Need some support and understanding

[alison2345]

Hi everyone

I am absolutely petrified of the dentists. Recently I went to the Charles Clifford Dental Hospital in Sheffield and had a panic attack before the treatment planned even started and so I bottled out.

I have a thyroid condition only diagnosed last year and it caused some of my teeth to fall out and so now I have gaps when I smile.

On Wednesday I went to the Charles Clifford again to just see about having treatment and I was told it would take up to 3 hours per treatment! and was told to get my own dentist as they would not take that long per treatment.

On Thursday I phoned some dentists and made an appointment for 12 April 2011. I still can't believe I did this. I am scared I will have a panic attack in the chair. How do I handle being in the chair? I do not want to bottle out again.

My family and friends do not understand what I am going through as none of them are scared of the dentist and as I was born with a deformed leg and foot and have had 14 operations in total and yet I am scared of going about my teeth.

Thanks


Alison

 

[Didn't see it coming]

I nearly had a panic attack on tuesday, in the chair. I was about to have extractions, and the adrenaline in the anaesthetic added to it (my dentist told me). She gave me a glucose tablet (lucozade type one) which did ease it. So firstly, no matter what, eating a little does help.
The second one (thursday) I ttok a stone with me. Sounds silly, but worked for me. Just gripping it and moving it about in by fidgety fingers really helped.

 

[Dr. Daniel]

Hey Alison

Tank you for sharing your story with us. So many other people feel the same fear (the chance of getting a panic attack).
You are being brave by coping with your fear and walking on the path of treating your teeth.

A small question: did you experience in the past any panic attack?
If so, did you go to some kind of therapy or receive medications for it?

 

[alison2345]

Hi Dr Daniel

I did start with panic attacks when I was 19 after a major operation and I still get them when I am in a shop that is very busy and people milling around me and in lifts. I have never had any treatment for them and all my parents say to me is to stop having them!.

Didn't see it coming - The stone is not stupid if it helped you.


Alison

 

[brit]

Hi Dr Daniel
Didn't see it coming - The stone is not stupid if it helped you.
Alison

Stress balls are an alternative option

 

[letsconnect]

Hi Alison ,

you've shown amazing courage by visiting the dental hospital and now by setting up an appointment with a dentist . I was a bit confused by what the dental hospital said about them not being able to treat you because it would take up to 3 hours per treatment. I would have thought that if anyone would be used to dealing with long treatments, it would be a dental hospital . What were they suggesting that they can't do on their premises? Or is this an emergency service?

As Daniel said, panic attacks are very common. It's sad that you've never been offered treatment for them. Now might be a good time to get therapy - as far as I understand, a lot of money has been made available over the last few years for CBT interventions (cognitive-behavioural therapy) on the NHS for panic and anxiety. Maybe you could ask your GP if they can refer you to a psychologist. You can find some more info on finding a psychologist here:

www.dentalfearcentral.org/help/how-to-find-a-psychologist/

We also have a page with information on panic attacks more generally, and panic attacks and dental phobia in particular, here:

www.dentalfearcentral.org/fears/panic-attacks/

Another page which you might find useful (seeing how you mentioned the dreaded chair!!) is our page on fear of loss of control:

www.dentalfearcentral.org/fears/loss-of-control/

Having your first panic attack after an operation seems quite common!! You're the third person I know to have mentioned this . I'm sorry that your parents are finding it hard to understand them - if you get on well with them otherwise, maybe you could share the page with them (don't do it though if you feel they would react negatively - the last thing you need at the moment is added stress!).

I hope you'll be able to find lots of support here

 

[alison2345]

The room at the dental hospital was full of chairs and it was not relaxing so I think I am better off finding my own dentist who I can get to aknow and knowing it won't take that long for each treatment.

 

[brit]

Yeah dental hospitals are slow because students are learning and their work has to be checked at each stage.

 

[letsconnect]

Ah ok, I wrongly assumed that maybe it was some sort of specialist service within the hospital, rather than the teaching section *doh*.

Sounds like a good plan

 

[SallyUK]

Hi Alison
I am not a dentist - I just started posting here. I had extensive dental work in my teens and 20's and in the past year have had to embark on a whole load of treatment to repair/restore the work that was done years ago. I am now 40.

I have suffered from panic attacks and although I have not had a big one for a long time, the fear is still there. I am sorry that your parents are not able to acknowledge your experience. I never associated panic with the dentist with my earlier treatments and all of a sudden I did - I since discovered like you that some anasthetic has adrenalin in it which I am sure didnt help with the fear!

I am nervous each time I go to the dentist but each time it DOES get easier. Here is what helped me recently:
* keep it simple - too many fears jumbled up give nothing to focus on
* Do whatever you can to motivate yourself to have the treatment and keep reminding yourself of this, pick something really positive and not down on yourself
* List out as many things you are afraid of as you can and ask questions to get a logical answer - so that you know what is happening, what you you can expect.
* When all else fails and the anxiety and then the fear kicks in, these thoughts might help keep you on track as you try and not follow the thoughts that are based on fear - this is the really tricky part.
* When the feeling of fear starts to get to the point when you really want to do something about it, remind yourself of the REAL situation.
* Its hard to trust others when we are afraid, when we are not the experts and especially if we experience a lot of traumatic things when younger BUT, if you can just trust a little bit and believe you are safe, then I hope you will grow some confidence in yourself and those taking care of you.
* Distraction does work too - something in your hand, listening to music, staring at a spot on the wall.
* You will not lose control, go mad, make a fool of yourself, tell the dentist you are nervous and allow yourself to be, worse to stuff it down.

I really do know that it is easier said than done, riding the anxiety out, choosing to do this is a really good way for me. Ultimately I have the choice to leave the room, get up off the chair etc, you do to, BUT if you really choose to go through these challenging times with a good reason that is personal to you - I know you will feel so much better, bit by bit.

Good luck

 

[Dr. Daniel]

Here is what helped me recently:
* keep it simple - too many fears jumbled up give nothing to focus on
* Do whatever you can to motivate yourself to have the treatment and keep reminding yourself of this, pick something really positive and not down on yourself
* List out as many things you are afraid of as you can and ask questions to get a logical answer - so that you know what is happening, what you you can expect.
* When all else fails and the anxiety and then the fear kicks in, these thoughts might help keep you on track as you try and not follow the thoughts that are based on fear - this is the really tricky part.
* When the feeling of fear starts to get to the point when you really want to do something about it, remind yourself of the REAL situation.
* Its hard to trust others when we are afraid, when we are not the experts and especially if we experience a lot of traumatic things when younger BUT, if you can just trust a little bit and believe you are safe, then I hope you will grow some confidence in yourself and those taking care of you.
* Distraction does work too - something in your hand, listening to music, staring at a spot on the wall.
* You will not lose control, go mad, make a fool of yourself, tell the dentist you are nervous and allow yourself to be, worse to stuff it down.

to begin with, I think these tips from SallyUK are very useful. The problem is that during stress it would be difficult to recall these, so I sugges you learn them by heart, so that they would be accesable to your mind during the dental treatment itself.

If you decide to treat your fear more thoroughly, I would sugest going to a CBT (cognitive behavioral therpy) therapist. CBT is a short term treatment and considered the most effective treatment both for panic attack and for dental phobia.

Again, I would like to say that I find your courage remarable and inspiring for many of the readers of this website.

 

[SallyUK]

Again, I would like to say that I find your courage remarable and inspiring for many of the readers of this website.

I agree, your courage is what will see you step forward bit by bit, so that the fear does not take over. I have had CBT and recommend it, getting your head straight about things and then managing the fear if/when it comes takes practise, but it's completely possible to get the fear response under control.

Good luck xxx

By the way, I had two teeth extractions yesterday and although I was terrified leading up to the appointment, to my surprise, i did not have mounting anxiety and or panic feelings. This is definately down to CBT tips I have had in the past.

 

[alison2345]

Thank you Sally for your brilliant tips and I am glad you had no anxiety during the procedure the other day!

I will be using them on Tuesday, although I do keep telling myself that it is only a check up and if I don't like the dentist I don't have to go back as I telephoned another dentists surgery that is taking on NHS patients and realised that it is 4 doors away from the one where I am going.

I want to get rid of my fear of dentists as I do not want my children to have them and I want to have lovely teeth again as I had when I was younger.


Alison

 

[DentalAnxious90]

Hello Allison!

I was reading your post yesterday, because I had an appointment today. As it turns out my appointment was at the Charles Clifford Dental Hospital in Sheffield! I have to say, I know you had a panic attack before you went in there (this alone nearly put me off going there lol!) but they are fantastic in there!

I had to have a referral from my last dentist because I fainted when they attempted to extract a tooth from my mouth. Today I went into the Charles Clifford Dental Hospital in Sheffield and they took great care of me and put me on the list for IV which means I wont know about a thing when they are giving me my treatment. If you explain your situation to them they might be able to sort you out something similar.

Good luck with it all, I'm just saying they are alot better than my NHS dentists in there (because they speak english and actually understand your fears more than anything!)


Hope you are closer to your appointments now!

-Dentalanxious90

 

[alison2345]

Hi Dentalanxious

Thank you for sharing about the Charles Clifford Dental Hospital and I am glad they were good with you. I asked them about IV sedation and they said with my multiple medical conditions it would be too risky for them to attempt. I have been discharged from there now.