Blimey it is quiet around here. I covered this board for a while when Owly was ill earlier this year(she was covering it herself then as there was no CL)

Anyway to introduce myself. I am CL on Coping with Depression and a few other boards. Suffered with depression most of my life, the whole thing made worse by anxiety, panic attacks and major phobias - lots of them.

The biggy at the moment is my dental phobia. I haven't been treated for 40years and it has got to the stage where something must be done. So, I am off for a "check up" in an hours time. The understanding is that I will talk things through with the dentist and hopefully be able to let her look in my mouth!!!!! Gagging as I write this.

Why the heck do people without phobias not understand what we go through. Some of my phobias, snakes, spiders and the like don't impose on life too much. Other  stuff, eating in public, being sick, travelling in strange places, escalators (made worse by the fact I have severe vertigo), coping with finances, using the telephone. I could go on and on!!

I have tried CBT. Waste of time and this is from someone who is a trained Bereavement Counselor! I tried two sessions and both times ended up hiding under the desk in the consulting room.

I am not too hopeful that anyone will see this post and respond but, like depression, it helps to offload sometimes.

EDIT: to say realised my nonCL profile was way out of date. Two of the boards listed in my siggy are now combined with others

Hi Tabbs,

I've 'met' you over on the depression board. I don't come on this board much as it is very quiet.

I have a fear of being sick and other people being sick. At the moment anxiety about it is affecting me every day.

You are so so brave for going to the dentist! Let us know how it goes. I guess a similar situation for me would be to plan to go into a room where people are throwing up, and that is a horrible thought.

It is a big step that you have even arranged it, especially if it was on the telephone.

I'll be thinking of you today.

Hugs,

Nicola
xxxxx

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Thanks Nicola!

Made it into the treatment room and my legs gave way so ended up on the floor. Dentist was brilliant though, sat there with me until I was able to get into the chair. Less treatment needed than I expected so I have two more appointments in mid December. Couple of fillings and an extraction but she will only do that when I am ready to cope.

And no, I didn't make the appointment on the phone. I actually had to register as I haven't been treated for so long.

Tabbs xx

Morning Tabbs,

So glad you got through your first meeting with the dentist - she sounds really nice and understanding, which must've helped you a lot.

Brilliant that you managed to get into the chair, bet you had doubted for a long time that you'd ever be able to do that. What a fantastic step forward!

How are you feeling about it all?

Nicola
xxxxx

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Feeling calm at the moment and chuffed I coped with so much yesterday. Ended up with a tension headache last night but that was to be expected!

I know I will be stressed when I have treatment but the dentist has got all sorts of coping strategies set up. She explains everything to all her patients as she goes along anyway. As she said, even if I really struggle to cope during treatment, it is only a few minutes at a time. Think she understands a lot about depression and anxiety.

Tabbs xx