Expert answers
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I have a phobia of anything medical
Hi,
I’m petrified and can’t calm down at all at the moment. I don’t know what to do.
I have Severe/Generalised Anxiety Disorder which started a few years ago as well an ongoing phobia of anything medical. I’m also on the autistic spectrum which makes me hypersensitive to all my senses.
I had a chipped tooth lest week, which I knew meant I couldn’t avoid going to the dentist. I found one that has a reputation for anxious patients and went with a Mind support worker, and the dentist (and other staff) were lovely. She thought she would need to send me to the community dentist due to the level of my anxiety, but we decided to give it a try. She looked at my teeth and did an xray and temporary dressing/filling thing. It turned out to also be a cavity which is so deep she was surprised it wasn’t already hurting.
I have to go back in two weeks for a filling in it and am so terrified. I have never had one before and don’t like the idea of a needle in my mouth and all the smells and tastes, and am basically scared of it all. I have looked up loads about what happens and ways of dealing with anxiety, but even at home I am unable to eat or sleep due to fear, and I know I am scared of havimg it done, but I would rather it be over and done with.
Do you know how I can be less scared of it as I cant tollerate two weeks of being like this. (plus the temporary filling tastes awful!) Do you have any suggestions of how I can cope? Would really appreciate any help/advice.
Thank you
What a great start to get to a dentist , find she and her staff were very nice and manage to have a temporary filling .
So the next time you go you will be familiar with all that before you start .
Of course with all these anxieties your senses will be heightened .
Is there any way that the dentist or your dr could give you something like diazepam to help damp this down at the dentist .You will have some numbing so that any drilling wont hurt ,
Some of my patients with heightened awareness have an i-pod with some music that they like . But it sounds as if the dentist is someone who will be aware of your difficulties .
Im sure you have been given some strategies to help with your GAD and the thoughts which are making your anxiety seem overwhelming at the moment .
At this moment its not what is happening to you , but the thoughts about what might happen in two weeks time . Today its not happening so if you can try some thought switching strategies just taking one day at a time that might help . I wish you well
Kind Regards
Jenny
