleeve and it’s results (though it is what my surgeon suggested and i still think at 22 it is my best option because it is the least restrictive?), extra skin and skin removal eventually, healing immediately after and how long i won’t be able to work (i nanny but i don’t do any heavy lifting- the kids are 4 and 6 so don’t need to be picked up).

like you said, all my emotions are just everywhere. i do see a therapist so i feel in check and i see her every two weeks and we spend our entire session talking about this, and i talk about my feelings with my friends, it’s just a lot of feelings to handle and i think it’s best to write them out sometimes and just have someone who has gone through it be like “yeah that’s normal don’t worry!” and that helps more than anything else does. I’ve only used this app for a short time, and i don’t necessarily feel like i’m a “part” of ~it~ yet, but i can tell it’s a great community where every is supportive and willing to give advice.

[Beta98 93]

@saygrace, EXACTLY! And yes it does feel better knowing you are going through this "overthinking" everything part as well. Good luck to you.

[Dmantei56 42]

Sosewsue61, I love the advice in your message, and I love that you use “I am no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God!”

[Frustr8 7,886]

And Dmantei56 as a child of God, you are special because he does not create Junk.