Many people worry about being put to sleep during surgery. This fear is common and understandable. The thought of not having control can be scary. One important fact to know is that the risk of serious problems from anesthesia is very low, less than 1 in 100,000.
This article will talk about what causes this fear and how to handle it.
I’m Dr. David D. Burns, a psychiatrist with years of experience helping people deal with anxiety and fears, including the fear of general anesthesia. Using simple language and clear examples, I’ll share insights on managing these concerns effectively.
Keep reading to learn more about overcoming your worries about anesthesia.
What is the Fear of Being Put Under Anesthesia Called?
The apprehension of undergoing anesthesia is known as tomophobia. This condition manifests as extreme terror of surgical operations or anesthesia. The concern extends beyond potential pain to the uncertainty of regaining consciousness post-procedure.
A significant research indicated 88% of patients experienced fear before surgery. A majority of these concerns, 62%, were directly related to anesthesia.
Tomophobia can add to the difficulty of preparing for surgery for the patient and their medical support team. For individuals facing this unease, an open discussion with their physician could assist in calming their fears.
Recognizing your fears can be the initial move in overcoming them.
Common Fears Associated with General Anesthesia
People often worry about general anesthesia. They fear they might not wake up or become aware during their operation.
Fear of not waking up
Many people are scared they won’t wake up from anesthesia. This fear is common before surgery. The truth is, the risk of not waking up is very low, less than 1 in 100,000. That’s a tiny chance.
Cars and tornadoes are more dangerous.
I have seen patients worry a lot about this. But learning the facts helps them feel better. For example, you are twice as likely to get hurt by a car while walking than to die from anesthesia.
In the U.S., tornado risks are almost double compared to anesthesia risks. Knowing these facts can ease your fear before surgery.
Fear of awareness during surgery
Fear of awareness during surgery, or anesthesia awareness, scares many people. This fear means thinking you might wake up while under anesthesia during an operation. Studies show 73.7% of patients share this worry.
Yet, it’s important to know that waking up during surgery is very rare.
Anesthesia awareness happens mostly in emergencies and when there isn’t enough sleep medicine given.
As a doctor who has helped many with their fears about surgery, I’ve seen how knowing the facts can calm worries. Yes, the idea of being awake when you should be asleep is scary. But with modern methods and careful watching by your medical team, this rare event becomes even less likely to happen to you.
Factors Contributing to Anesthesia Anxiety
Many things can make people scared of anesthesia. Feeling out of control and being in a place they don’t know well can make this fear worse.
Lack of control
Feeling scared of anesthesia often comes from not having control. Before surgery, you might worry about what will happen while you’re asleep. This fear is common among patients facing surgery.
They are afraid because they can’t control their own body or the situation.
This anxiety isn’t small for people who fear losing power over themselves. Knowing that someone else will be in charge of keeping them safe during the operation adds to the stress.
It’s a big reason why some feel very nervous before going under anesthesia for surgery.
Unfamiliar environment
Hospitals and operating rooms are places most people don’t know well. This makes them scary for many, especially if you’re about to have surgery with general anesthesia. The lights, sounds, and even the cold air can make your heart race.
You’re not alone in this feeling. I’ve spent years teaching about these fears.
Being in a place you do not know can increase your worry before surgery. You might feel lost or think that things could go wrong because it’s all new to you. It helps to talk about these worries with your care team before the day of the surgery.
Fear often comes from the unknown.
Past traumatic experiences
Bad events in the past can make people scared of anesthesia. If someone had a tough time with pain or got very sick from surgery before, they might worry it will happen again. Fear memory systems in our brain keep track of scary things that have happened.
These memories can make us more afraid to undergo surgery.
Doctors see many patients who are nervous because something bad happened during an earlier medical procedure. This fear isn’t just about being in pain; it’s also about not having control and worrying that they might wake up during the operation.
Even if these bad outcomes are rare, the fear feels very real to those who experienced trauma before.
Impact of Anxiety on Anesthesia
Anxiety can make anesthesia work less well and may lead to more health issues during surgery. Learn how to handle this fear and make your operation go smoother.
Effects on anesthesia effectiveness
Being very nervous can make anesthesia work differently. If someone is really scared before surgery, their body might need more medicine to sleep. This happens because fear makes the heart beat fast and blood pressure go up.
To keep everything safe, doctors might use more drugs to make sure the patient stays asleep.
This extra medicine can also cause some problems after surgery. For example, a person might wake up slower or feel more tired. Doctors and nurses watch patients closely during this time.
They are ready to help with any issues that come up.
Now let’s talk about how anxiety could lead to more health problems during and after surgery.
Potential for increased complications
More anxiety means patients need more medication like propofol for the anesthesia to work. This can make things harder during surgery. For example, you might have more nausea or take longer to feel normal again after surgery.
Being scared before an operation also makes other problems more likely. This affects how well you can work with doctors and nurses to get better.
Doctors see that fear before surgery is linked with worse outcomes. Patients who are very anxious might not heal as quickly. They could have a hard time during their recovery too. So, being calm and less scared is important for a good experience with anesthesia and healing after surgery.
Strategies to Manage Anesthesia Anxiety
To manage anesthesia worry, talking to your doctor and learning relaxation tricks can help. Explore more to find peace before surgery.
Pre-surgery counseling
Pre-surgery counseling helps people feel less scared about their surgery. It includes talking and sometimes music therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). These talks can make you less anxious before your operation.
Doctors and nurses explain what will happen in a way that is easy to understand. They also answer any questions.
I have seen many patients, both kids and adults, get better after these sessions. Good talks with health care folks really do lower pre-surgery stress. This means the doctors need to be clear about everything from start to finish.
As someone who has taught doctors at Stanford, I know this approach works well for reducing fears.
Clear communication with healthcare providers
Talking clearly with your doctor or nurse helps a lot with fear about anesthesia. Tell them what scares you. They can explain how they keep you safe during surgery. This talk might include how they watch your heart and breathing.
A study in Saudi Arabia showed that talking helped 88% of patients feel less scared before surgery. I once felt scared too, before my own surgery. But after asking lots of questions and getting answers, I felt better.
Your team wants to help you feel calm and ready for the procedure.
Relaxation techniques
After talking with your doctor, it’s time to focus on calming your mind. Relaxation methods are great for this. They can cut down your worry before surgery. Breathing workouts and sitting quietly can help a lot.
Playing music might also make you less stressed.
I often tell my patients about these simple tricks. Using them myself has made big changes in how calm I feel in stressful times. It’s something anyone can do anywhere.
Sedatives like benzodiazepines are given before surgery too, but learning to relax on your own is a powerful tool.
Role of Anesthesiologists in Alleviating Fears
Anesthesiologists play a key role in making patients feel safe before surgery. They meet with patients to go over the process and answer any questions, helping reduce worries about the operation.
Preoperative assessment
Doctors do a check before surgery to understand your health. They ask about past surgeries and any fears you might have. This helps them know how to make the procedure safe for you.
About 80% of people feel scared before surgery. Talking can make it easier.
The doctor will explain how they keep pain low during and after surgery. Some people worry anesthesia won’t work well or they’ll wake up during surgery. Doctors use data to plan better care, making sure these rare events don’t happen.
They want you to be calm and ready for the operation.
Reassurance and education about the process
Anesthesiologists play a big role in calming fears about going under. They explain how they will keep you safe during surgery. You can ask them any questions. This helps with pre-surgery worry.
Talking to your perioperative team makes things clearer.
Learning about the procedure also lowers fear. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one way to prepare mentally for surgery. It teaches ways to handle anxiety before an operation.
Understanding more about anesthesia and what happens can make you feel less scared.
Conclusion
Fear of being put to sleep is common. Many worry about not waking up or feeling things during surgery. Yet, the risk is very low. Talking helps. Doctors and nurses can ease your worries before an operation.
They teach you how to relax and what will happen. This makes surgery less scary for many people.
FAQs
1. What is general anesthesia and why do some people fear it?
General anesthesia is a medical procedure used during major surgery to put patients completely asleep. Some individuals may feel anxious or afraid of general anesthesia due to the fear of the unknown, such as not waking up from anesthesia, or experiencing intraoperative awareness – an extremely rare phenomenon where a patient becomes conscious during surgery.
2. How common is pre-surgery anxiety and what causes it?
Pre-surgery anxiety, also known as preoperative anxiety, is quite prevalent among patients undergoing elective surgery or emergency procedures. It’s often caused by various factors including the intense fear of surgery itself, concerns surrounding anesthesia administration, postoperative pain management issues, and even death anxiety.
3. Are there different types of anesthesia?
Yes! There are several types including local anesthesia which numbs a specific area for minor procedures; regional anesthesia like spinal anaesthesia or epidural administration that blocks nerves in larger areas; and general anaesthesia that puts you completely asleep for major surgeries.
4. Is being afraid of general anesthesia rational?
While it’s natural to feel nervous leading up to surgery, remember that serious complications associated with modern-day anesthetic practices are extremely rare thanks to years of medical advancements in Anesthesiology specialty training and evidence-based medicine protocols ensuring safety standards.
5. How can I manage my fears about going under general anaesthesia before my upcoming procedure?
Talk openly about your fears with your physician anesthesiologist or perioperative team who will provide detailed information about their role in managing pain control during surgical procedures using opioids or over-the-counter pain medications if necessary – this can help allay your fears significantly!
6. What measures do doctors take to ensure patient safety while administering Anesthesia?
Anesthesiologists monitor vital signs like heart rate through pulse oximeter readings and blood pressure cuff measurements throughout the procedure for smooth recovery postoperatively – making today’s surgical experiences better and safer than ever before.