Physical changes are the immediate effects of bariatric surgery but emotional and psychological changes will occur in your life simultaneously. Bariatric surgery can help you to improve your health and start a new life of better quality. Weight loss surgery comes with many benefits apart from physical changes.
Body changes may also cause simultaneous changes in the happiness of patients and this will significantly enhance your life quality.
Universal Medical Group understands that bariatric patients have to rebuild their lives to improve their self-esteem and also have to learn how to be happy with their new body. In this article, we have looked into the emotional and psychological changes after bariatric surgery to help you understand the connection between changes and happiness. We also have given some tips on how you can build your self-esteem and improve your emotional well-being during the recovery process.
The Connection Between Weight Loss and Self-Esteem
Weight loss through the process of bariatric surgery helps patients to have a stronger sense of self-esteem as their emotional well-being depends on how they feel about themselves. Weight loss surgery causes physical changes in the body that will help to boost your confidence levels. The journey to weight loss is a very complex one, patients that are losing weight are more excited to feel the physical changes in the body but the acceptance of a new identity emotionally and a new life is a challenging process.
Most patients who have had bariatric surgery have reported an increase in self-esteem levels. Appearance improvement and health are some of the many benefits of weight loss which will typically help the patient feel empowered, and have high self-confidence levels and also the sense of achievement. Emotional healing will be important just as focusing on the inside of the patient to have positive self-worth as self-esteem is multi-dimensional.
1. Body Changes and Self-Image
Weight loss is the main benefit that a patient can experience when they go through bariatric surgery. Body changes will help to improve the self-confidence of a patient but it is very important to understand that the changes can cause emotional stress. Sagging skin and scarring that comes with after surgery operations will also have an impact on the image the patient has of their body, and it is important to note that it is okay to feel a bit weird about these changes.
Individuals typically focus on their flaws and also tend to forget about the positive changes that are brought about by weight loss. Patients will have to focus on being grateful for the health improvement that they have as a result of weight loss. Thank yourself for the improved mobility and high energy levels you are experiencing and also a reduction in the number of chronic medical conditions that you have. The health improvements that you have achieved can be seen as milestones as you continue with your journey towards becoming the best version of yourself.
2. Happiness Through Health
Most patients who have had bariatric surgery have been able to improve their health and also experienced a better quality of life. Diabetes and hypertension are some of the major medical conditions among obese patients and these conditions not only affect their health but also their happiness. The patients that go through bariatric surgery are able to experience some of the major benefits to their health which help them to become happier individuals.
The improvement of physical health that an individual experiences will always be associated with the positive changes that also occur in their mental and emotional health. An increase in physical health through a reduction of the number of medical conditions and increase in the energy level of a patient most people will experience good moods and a positive future outlook which makes them be able to perform different tasks that were once hard for them. Your emotional health and happiness will improve significantly as your physical health increases.
3. Social Perception and Support
The way that people view a patient after surgery has a big impact on their self-worth and life satisfaction. The positive comments and words of appreciation from different people about a weight loss patient’s achievements are something that helps to boost their emotional health. Individuals who experience different treatment from different people and also experience changes in their relationships are likely to start feeling isolated and awkward.
Patients will experience some emotional pressure when their friends and family members become envious and also feel insecure. If you are able to have conversations with the loved ones about the changes in your life, they will be in a better position to understand how they can support you. You will need to form relationships with people who support your goals and dreams in life which will help you to be a happier individual.
How to Improve Self-Esteem After Bariatric Surgery
Weight loss surgery comes with a number of benefits, but it will take some time before you are able to rebuild your self-confidence and work on your mental health. Use of these tips during the recovery process will help to rebuild your self-esteem and also start to live a happy life.
1. Practice Self-Compassion
Love yourself as you go through the different emotional changes in your life. The maintenance of a positive mindset is all about you practicing self-compassion. Appreciate the big change that is happening in your life but you should also understand that both excitement and being overwhelmed are normal emotions. Extend yourself the same kindness and compassion that you would give to a close friend if they found themselves in the same position.
2. Set Realistic Expectations
Bariatric patients will be able to lose weight and this is the thing that makes them to be very excited but also very important to have realistic expectations of their body changes and also recovery process. One important thing that patients need to understand is that the body will take some time before it is perfect. Progress is never a straight line it is always an oscillation between a period of rapid growth and a period of slower progress. Continuous effort and hard work will always be required to stay healthy while understanding that we all achieve small wins as we go through the progress.
3. Focus on Internal Changes
We are used to focusing on external changes and also the internal transformations that an individual can experience during this process will require an equal focus. You will be losing weight and becoming a healthier person, but it is also very important for you to take time and reflect on the emotional and mental growth that you will experience during the transformation process. Many patients experience a lifestyle that makes them live healthy by making healthy food choices and also picking up new hobbies as they lose weight. Internal transformation is a great concern as much as the physical changes on the outside of the body, it helps to build a positive self-image and also lasting happiness.
4. Engage in Support Groups
Support groups for bariatric surgery are some of the best ways of emotional healing since it helps create relationships with people who are in the same journey as you. Support groups are able to offer a judgment-free environment where you can be able to express your emotions and also your experiences since everyone else there has faced similar struggles. Recovering patients can also get support from other recovering patients.
5. Maintain a Balanced Lifestyle
A balanced lifestyle is something that we all need to live healthy lives mentally and also happy lives after bariatric surgery. You will have to make sure that your day to day routine has physical activities that are combined with healthy eating and also engage in some mindfulness activities such as meditation or even taking deep breathing exercises. Combination of physical health activities and mental wellness activities will always work hand in hand to create an internal balance which will help in the improvement of mood and also the building of confidence.
Embrace the New You
Weight loss surgery has its benefits that are beyond physical health changes and patients will have to learn how to cope with the emotional and psychological changes that come with this process. Self-compassion and also setting realistic expectations while also learning how to adopt the healthy coping mechanisms can help you to build your self-esteem and finally start to live a happy life. Universal Medical Group is here to support you in your journey and also make sure that you achieve your physical health goals and also take good care of your emotional health.
Contact Information:
Email: info@UMGcare.com
Phone: 1-800-330-1015
