On a much lower level, I kinda understand. I dislike dentists. They always shame me for not doing enough. (To be fair, I don't, but they keep shaming me instead of supporting me.) I'm having an implant put in on Wednesday. I don't much like my oral surgeon. I have all sorts of fear and dread. Yanking the bad tooth (which was improperly "fixed" by a different dentist 6 years ago) was ... no picnic. But I didn't want to change oral surgeons mid-process. I'm already feeling anxious and I don't even go in until Wednesday.
I also know that I've been sort of killing myself in slow motion by over-eating and not exercising. That's an entirely different issue I'll need to address. I'm planning to use the week or so where I cannot eat after the procedure to jumpstart that re-orientation, turning the expected pain and sadness into forward movement to start losing the weight.
One suggestion which might help you with those toxic thoughts, if you haven't tried it: keep a throwaway journal for all those negtive thoughts. Write them in the journal when they occur. DO NOT read them once you're written them. When the journal is full, burn it. (Or just throw it away.) I've found that writing things down helps to get them out of my head. Steven Barnes (science fiction author, martial artist, life coach) recommends that as a way to process negative emotions as you lose weight. Look up Barnes + Lifewriting if you're interested. A lot of his insights are free on his old blog (DarKush) which is still available online.
I may be the only person on Earth that doesn’t much mind the dentist. I work for an airline, and my dentist is a huge aviation fan, and likes to talk shop. He also has a penchant for dad jokes, but I’m willing to overlook that…
Thanks, James, good suggestions, all. Writing was the go-to primary thing for me in dealing with my wife's terminal illness. I've been reluctant to put those thoughts here in the new space because I'm trying to transition out of that and into a new mindset. I can see now that I will have to drop the occasional bleak thought here, as well. My bullet journal has taken a beating these last four years; no reason for that not to continue.
And who doesn't hate dentists? The best, most likeable, gentlest dentist I ever had was a guy I decided I'd merely tolerate. That movie? Marathon Man? Single-handedly torpedoed an entire industry.
On a much lower level, I kinda understand. I dislike dentists. They always shame me for not doing enough. (To be fair, I don't, but they keep shaming me instead of supporting me.) I'm having an implant put in on Wednesday. I don't much like my oral surgeon. I have all sorts of fear and dread. Yanking the bad tooth (which was improperly "fixed" by a different dentist 6 years ago) was ... no picnic. But I didn't want to change oral surgeons mid-process. I'm already feeling anxious and I don't even go in until Wednesday.
I also know that I've been sort of killing myself in slow motion by over-eating and not exercising. That's an entirely different issue I'll need to address. I'm planning to use the week or so where I cannot eat after the procedure to jumpstart that re-orientation, turning the expected pain and sadness into forward movement to start losing the weight.
One suggestion which might help you with those toxic thoughts, if you haven't tried it: keep a throwaway journal for all those negtive thoughts. Write them in the journal when they occur. DO NOT read them once you're written them. When the journal is full, burn it. (Or just throw it away.) I've found that writing things down helps to get them out of my head. Steven Barnes (science fiction author, martial artist, life coach) recommends that as a way to process negative emotions as you lose weight. Look up Barnes + Lifewriting if you're interested. A lot of his insights are free on his old blog (DarKush) which is still available online.
Just remember two things through all of this:
1. You're not alone.
2. You've GOT this.
I may be the only person on Earth that doesn’t much mind the dentist. I work for an airline, and my dentist is a huge aviation fan, and likes to talk shop. He also has a penchant for dad jokes, but I’m willing to overlook that…
You are a lucky guy, at that. My current dentist isn't BAD, per se, he's just...well, a dentist...
Thanks, James, good suggestions, all. Writing was the go-to primary thing for me in dealing with my wife's terminal illness. I've been reluctant to put those thoughts here in the new space because I'm trying to transition out of that and into a new mindset. I can see now that I will have to drop the occasional bleak thought here, as well. My bullet journal has taken a beating these last four years; no reason for that not to continue.
And who doesn't hate dentists? The best, most likeable, gentlest dentist I ever had was a guy I decided I'd merely tolerate. That movie? Marathon Man? Single-handedly torpedoed an entire industry.