Looking For Support And Courage

[billiewells]

I only started my TMS journey in November and am having TMS therapy. As I have explained before in this forum, my leg is the problem on a physical level and walking has been limited to fifty yards. I have a background of years of anxiety and when very bad have agoraphobia.

I was dreading the festive season without family or my partner, but I got through it quite well considering. After a very frightening food poisoning drama, that I have also spoken about here involving paramedics, my nerves and confidence were in pieces. Considering all this I felt I was doing well.

However today, whilst eating my lunch my tooth snapped off at the gum line. I had avoided going to the dentist because of my nerves and had done a temporary filling myself. Now, however I will have to cope with going out to dentist AND having treatment, which I assume will be root canal, if there is enough of a root left. With TMS symptoms, the recent paramedic drama and then having to cope with this, I am overwhelmed. Should anyone suggest sedation or similar, please understand that for me that is simply not an option - that would be even scarier. I dont know how to approach all this and feel even more bewildered by this dreadful period I am going through.

Any suggestions anyone?

 

[Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021)]

Hi, Billiewells. The dental problem surely has added to your feeling overwhelmed. Maybe try Advil for the tooth pain. I need a filling and am resisting going to the dentist. A temporary filling is doing a good job for me and I feel no pain. I use 3M ESPE and bought it from amazon.com delivered.

I don;'t believe in root canals. I;d rather have the tooth pulled. I think dentists just want to give root canals because they make a lot of money with them.
I never heard of root canals until a few years ago. I think most people have them as a status symbol.

If you have some bourbon in the house, put some of that on the tooth ache.

If you absolutely have to go to the dentist, ask a friend or family member to take you there. Practice deep breathing and positive thinking.
I like a Youtube video for relaxing and relieving anxiety: "Guided Meditation for Detachment from Over-Thinking." Michael Sealey's voice is very soothing and just about puts me to sleep.

You feel overwhelmed, but remember, This too shall pass. The best is yet to come!

 

[billiewells]

Hi, Billiewells. The dental problem surely has added to your feeling overwhelmed. Maybe try Advil for the tooth pain. I need a filling and am resisting going to the dentist. A temporary filling is doing a good job for me and I feel no pain. I use 3M ESPE and bought it from amazon.com delivered.

I don;'t believe in root canals. I;d rather have the tooth pulled. I think dentists just want to give root canals because they make a lot of money with them.
I never heard of root canals until a few years ago. I think most people have them as a status symbol.

If you have some bourbon in the house, put some of that on the tooth ache.

If you absolutely have to go to the dentist, ask a friend or family member to take you there. Practice deep breathing and positive thinking.
I like a Youtube video for relaxing and relieving anxiety: "Guided Meditation for Detachment from Over-Thinking." Michael Sealey's voice is very soothing and just about puts me to sleep.

You feel overwhelmed, but remember, This too shall pass. The best is yet to come!

Thanks Walt, I had used temporary filling hence current predicament- the tooth has snapped literally to gum level and so nothing to fill ...... I have to see a dentist!!

 

[Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021)]

Hi, Billiewells. If the snapped tooth doesn't hurt or make it hard to eat, I'd put any treatment on the back burner. My dentist said I needed four fillings and I didn't have the money. I decided to put it off until something hurt. That was eight years ago and not a single toothache!

If you decide to see a dentist, to get up courage watch that Youtube video, drink a cup of hot milk, do some deep breathing and tell yourself "I can do anything I set my mind to do."

 

[lexylucy]

Have you ever seen the movie Temple Grandin?
It is an amazing true story of a women with autism and special abilities. I only bring it up because I was thinking about her today. In the movie - temple- who has terrible issues with social anxiety, builds a "squeeze machine" for herself that calms her down and helps her function. I was thinking about it today because my boyfriend gave me a super hard squeeze and I felt it for hours later. I just felt more calm.

Anyway this is my way of saying you sound like you could use a big hug!!! What a mess of unfortunate circumstances.
But hey- it sounds to me like if you face the dentist it could be something that is resolved relatively quickly and harmlessly.
I am with you on fear of the dentist! Who wants to go pay a truckload of money for a bunch of pain. But it is one of those -gotta do it- things.

I think you are very brave for reaching out and sharing your story.

Lexy Lucy

 

[Andy Bayliss]

You can use some basic Somatic Experiencing techniques to address anxiety, and increase well-being.

This is deceptively simple, yet powerful, the practice of "orienting through the five senses." It calms anxiety and brings more well being. Sometimes I just use my eyes, and look all around my environment, and orient to something I like. It is soothing.

Good luck!

 

[billiewells]

Have you ever seen the movie Temple Grandin?
It is an amazing true story of a women with autism and special abilities. I only bring it up because I was thinking about her today. In the movie - temple- who has terrible issues with social anxiety, builds a "squeeze machine" for herself that calms her down and helps her function. I was thinking about it today because my boyfriend gave me a super hard squeeze and I felt it for hours later. I just felt more calm.

Anyway this is my way of saying you sound like you could use a big hug!!! What a mess of unfortunate circumstances.
But hey- it sounds to me like if you face the dentist it could be something that is resolved relatively quickly and harmlessly.
I am with you on fear of the dentist! Who wants to go pay a truckload of money for a bunch of pain. But it is one of those -gotta do it- things.

I think you are very brave for reaching out and sharing your story.

Lexy Lucy

Thank you for responding Lucy. I absolutely need a big hug, I crave it after my partner left . . . try to give myself a hug but really not as satisfactory. I am oen warm and tactile, so it is hard. The dentist will be a trial for a limping agoraphobic.2016 has to be better. Thankyou for taking the time to respond.

 

[billiewells]

You can use some basic Somatic Experiencing techniques to address anxiety, and increase well-being.

This is deceptively simple, yet powerful, the practice of "orienting through the five senses." It calms anxiety and brings more well being. Sometimes I just use my eyes, and look all around my environment, and orient to something I like. It is soothing.

Good luck!

Thank you Andy, you always have such great sdvice. What a thoughtful video. My biggest problem at the moment is negotiating all this 'stuff', TMS and all the accompanying issues on my own. I can get so far into my head, then practice Outcome Independence , then get distracted by a symptom or a demand on meand I'm back to square one. I seem unable to stick to any one plan for very long, then get desperate and more tired. Tomorrow will be v hard.... Im trying not to build anticipatory anxiety, but end up making it worse!

 

[Andy Bayliss]

Hi billiewells,
That is the way the mind is, and probably always will be. The only way to deal with it is to begin to practice: deep breathing as Walt suggests, mantra, the SE practices here, ---whatever appeals to you that you can personalize, practice, and practice on a regular basis enough over time. Then when you get lost, this practice becomes what you turn to like an old friend. It takes work in the beginning, but then becomes a place of rest. I suggest you start with something simple that takes 2 to 5 minutes, and try it 3 times a day. Then it is there when you "need it" like when you feel anxious or the mind is spinning.
Andy B.