Advice for avoiding post surgical depression

Hey y’all! I just wanted to share what worked for me in case it helps anyone else. Post-surgical depression was my #1 fear going into top surgery because I got it reeeeeally bad from a previous surgery (we’re talking 2 years until I felt back to normal). But I’m two weeks out from top surgery and despite a couple days of challenging emotions, I haven’t had post-op depression at all. I think the measures I took helped a LOT. So I wanted to share!

• In the months leading up to surgery, I wrote myself letters to open post-op. It helped to read words/perspectives from different mental states. I thanked my post-op self for helping fulfill a dream that so many past versions of myself longed for. I encouraged myself to accept that I may be feeling depressed or even regretful of the surgery, and that I should let myself feel those feelings if they arose, but shouldn’t make meaning of them so early in the process.
• In the months/weeks leading up to the surgery, I regularly checked in with my body and told it out loud exactly what was going to happen. I reassured it that it may be really hard but we’re gonna get through this together and that I’m so grateful to my body for going through it with me.
• I watched videos of top surgery. I thought it would terrify me or gross me out but it honestly made me feel much more confident to go in knowing exactly what would be happening to my body
• I made a list of activities I’m excited to do once I’m fully healed. Stuff like jumping on a trampoline, playing basketball, biking, seeing myself flat-chested in a cute button down, etc!
• I asked friends to write me notes to read after surgery. I asked for words of love and encouragement. This was one of the most uplifting things to me and I read them when it was extra hard in the first couple days. One friend even drew me some lovely drawings to open, in separate envelopes so I could pace them out over different days.
• Before surgery, I watched funny videos on my phone in the car because apparently laughing eases your nervous system and releases tension
• During recovery I surrounded myself with colors that make me happy (for me that was orange, pink, and pastel colors)
• My surgery was out of state so I brought some comfort items, like a men’s cologne I love the smell of, my stuffed animal, and letters/birthday cards I’ve accumulated over the years that made me feel loved
• Eating an anti-inflammatory diet starting a month before the surgery and during recovery helped improve my mood and made me feel like my body was in optimal condition
• I read that you should familiarize yourself with the surgery’s location to help you re-orient after coming out of anesthesia. I got lucky because even though my surgery was out of state and I couldn’t visit beforehand, my surgeon’s office sent a video of how to get there, which helped me familiarize myself with the building and surrounding area

Some of these might seem extra to some people but I feel like they helped me a lot, and not just mentally but also physically! Previous surgeries have been rough for me recovery-wise but a week after top surgery I felt 80% back to normal. It went better than I could have possibly hoped. So I think it’s worth taking over-the-top care of yourself before surgery and during recovery. Life is hard enough for trans people and we deserve to take great care of ourselves.