Choosing for bariatric surgery is a major undertaking that affects the rest of your life. Immediately after surgery, you can't be certain how your life will change. So, it's not unusual to have thoughts like: "What have I done!?" and "What if it doesn’t work!?" These types of thoughts may make you feel down or anxious. They are typically strongest right away after surgery and should settle with time.

As the weeks and months pass, some people start to run into personal struggles that they weren’t anticipating. Sometimes friends and loved ones can start treating you differently. Maybe you are receiving more attention than before which can bring on mixed emotions. Learning how to “be” in a new body can also bring on its own set of ups and downs. Therefore, even if you aren’t feeling depressed but just need some help working through these changes, seeking the support of family, friends, bariatric surgery support groups, or mental health professionals can make a big difference.

Aside from personal and social changes, research shows that there is an increased risk of developing depression after any kind of surgery. The reasons for that are not fully understood. If you start feeling down or anxious and it doesn’t pass on its own, make sure you seek treatment from a mental health care provider.

Surgery involves a lot of change both mentally and physically. Many people find the psychological aspects to be much more trying than the physical ones. So if you are one of those people, know that you are not alone and there is support.