Client Story: "How I Survived Eye Surgery Without Panic—Thanks to Body Therapy"

It all began one dark evening.

I had just closed my eyes when — a flash appeared behind my left eyelid, like a bloody lightning bolt. Then came the pain — as if a shard of glass had entered my eye. It happened again and again. Later, a milky-gray haze followed. The diagnosis: progressive cataract.

Now, an important disclaimer: I’m a long-time, chronic panicker. I’ve been diagnosed with panic disorder, and even a routine visit to the eye doctor can trigger a full-blown episode.

Luckily, I already knew Katya. I went to her before my exams — and then again, just before the surgery.

General anesthesia, Ichilov Hospital, staff speaking Hebrew — a language I only half-master — in short, it was a stressful scenario.

The first thing Katya asked was:

“What have you already tried to cope with the situation?”

I admitted I’d buried myself in work and tried not to think about it.

But in our session, we started thinking. We imagined the emergency room in detail, conversations with nurses, the anesthesiologist, the moment I would be wheeled into the operating room… Katya helped me find anchor points in my body — places I could trust. Places that felt cozy, calm, and safe.

On the day of surgery, I wandered the hospital corridors for an hour, all the while returning to those anchors.

When I was seated in a giant waiting chair, I returned to them again:

– when they took my temperature

– when we discussed the lens

– when they inserted the IV

– when they drew the mark on my forehead

– when they attached the QR-code bracelet

Even on the operating table, under a warm blanket with wires and monitors, I kept mentally returning to those comforting body zones.

The last thing I remember: the dense air of the anesthesia mask.

Then — a voice calling my name.

A new world. A patch on my eye. My husband beside me. We just sat and talked about what had happened.

The panic came the next day,

when I was asked to open my eye and read some numbers during the follow-up visit.

And they… scattered. Doubled, tripled, blurred. I panicked.

We hadn’t prepared for this part.

They scolded me, applied eye drops, asked me to try again.

And then the numbers came into focus.

First the 8. Then 5, 6… more, smaller.

I calmed down. Focus returned.

The takeaway?

Before any medical procedure, don’t go it alone.

It’s better to pre-live the scary future with a professional than to be paralyzed by panic in the real moment — when a catheter is already being inserted into your vein.

Expert Commentary by Ekaterina Zilberstein, PhD in Pedagogy, Somatic Therapist

Medical trauma is a reality faced by thousands of people.

Such situations are often experienced as a threat you can’t escape from. The body mobilizes, activating survival responses: fight — flight — freeze.

Surgical procedures — especially those involving general anesthesia — often trigger an internal conflict:

“I’m scared and in pain, but I must go through this for the sake of my health.”

This split experience can leave a lasting mark on both the psyche and the body.

It’s especially difficult when:

• The surgery takes place in a foreign country

• In an unfamiliar language

• Without a clear sequence of events explained in advance

• Without a trusted person nearby

If someone falls asleep under anesthesia while in a state of anxiety, they often wake up in the same emotional state — only now, in a vulnerable body.

What helps:

• Clearly understanding what to expect: who will speak with you, what the stages are, where you’ll need to go

• Social support before and after the procedure

• Working with somatic anchors — this helps stay connected to oneself and avoid falling into a panic spiral

In body-oriented work, we:

Go over the expected events in advance and rehearse the experience together

Normalize reactions: fear, tears, the urge to run — these are not signs of weakness, but natural responses

Use movement and sensation to help the body release excessive activation

Form new, supportive nervous “memories” of the experience

Cognitive understanding is not enough.

It’s essential for the body and emotions to process the experience safely.

A few practical tips:

•  Breathe out during injections — it helps reduce stress

•  Don’t go under anesthesia in a panic — first, return to your body and to yourself

•  If your body shakes after the operation — don’t fight it. It’s not “hysteria,” it’s your nervous system discharging

If you're about to undergo a medical procedure — consult a trauma-informed specialist beforehand or afterward. It can make all the difference.

A good ending isn’t just surviving — it’s going through the experience with support.

May you never face these moments alone.

And always remember: your body can be your ally — even in a hospital room.