Oddbean new post about login | logout Eeeek. I have surgery in 3 days. It’s a good thing because I’m in pain, but I’m starting to get hella nervous. Mainly about the IV (I have the worst needle phobia), but the whole thing is freaky. If you have any spare positive energy or advice on how to stay calm/make the process easier, I would appreciate it🫂
One hand on heart, other Solar plexus, picture a blue light coming down through your crown. Slow deep breathing and relax. All is well 🙂
Beautiful 🫂
You’ll be fine 🫂
Be well. 👊💜⚡️
You will be fine. I have learned to just breathe and be calm with IVs. I have tiny veins and they often have a hard time finding one.
The only thing I’ve found that helps is breathing. Deep slow breaths, then maybe think about something happy. I often listen to music (in my head). I went through something similar recently, this helped.
I always start hyperventilating, which makes it way wayyy worse. Sometimes I can slow my breath, sometimes I fail. I’m hoping I will do well this time and stay mindful 🫂 maybe I should bring the headphone though
Have you tried box breathing? Inhale for 3 actual seconds, hold for 3, exhale for three. Make that count slower, especially in the holding section. Nice practice to just be in the moment, staying calm and you can even practice&make it more challenging it while walking.
Also hold for 3 after exhaling
that youtuber huberman also suggests for similar things "physiological sigh" which i have almost fully conditioned myself to use it's like, you are breathing in, and then you suddenly suck in twice as hard only takes a few rounds according to this huberman, it has a dramatically high success rate at reducing anxiety, i think my own experience validates this, to the point where anxiety is no longer a problem for me at all, only depression, i observe myself doing this second suck-in unconsciously all the time so much it is clear i have programmed my nervous system to do this automatically now if you have ever lived with dogs, you may have heard them do this double-breath thing, i always used to find it odd, but now, i do it!
btw, the way it works is that our lungs are like a bad, and this sudden extra vacuum makes it inflate more and take in a lot more air than normal
So kind of like a deep breath followed by a secondary one?
yeah, the second one is really short and hard, thus "physiological sigh" when you do it you swell and relax your ribcage fast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSZKIupBUuc from what i've listened to about what he says, they proved it with proper studies that this technique is objectively effective
Ooo thanks for sharing the video
it definitely helped me, like i said somewhere else in this thread... i started doing it and now i catch myself doing it unconsciously, so it becomes a permanent habit once you start, similar to belly breathing I WISH THESE THINGS FIXED MORE THAN JUST MY SENSE OF CALM THO but that helps a lot maybe i'll finally find some reason and way to end up somewhere i can smoke dank skunk every day, it feels like the only thing i'm missing
I will definitely use this technique 🫂
Your emotional state will influence your breating, but your breathing can also influence your emotional and physiological responses. Some sources if you want to dive further. Hope all goes well 🫂🙏 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE8TH8hZ-48 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4m_PdFbu-s
just stare at the nurse with wide eyed the whole time she is putting in your IV
Usually they get me two so one holds my hand 😂
good luck 💐 you owe me a night of partying
Positive vibes going out for you. Find something you enjoy and distract yourself... books, movies, hobbies. Translate that nervous energy in to something positive (she says anxiously 😂) 🫂
This time I’m gonna try listening to music while it’s happening. I suspect it might help? Thank you love
I remember patients listening to music while having dental work done when I was a dental assistant, really seemed to be a great distraction 🤷♀️.
You will be fine, love. Everything will go easy breezy. The doctor will even be surprised at how easy it all was. Love you.
It’s always way easier and faster than what my mind works up before. I can be pretty good at self-soothing except for these scenarios for some reason
Take your thoughts captive, and a y time you feel nervous, or worried about the IV, start telling yourself what you just said. It's easy, it's quick, it'll be over before I know it, the person putting it in will find a vein quickly and easily and on the first try. And then you can add, once I get that, I'll get the surgery and then I'll finally be pain free, oh what a relief that will be. And like someone mentioned, focusing your mind on something really good and exciting that's unrelated can also do wonders during the days before. I don't like needles either, and at 17 had to get a shot, and was super nervous, but then something happened so i thought that maybe this one guy liked me, and i got myself super distracted by that. It was a great distraction as I barely thought about the shot, but I've learned that running away with romantic thoughts about someone else is not a good idea. Bless you!
This is really good advice.
I’m gonna read this right before I go in as a pep talk. Thank you so much for taking the time 🥰🫂
You're welcome! I'm glad it's helpful! 😊 And thank you!
All the positive vibes for ya. 💜
Why does it always feel more soothing coming from a mother ?
針を見ないでアーナパーナ瞑想をしましょう。鼻から出ていく息、入ってくる息をただ観察するだけです。
I will try! If I can stop myself from looking, it will be a lot easier 🫂 I wasn’t able to zap you
It can actually help to intently look at the process and face the reality head on.
You will be fine, let it wash over you. Best wishes.
Thanks cunthead🥰🥰🥰🫂
<3
I hateee getting IVs too, once when I had surgery I asked if they would do it in my hand instead and they did so that might be less scary?
I feel less scared about the hand too! Idk why because it hurts a little more. Sometimes they will oblige
I get a visceral reaction to my arm, but the hand is way less ick to me
Deep breaths babe! Sending love 💜and positive vibes 💫✨darling. Wishing you a quick recovery ❤️🩹 onward. 🫂💜💫 You will get through this!
Praying for you 🙏💜 Remind yourself that even the scary parts of what happens are happening to help you.
Thank you. That’s a way better mentality as “they’re all trying to hurt me” 😂🫂
good luck. maybe they have a relaxing drug for before?
Thanks! I’ve had to take muscle relaxers for blood draws before, but I don’t think they will give me anything if it interacts with anesthesia🤷♀️
All will go fine ☀️🫂 I understand you cause I am the same. Lol Try the breath techniques and visualisations shared here. Also, I read that huming is a stress buster and reduces anxiety!! 😘
Bring your own pillow and bedding items if you’re allowed. A little thing that makes a huge emotional difference.
I hate needles too. Not sure if it helps but what seems to get me through it is reminding myself of the probability of something going wrong directly to do with the needle- which is basically zero. Oh and breathing- don’t forget that.
It's not on the same level, but I get very nervous about having dental work done. What helps me is to focus my attention on a spot just below my navel, and listen to my breathing without trying to control it. This helps from when I'm waiting room right through until it's over. Might help before a procedure too, to deal with the anticipation.
I'm glad ur back... wishing you a quick recovery sis 💟💕
You'll be right as rain 🙂 just remember to NOT look at the needle going in... infact... if you can play music with headphones on while that part is happening; might help a bit. Best thing to keeping calm for me without substances etc is to just breathe. Close your eyes, breathe in very deep through your nostrils, exhale through your mouth as slow as you can. Do that 3-5 times, helps me. Stupid/common advice I know but it helps. Another is to join your thumbs together or certain fingers on one hand with the fingers on your other hand. Brings me great tranquility at times and I have no freaking idea why 😅 What part of the whole surgery experiences stresses you out the most?
Aww that’s what I’m gonna do. Bring headphones and do breathing techniques. The main fear is just the iv, secondary fear is waking up with a lot of incisions
Ah k you can get past the IV part if you try! The mind is stronger than the body, you don't want to think about the needle or anything if possible. If the nurse/doctor giving the iv is really friendly and calm and so is the hospital, that can work out good. but yeah hospitals aren't exactly known for inducing calm in patients, headphones A+++ Meh your incisions don't really mean anything... puzzles is gonna be there when you wake up and that physical scars heal quick, emotional way longer. YOU'LL BE RIGHT MATE!!!!! 🫂
Breathe, focus on breathing, in and out, in and out, in and out, one breath at a time until it’s over.
my daughter used to be terrified of IV. now she does it even without noticing it . she meditates . if you want to learn the purest meditation , try this dhamma.org. Jack Dorsey is fan of this meditation.
Sure will. I could use all the help I can get 😂🫂🫂
🙏🏻 breathing exercises really work
Yeah I just need to get used to staying present with it because I can get into a good pattern and once they bring the needle out…hyperventilate 😂😂😂😂