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Fear of dental/medical procedures

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Fear of dental/medical procedures

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12

I deal with the little annoyances in life on a if it needs to be done just go out and do it, on the same had I only do things that I want to do. I am also a very organized person so I plan everything out which makes errands a lot easier but if things don't go exactly as planned I tend to get aggravated or frustrated.

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 466

That's a great explanation...panic makes you lose your common sense. Things begin to feel uncommon, and unnatural. Keep with the program Jonelee, you sound like a person who can make it through that finish line. You have common sense, it's that pink elephant, that thing you focus on that doesn't need to be focused on, that holds us back. Out of curiousity, how do you deal with things you don't want to deal with? Small things like going to the market when you feel lazy.

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12

Breanna,

Thanks for your advice. I should know my panic better than anybody else but where dentist/doctors are involved I loose my common sense. I decided to work through the sessions every second day and hopefully session 4 will ease some of my anxiety before the 27th. Thanks for getting back to me.

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1153

Hi Jonlee,

What session are you on right now? Have you started the program yet? October 27th is about a week and a half away so you do have some time to work through the sessions. The program is built so that one session builds on the next. You know your panic better than everyone else so you can gage how quickly you would like to move through the program. Session 1 is an introduction to the program, Session 2 is titled Understanding you Anxious Thoughts and 3 is titled Challenging your Anxious Thoughts. Session 4 is an introduction to Exposure Work. If learning about exposure work is really important to you then you can work at an excelerated pace to get there.

Brenna, Bilingual Health Educator

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12

Breanna,

You had mentioned in a previous post that because I had a dentist appointment coming up on October 27,2008 that I might benefit from Section 4. Do you think I should work through the sessions at an accelerated pace in order to reach session 4 before my appointment or should I continue at the recommended pace?

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1153

Jonlee,

There is no way to skip ahead in the Program. The sessions are set up that you must complete one session before you can move on to the next. Keep working through the program and learning more about your panic and anxiety to get to session 4.

Brenna, Bilingual Health Educator

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12

Breanne,

Thanks for your encouragment. I have been trying to figure out how to skip ahead to Session 4 - any idea's?

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12

Thanks DM, I was reading through the past discussions but it brought on a panic attack. I specifically choose a dentist who offered medication to relieve anxiety but my dentist appointment has fallen right in the middle of my cycle for fertility treatments and so I have to talk to the dentist about how safe it is. It was good (but hard to believe) to hear you say that you too had a fear of dentists but managed to go to 5 appointments - my first appointment is a meet and greet because I spoke in length to the receptionist about my fears - if I hear I have multiple appointments to face in the future I feel like I might crack. Not to mention the embarrassment of finally having a professional see how bad my teeth and gums have gotten in the last 10 years.

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 313

Hi Jonlee

I too have quite a fear of dentist and or medical procedures of they involve any type of anaesthesia.

You should do a search on "fear of dentist" as we had quite a conversation going quite a few months back. Many people share your fears....

The best advice I can tell you is to talk to the dentist. They deal with this type of phobia all the time and have a lot of options for people who feel like you do. Some have you bring a friend or spouse to hold your hand / keep you company, you can take a mild sedative before hand or they can shorten your appointments and work at your pace... Dentistry has come a long way.. I myself had to have 2 crowns done last year and was terrified!! but found all 5 appointments were much easier than I had "created" in my mind. I did have my husband take me each time but I told them about my fear and they were EXCELLENT... For me once the needle is done I finally relax...

You can do this JL... but be patient with yourself. Dentistry has a bad rep as it is...

Talk to them - even book a consultation before your appointment so that you know exactly what will be taking place and they can reassure you. You can also get freezing that doesn't have the adrenaline or whatever it's called in it so that it doesn't make your anxiety worse...

Good luck Jonlee... it will all work out.