Ostomy surgery can result in a patient experiencing entirely different emotions of life. And these emotions can be quite overwhelming at times. While these emotions subside over time, the recovery timeline may differ from case to case.
However, letting the emotional impact to take control of your mind can make it difficult for you to get out of this situation. Therefore, it is necessary to get support from wherever you can to deal with this emotional impact. That can help you take control of your mental and physical health.
An ostomate who is self-reliant enough to deal with the emotional impact of ostomy is genuinely a resourceful person. But even if you are doing well on your own, the post-operative phase is challenging enough to make a person requiring someone else affirming their emotional concerns. Remember, your goal is to adapt to life with an ostomy. Once you start recognizing your ostomy bag as a feature of you, you will be more comfortable and relaxed.
On the other hand, things tend to become more complicated if you struggle with depression. The adaptation process will become more challenging. At this point, you are going to have to figure out what motivates you to push forward. Let your relationships with the people around you be your strengths.
You can also talk to your doctor or ostomy care nurse to tell them your concerns. Following their instructions can help you regain your physical strength, which can act as a precursor to improving your mental health.
Sometimes, all takes is to get in contact with the people who have gone through a similar experience. Several record-keeping websites have data about people with ostomies. You can get or request the contact information of those ostomates. You can feel much better by letting other people know your ostomy experience. And if the listener is also an ostomate, he is going to be more cooperative because he understands what it means to get the burden off your head by simply telling what you have gone through. Moreover, some ostomates may be able to give you a better piece of advice on how to deal with the mental, physical, and social challenges related to an ostomy.
Remember, whether or not you can deal with the emotional impact of ostomy surgery almost entirely depends on your will to bring your life back on track. A significant requirement for this adaptation process is acceptance. Once you accept your stoma as a feature that you are going to have to live with, you can overcome those emotional challenges with ease.