THE DENTIST
I make sure I get the recommended check up and clean every 6 months as I know the importance of having healthy teeth and gums.
Our teeth are essential to healthy living. We need them to eat and help breakdown food. We also need them to speak. Just those two reasons alone are important enough if you ask me.
I also make sure I brush, floss and rinse twice daily so when it comes to dentist time there’s no real major issues and I’m not stuck in that chair for too long.
You see, going to the dentist is a HUGE phobia of mine and the 2 appointments I make each year are without a doubt the 2 most stressful days on my calendar.
Just saying the word dentist makes me cringe. I almost lose my breath and a wave of dread sweeps over my body from head to toe whenever I hear or think about it. It’s a horrible feeling.
For some reason my mind goes into overdrive. The days, even weeks leading up to a check up I sense a real shift in my mood. I always feel on edge, anxious and drumming up all the worst case scenarios possible.
I’ve identified the main culprit behind my angst too…
Personal space.
You know how everyone has their own ‘personal space’. That invisible area of space that stands in between you and someone else when you’re talking to them or engaging in some form. It’s an area that we consciously create to feel comfortable in whatever it is we are doing.
Apparently there’s official zones too that most of us are probably already aware of.
The Personal Zone is between 18 inches and 48 inches (46cm – 1.22m). This is the distance that we stand from others at cocktail parties, office parties, social functions and friendly gatherings.
The Social Zone is between 4 and 12 feet (1.22m – 3.6m). We stand at this distance from strangers.
Before these two though is The Intimate Zone. Between 6 – 18 inches (15cm – 45cm) and only those that are emotionally close to us are permitted to enter.
Now to put this into perspective if I was to state my own zones they would be…
Personal Zone – (5 – 10 metres)
Social Zone – sitting on the couch at home by myself for the entire weekend hoping no one talks to me other than the pizza delivery guy.So here’s the problem. Going to the dentist to get a check up and clean involves someone SEVERELY encroaching on not only my personal space but my intimate space as well! And I don’t like it one bit. Not to mention I’m totally stuck in that chair with nowhere to go whilst they look down on me from close range and scrape, poke, prod, pull, drill, stretch and examine every inch of my mouth for 40 minutes. All whilst I’m trying not to let the pool of dribble gathering at the bottom of my mouth overflow and fending off cramps by having my mouth open so bloody wide. For me it’s the stuff nightmares are made of.
Just get me outta there!
The relief once it’s done though is amazing. And arguably one of the most exciting times in my life!! As you can tell I clearly don’t get out much.
I liken the whole process to watching a dog about to do a shit. They sniff around madly stressed out looking for a good spot. Then once they’ve found it they do a couple of circles and voila. Out it comes. You know when they finish, they take a couple of steps forward and flick grass back before they sprint off with a huge smile because they are so fucking happy it’s done??
Yeah that’s me when I walk out the door after my appointment.
So why do I put myself through this?
It’s because I’ve identified the importance of having healthy teeth and gums and how that aids in me having a quality of life. I choose to look after myself and prioritise me. Going to the dentist is just another small part of investing in myself.
Do I like it? Fuck no! But it’s a small price to pay for something that’s important to me. I may be getting old now but I certainly ain’t ready to pop my teeth in a jar beside the bed just yet.
Investing in yourself is a choice. Not always an easy one but it’s still a choice. Make sure you’re investing in yourself wisely, make good decisions and….
‘GET COMFORTABLE BEING UMCOMFORTABLE’
Ps. If you ever feel like there’s been a shift in my mood and I’m not quite with it, I more than likely have a dentist appointment coming up.
‘’If you have a body, we can help you’’
Ben
Infinite Fitness Peninsula