The1701
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 19, 2015
- Messages
- 263
- Location
- Edinburgh
Thanks to the advice on this site I have managed to visit 2 dental surgeries and collect literature on their services.
I am now trying to work up the courage to make an appointment but my head is jammed with "what ifs". I am a very anxious person and I am fully aware that being in a dental chair is going to be a trigger for flashbacks of a violent event in my past. My main worries are that I will either vomit, faint, have a heart attack or the worst is that I will assault the dentist in a blind panic as I flashback (yes I find that one more scary than the thought of having a heart attack!).
I did speak to a Dental Nurse at one of the practices but I just couldn't articulate my fears - I muttered something about being anxious and they said "oh don't worry we deal with lots of anxious patients". I wanted to say "oh you haven't seen it all yet though!" but I just smiled and nodded like a simpleton.
I really, really want to get across to the potential dentist just how terrifying this is but seem to freeze up when they ask me what I am scared off. Can anyone advise how I could best do this? I want desperately to say to them, "please understand that I was the victim of a violent crime and as such this is going to be a very difficult thing for me" but I just can't seem to get it out.
Does anyone have any advice/experience? I want them to understand that this is more than just nerves but I don't want to go into detail.
I am now trying to work up the courage to make an appointment but my head is jammed with "what ifs". I am a very anxious person and I am fully aware that being in a dental chair is going to be a trigger for flashbacks of a violent event in my past. My main worries are that I will either vomit, faint, have a heart attack or the worst is that I will assault the dentist in a blind panic as I flashback (yes I find that one more scary than the thought of having a heart attack!).
I did speak to a Dental Nurse at one of the practices but I just couldn't articulate my fears - I muttered something about being anxious and they said "oh don't worry we deal with lots of anxious patients". I wanted to say "oh you haven't seen it all yet though!" but I just smiled and nodded like a simpleton.
I really, really want to get across to the potential dentist just how terrifying this is but seem to freeze up when they ask me what I am scared off. Can anyone advise how I could best do this? I want desperately to say to them, "please understand that I was the victim of a violent crime and as such this is going to be a very difficult thing for me" but I just can't seem to get it out.
Does anyone have any advice/experience? I want them to understand that this is more than just nerves but I don't want to go into detail.