Anxiety After Surgery or a Difficult Hospital Experience (Counselling Online and in Athlone)

For many people, the hardest part of medical treatment doesn’t end when the hospital stay is over. Whether it was surgery, an unexpected admission, or another overwhelming hospital experience, anxiety can linger long after the physical healing is finished.

You might notice yourself reacting in ways you didn’t expect: a racing heart as you drive past the hospital, a wave of dread when an appointment letter arrives, or a sense of panic before a routine check-up. For some, these memories show up as nightmares. For others, it’s a constant edge of fear that makes everyday life harder.

It can feel confusing — especially if people around you assume you should be “fine” now. But these feelings make sense.

Why anxiety can follow medical treatment

When your body has felt unsafe or overwhelmed — whether on an operating table, in a ward, or during a frightening procedure — your nervous system remembers. Even if everything “turned out fine” on paper, your body may still carry the imprint of fear.

That memory can surface later as anxiety, dread, or even numbness. These are not signs of weakness. They are survival responses — ways your system learned to keep you safe after something intense.

Fear, panic, or dread — it all belongs

Not everyone calls it “anxiety.” Some people describe it as panic, others as dread, or simply as being on edge. However you name it, what matters is that it’s real, and it deserves compassion.

A gentle pause

Sometimes, it helps to stop and acknowledge:

“Of course I feel this way. My body has been through something huge.”

Even a small shift in how you speak to yourself can soften the weight of fear.

Counselling for anxiety after surgery or hospital experiences

If you recognise yourself in this, you don’t have to face it alone. Counselling offers a safe, steady space to explore how medical experiences have affected you, and to begin finding gentler ways forward.

I offer counselling in Athlone for in-person sessions, and online counselling across Ireland for those who prefer to connect from home. Both create space for your story to be heard and your feelings to be validated.

Counselling is not about fixing you. It’s about understanding that what you’re feeling makes sense, and supporting you with compassion as you move at your own pace.