Easing Anxiety Before the Operating Room

(00:00:00) A Lifelong Patient’s Reality
(00:01:16) What Triggers Pre-Op Anxiety
(00:04:10) Frank’s OR Calm And Clear Words
(00:09:05) Hypnotic Rapport And Familiar Voices
(00:14:45) Music Therapy Tools That Work
(00:24:25) Therapy Dogs And Instant Relief
(00:31:05) Regulation Biology Oxytocin And Stress
(00:38:35) Breathing Cues Control And Consent
(00:45:00) Listener Stories Trauma And Agency
(00:54:45) Producer Takeaways Everyday Calm Skills
(00:57:05) Resources Next Topic And Community

The moments before anesthesia can feel like your body is betraying you: racing heart, shaky hands, spiralling thoughts, and that terrible sense that you’ve lost control. We want to change what those minutes feel like. Anna Jaworski and Nicholle Bilodeau sit down with a panel that understands both the science and the lived reality of medical fear, especially for people who face repeat procedures through congenital heart disease and other chronic conditions.

Frank Jaworski, a nurse anesthetist with hypnotherapy training and the parent of a CHD patient, explains how calm starts with communication. He talks about choosing the right level of detail, avoiding frightening language, and using voice, eye contact, and orientation, so waking up is less disorienting.

Kathleen Brown, a board-certified music therapist, breaks down what music therapy actually does neurologically and emotionally, from regulating breathing tempo to engaging memory and attention in ways that reduce anxiety.

Dr .Kate Lund, a clinical psychologist, shares how therapy dog visits with Wally at Seattle Children’s Hospital can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, spark connection, and bring real relief to patients, families, and even hospital staff.

We also open the floor to listener stories about medical trauma, PTSD, and the power of agency, whether that looks like singing along to music during a procedure or asking a clinician to change positioning so you can see what’s happening. If you’re searching for pre-op anxiety tips, coping skills before surgery, or compassionate tools for patients and caregivers, this conversation offers options you can actually use. Subscribe, share with someone facing a procedure, and leave a review with your go-to calming strategy.






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