New Ostomates And The Depression Problem

Depression can have an impact on thinking and overall perception of life. A surgery that tends to bring a permanent change in life, such as an ostomy, is one of the most common reasons for depression. According to a study, there are over one million people in the USA with ostomies. This number increases at a rate of 100,000 per annum.

The loss of control over stool and gas is an understandable consequence of ostomy surgery. In most of the cases, this consequence tends to be permanent. According to a study, people who have ostomies usually have decreased health-related quality of life. The study further elaborates on the level of difficulty those people face while dealing with their life and relationships.

The lifestyle changes occurring as a result of ostomy surgery are usually quite complicated to adapt. More specifically, the first few weeks after the surgery bring a lot of insecurities and fear to the minds of ostomates.

The negative psychological impact

An ostomy is much like a learning curve for the new ostomates. If they do not have proper guidance about it, they can end up frustrated and depressed. The newly developed body change brings with it the feeling of helplessness, anguish, fear, and sadness. These feelings further result in the loss of self-esteem and health, coupled with other negative emotions such as a sense of uselessness. Many of the ostomates also get caught by insecurity and fear of rejection in society.

Further down the road, ostomates also develop a fear of isolation due to the negative experiences in managing ostomy appliances. The leakage of gas or stomal output in public causes real embarrassment for the ostomates.

All these issues can result in a much negative psychological impact on an ostomate's life.

Overcoming depression

It is understandable for new ostomates to develop difficulty coping with a new phase of life after ostomy surgery. But it doesn't mean they cannot live normally. All it takes is the right guidance and a will to cope with the new change. The selection of the right ostomy supplies has a huge role to play in this regard. The use of the right ostomy supplies in the right way results in much-needed satisfaction, which is necessary to gain a psychological advantage.

Posoperative education

Most of the new ostomates are not familiar with the experience of dealing with an ostomy. In that case, it becomes necessary to pay attention to the instructions by ostomy care nurses and medical staff. These detailed instructions tend to educate the new ostomates about how to get their lives back on track.