Mental Health Awareness Week with a stoma
World Mental Health Awareness Week comes thick and fast every year. Historically, it was weeks such as this that people would open up, and share their worries and the heaviness they carry. Fortunately it doesn’t take a week of awareness to trigger such a thing, and as a society we have become much more in tune with our feelings and emotions. In the stoma community many of us have an open inbox policy, and welcome messages of worries or concern regarding anything from getting surgery that was planned or teething problems of living life with an ostomy.
The theme for this year is ‘movement’ with the theory that looking after your physical health will support your mental health. This at first can seem quite daunting for those that are physically restricted. Certainly if you are prone to moving lots in your everyday life, when you are restricted due to a new stoma it can easily lead to a spiral in your mental health. For most, moving your body brings the benefits of having some time to yourself away from everyday stresses and strains. It can bring clarity to worries, and act as escapism when too many tabs are open in your mind. The endorphins that movement can bring are most welcome, especially when you have goals to motivate you and you smash them. Having a fitter body going into surgery will also help with the recovery process and give confidence.
The Mental Health Foundation has been leading the UK in building good mental health and makes it clear that this is not an ‘exercise’ campaign but focuses on moving where and when you can. Having a stoma can make the prospect of movement quite scary, even for those that have a gym membership and exercise multiple times a week normally. You must make sure you consult your health professional before you start following surgery. The recommended time to wait is 6 weeks, however this can differ according to how your surgery went, what type, and most important if you feel ready.
The most important thing to be mindful of when exercising with a stoma is to not push yourself until you are ready. It can be easy to feel that you have to, especially when a lot of people share what they do on social media. Make sure you do it when you are truly ready, it is better to take your time, slow and steady, than start and have to stop again. Set goals that are achievable and if you are a sociable person take someone along with you to join a class. Waistbands and supportive underwear are available and in some cases free on prescription, so that when you are moving you can feel more secure with your stoma.
Make it fun and do what makes you smile, not what everyone else is doing. If a dance class gets the blood pumping and it makes you smile go for it. If long runs to clear your head helps you then that’s your jam! Instead of meeting a friend for a coffee, go for a walk. Have a dog? Take them along and make it a long one making the little one happy too. Moving in nature as opposed to indoors will increase your levels of vitamin D, boosting your immune system also. It is proven to fight depression and with the warmer weather upon us, what better time than now to take advantage of being outdoors. Above all else, reach out and talk to someone if you are struggling, whether it be friends, family, therapy or fellow ostomates on social media.
Don’t feel alone x