Hi I just wanted to share that yesterday I went in for a dental cleaning. It has been 5 years!! Dental fear has been HUGE for me. I'm taking steps to get my teeth back where they need to be and back on track with cleanings every 6 months. I was anxious yesterday which I just reminded myself that it has been a long time since a cleaning was done. I did have all these built up what-if's and none of them happened! I have another appointment in 2 weeks to get 3 teeth all worked on in the same visit. That will be my 5th visit in 9 weeks. Prior to the program it was next to impossible to go. I hope this helps encourage anyone who has similar fears on the dentist. We can do it This has really started to lift a HUGE burden off my shoulders that I have beat myself up about for years. Take care everyone
Way to go…that’s wonderful. We talked about this, so you know getting to a dentist and finally having some work done was such an important and challenging accomplishment for me as well (heck, just trying to get myself into a barber chair for 30 mins was difficult enough). As it turns out…late June will mark, I think, my 3rd pre-scheduled check-up/cleaning visit.
Right about this time is when it would be so easy to slide into allowing that anticipatory anxiety to start building but I know this now and so as soon as a negative thought pops in, I 2/4 breathe a few times and start the positive talk; what an improvement over the old way of handling it. Of course it also helps that we’ve both finally taken an action, and taken the steps to get us into that seat…and now we have some experience and can use that new/recent experience to aid in the positive self-talk.
I think it’s great—and know how important and confidence building it is—that you are keeping the ball rolling and just wanted to say so.
Wow, Begone, you have inspired me. I am going to make an appointment today. I completed the program about 6 months ago but realized after reading your post that I have not been to the dentist in 2 years. The thought of it does provoke some anxious feelings but I NEED to go. I will post after I go and let everyone know I did it. Thanks for the post!
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams"
Posts: 19 | Location: Virginia | Registered: July 27, 2005
JOP, Hi, and thanks so much for your reply! Wow your 3rd pre-scheduled coming up....way to go! I'm so proud of all of your progress and you are such a huge help here on the forum Gosh your so right about our new way of looking and dealing with things vs. our old way. Funny that you spoke of the barber chair and hardly getting there. I was on my way back from my daughters school yesterday and thought I really need a haircut as that too has been absent. I have long hair so it was so easy to just do at home. Well I just pulled in and did it and the rest of the day I felt like a little kid who had just gotten their first haircut ever. What a feeling to be getting out and doing the things that have slowly slipped out of my world. Thanks again and take care
Virginia girl…good for you. Think of it as a process and take one step at a time. If needed, just look up the phone number one day, maybe just call the following day and see what their schedule is like, then call back in another day or so and make the appointment. That’s pretty close to how my first steps went. Then I drove by the office the day before my appointment, just to get familiar with driving there and knowing how much time it would take and so on. You might be beyond breaking it down that small, but if you find yourself a week from now still grappling with it…the above might be a place to start. Reward your efforts; use all the skills, and we’ll look forward to hearing how it goes.
Begone Haha …I had very long hair for many years, so I know what you mean even about that LOL. There was a long stretch where maybe I sat in a barber chair once a year…maybe. A pair of paper scissors and snip snip to my own bangs was more my usual. I go every 2-3 months now…and for the most part no big deal anymore; and just something like this is a good reminder of how much I’ve gained. Thanks for the encouragement and for the smile today…
Virginia Girl Hi and thanks for your reply Congrats to you for completing the program! That is great. I'm really glad that you are making an appointment. Please let us know how it went. Take care
I am so excited for you and me! I just got back from the dentist and had to post to you!!! I had not gone for about 5 years too! I need to go back in August and September for work on cavities unfortunately I have 7! The next visit is 2 hours YIKES! I did have help though my hubby stayed home(took his lunch break) while I was there incase I needed him.
Julie, Hi and congrats to you too! Way to go what a great feeling huh? Thanks for your encouragment! I have an appointment on the 19 of June and it is also a 2 hour appointment. YIKES is right. They will do 3 teeth that day and then I will have work to still do on 5 more. So we are really in similar shoes. Maybe we can keep in touch and encourage each other as we move along to a healthier mouth! Even with all the work that we need done we need to be extra proud of ourselves. It would be so easy to say wow look at the mess I got myself into but we need to see the positive and say hey it is what it is and now we are taking the steps to get where we need and want to be.I'm so happy your husband could be there for you. It sure helps! Take care and please keep in touch
So many people have dental issues. I guess we should be happy we are in a popular group! LOL! Anyway I so apprecaited your post, it was perfect I came home and there it was waiting to reassure me!
Im new tody to the chat line and I was amazed when I was reading about the fear of the hair dresser because I am the hairdresser and I have panic attacks too lol I guess that just proves we all have our own fears so next time just remeber we all have fears we just fear different things most hairdresser r very stressed becauce we feel like people expect sooo much from us and we r only human too but guess what im scared of dentists too
Posts: 3 | Location: Virginia | Registered: June 09, 2006
Donna H, Hi and thanks for your reply. For me it is the time waiting just sitting in the chair.Gosh I never have worried about the outcome. I always figure ahh...it's hair and will always grow back I never looked at a hair dressers job that way thinking of all the stress you have. The next time I go that will be a reminder to me and I just know it will help me to be calmer. Take care
Stress Center Community 
This has really started to lift a HUGE burden off my shoulders that I have beat myself up about for years. Take care everyone 
