Post-op Depression: Signs, Triggers, and Remedies
**Managing Depression After Surgery: A Comprehensive Guide**
Depression is a common experience for many individuals following surgery, and understanding the causes and symptoms can help in managing this condition effectively.
**Causes of Depression After Surgery**
The physical and emotional stress of surgery can contribute to depression. Factors such as anxiety about the procedure, concerns regarding finances and childcare, reactions to anesthesia, antibiotics, pain, certain pain relievers, physical, mental, and emotional stress resulting from the illness, surgery, or both can all play a role. Surgeries with a high risk of depression include heart surgery, bariatric surgery, spinal surgery, surgeries for cancer, and surgeries after a trauma[1].
**Symptoms of Depression After Surgery**
Common symptoms include ongoing feelings of sadness or emptiness, anxiety or irritability, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, fatigue or lack of energy, changes in appetite or sleep patterns. These symptoms can persist for weeks or even longer in some cases[1].
**Managing Depression After Surgery Effectively**
1. **Seek Professional Help:** If symptoms persist for more than a couple of weeks, consult a healthcare professional as they can provide necessary support and treatment[1].
2. **Holistic Postoperative Care:** Incorporate mental health support into postoperative care, especially for surgeries that impact body image, such as bariatric surgery[2].
3. **Address Pain and Discomfort:** Effective pain management is crucial to reduce stress and improve mood[1].
4. **Promote Self-Care and Social Support:** Encourage patients to engage in self-care activities and maintain social connections to enhance mental well-being.
5. **Pre-Surgery Mental Health Assessment:** Conducting pre-surgery mental health assessments can help identify at-risk patients and provide early intervention[3][4].
6. **Regular Exercise:** A regular exercise plan, recommended by a doctor, can help improve mobility after certain surgeries.
7. **Better Sleep:** Tips for better sleep include going to bed and waking up at the same times, avoiding daytime naps, keeping the bedroom dark and at a comfortable temperature, and leaving mobile phones and other devices outside the room at night.
8. **Emotional Expression:** Expressing emotions, such as talking to a friend, loved one, or a therapist, can help after surgery.
9. **Light Exercise:** Depending on the surgery, light exercise may help prevent depression.
10. **Setting Realistic Goals:** Setting realistic improvement goals can keep a person motivated during recovery.
11. **Social Support:** Talking to friends and family can help after surgery by providing distraction and lifting a person's mood, reminding a person that they are not alone, and helping with chores, childcare, and other practical needs.
**Importance of Early Intervention**
Depression after surgery can increase the risk of physical illness and delay recovery from an operation. During follow-up visits, a doctor may ask about symptoms of depression, such as eating or sleeping habits, emotional changes, energy level, and thought patterns. Following the exercise plan, even when difficult, can improve the long-term outlook.
[1] National Institute of Mental Health (2021). Depression After Surgery. Retrieved from
[2] American Psychological Association (2020). Bariatric Surgery and Mental Health. Retrieved from
[3] American Psychiatric Association (2018). Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder. Retrieved from
[4] National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2018). Depression in Adults: Recognition and Management. Retrieved from
In the comprehensive guide for managing depression after surgery, it's suggested that ongoing feelings of sadness or emptiness, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, changes in appetite or sleep patterns might be symptoms of postoperative depression [Symptoms of Depression After Surgery]. Additionally, mental health support should be incorporated into holistic postoperative care, especially for surgeries that impact body image, such as bariatric surgery, to effectively manage depression [Managing Depression After Surgery Effectively].
