Q
Quixote
Member
- Joined
- May 22, 2014
- Messages
- 27
Since I was a child I've had serious mental health problems, some of which - like bulimia - did affect my teeth. I imagine that depressive episodes did too, as there were some periods where I didn't leave my bed for a week at a time. I have always tried really hard to take care of my teeth, brushing and rinsing with mouthwash (I have to admit, I've never really flossed until recently) but there have been periods of depression where it was difficult to be regular because I just didn't have the energy and wasn't invested in any kind of future. Like, why muster the energy to wash your hair and brush your teeth when you're planning to kill yourself in a few days?
To be honest, I'm dreading the dentist telling me off for the issues I have (one root canal from a broken tooth, a few small fillings, one big filling) because it will feel like being told off for being mentally ill and I already hate myself for that.
I'm also worried because I have dissociative identity disorder (from being assaulted as a child & adult) and when I'm very very distressed I sometimes 'become' a twelve-year-old boy. I really don't want to do that in front of the dentist! But I have quite limited control over it. If the dentist shouts at me or moves too quickly it's way more likely to happen, and since I'm terrified anyway, I really think I'm at serious risk of dissociating.
Do you think it would be best to explain the issues I have and have had? I worry the dentist might think I'm making excuses or that I'm just weird generally. How much grounding do dentists generally have in mental health stuff?
To be honest, I'm dreading the dentist telling me off for the issues I have (one root canal from a broken tooth, a few small fillings, one big filling) because it will feel like being told off for being mentally ill and I already hate myself for that.
I'm also worried because I have dissociative identity disorder (from being assaulted as a child & adult) and when I'm very very distressed I sometimes 'become' a twelve-year-old boy. I really don't want to do that in front of the dentist! But I have quite limited control over it. If the dentist shouts at me or moves too quickly it's way more likely to happen, and since I'm terrified anyway, I really think I'm at serious risk of dissociating.
Do you think it would be best to explain the issues I have and have had? I worry the dentist might think I'm making excuses or that I'm just weird generally. How much grounding do dentists generally have in mental health stuff?