Congrats. Maybe you should change your tilde so your username is !m instead of `m
I sent the suggestion of a massage, but a glitch is inhibiting showing the username...on posts -can't figure out why but the techies are aware- I tried another massage since the dealership took my car hostage for a day...I also worked out, had a lunch at the big arches(asked for no salt in the fries but they slipped up). I never drank so much from a complimentary beverage machine. Maybe that's why the car wash stopped working. A woman even mixed her hot chocolate with a mocha, but I wasn't that adventurous and will leave that for another exposure.
I have to save my remaining massages for future dental work
Davit.... I like your take on this and feel like it is a very do-able way to handle the anxiety. I just hope you don't get hand cramps from me holding on too tight :)
It took years for me to finally try it, but I scheduled a massage before the cleaning. Also, they have me going every four months. It really helped and it's better than numbing my lips with some meds
I don't think this is a time for exposure. I'd just go with relaxation skills. It is not like this is something you need to do every day so it is not in my books necessary to do exposure so you can. Not like driving or shopping those are things you need to be able to do all the time. The dentist and flying are things that just sort of fall into place after you can do every thing else. Or not. But since it is seldom I still think it is okay to do it with just relaxation skills and say after "that sucked but I did it".
I'm there with you as you know, just reach out and hold my hand.
I have a dental appointment this week... and I would like to apply the new tools I've learned here for managing anxiety. I am posting to ask for lots of positive vibes, as well as some specific tips on handling this exposure... what parts do I need to re-read to keep fresh in my mind? What do I focus on? Just concentrate on relaxing or do I challenge the fear somehow?
For years I did not go to a dentist because I .... um, you know.... freak out. I just can't stand having someone in my mouth and feeling like I can't breathe. I have gotten better about going. My dh insists we go every 6 months for cleaning. I used to "white-knuckle" my way through it but then would break down afterward and was pretty much out of it for about three days. The last couple of times I did the "white-knuckle" thing but didn't have the 3 day hangover (those appts went really well with little pain and were over quickly). This time I would like to be totally relaxed going into the appointment but can already feel my anxiety growing. We missed our last appt. so now it has been a year which probably means longer appt w/more pain....
ack! I hear myself feeding my fear but forget how to stop it. Help?