Hi,

I've have been reminding hubby to keep things calm at home. I've been feeling more anxious lately.

The trip to the dentist didn't help.
I get lost each time I go there. I took an hour in traffic. They were annoyed that I was late and even called my cell phone to ask where I was.
I felt like crying.
Perhaps I should have cried so that they would know that I was freaked out and not simply a late person who can't figure out how to drive to the other side of the county.


--I had my cleaning.

--Then I had the dentist change my my "night guard" because I am wearing that thing and still grinding my teeth every night. During the day, I have teeth and jaw pain.
(By the way, this night guard cost me over 300.00 a year ago ---- not covered by insurance.)

He fiddled with it while I sat in the chair for 45 minutes. Finally he told me to go and try it and let him know on Monday.

He is good. Really he is.

But I wanted him to tell me that I would be fine, that the guard would work for me. I needed him to be reassuring.


I kind of wish he had not made any changes to it. I prefer the old way that I was used to. This thing that he changed might interfere with my ability to sleep.

More likely, the change will simply add to my general anxiety about sleep, causing me to stay up later.


I need to find a way to reassure myself and then go to bed and sleep.
M.

Oh Mari,
I am sorry that you go lost....hate that when I do that too.
I drive around town all the time with my work....
I have to write out detailed instructions for everyone because I get lost easily.
Could you map quest the dentist if you have to go back soon for a recheck of the guard? 45 minutes is a long time to wait around....hopefully there was a magazine there while you waited....

have you ever done accupuncture?
a friend of mine who is a research scientist is going back to school to be one.
She says it does amzing things to her body and so many people are helped by it. Don't know if that would help with your anxiety or not....

Have you ever tried just deciding that you were going to lay down with your hubby at night, focus on being with him, jsut feeling his pressense physically to distract yourself from yourself....snuggling...more quality time with him...
don't know if that makes sense?

bizi here fummbling along this morning....

teeth are anxiety....no matter how much you like your dentist...since I am always anxious I don't know how much anxiety the work on my teeth is causing me. *I tried something today when I went to the bank. I tried to imagine I was on my way to get a hot fudge sundae with nuts whipped cream and a cherry on top. Guess what...it didn't work. Maybe something like that could work for you. I sometimes time a double dosage of klonopin at night when I am too tired and anxious to do anything, even sleep.
Here is hoping you will feel better. the acupuncture didn't help me...i went for ten sessions.
Bobby

The last time I went to my dentist I ended up in the psych ward...I thought the office staff and he were talking about me during a root canal and flipped out started crying. He thought he was hurting me but he wasnt. I let them know I just had a melt down about something completely different the next time I had to go.

But as a rule Im an anxious person. Im anxious right now. When I get like this I write in my journal about how im feeling or get on the computer and try to connect and usually the reason Im anxious comes out and I can deal with it. Or there is always my meds if that dosnt work. I hope you feel better.

Mari - I hope the adjustment the Dentist made works for you.

I also hope you can sleep.

I clench and grind my teeth too. I had an expensive night guard, now I just have one I got at the drug store.

I have TMJ so that causes headaches when I wake up all clenched and grinding.

I dread the Dentist, last time I went I had two teeth pulled, but they had to be. I was in so much pain.

I have bone loss, receding gums. They wanted me to have all this work done, but w/o ins, forget it. He spoke of trying to save two teeth, well I figure those will be next to go.

OOps, I am going on here...sorry...
Nikko

I know how uncomfortable the jaw pain is. Mine gets worse the longer I go without sleep too.

befuddled2

I have a deep and abiding fear of sleep.

I'm working on it.

In the meantime, my teeth have moved and my bite has changed because of the grinding. i can't eat certain foods now.
Mari

I am sorry that you are afraid.....
((((HUGS))))
bizi

I hope you've been able to sleep Mari

I wonder how much insomnia is caused by a subconscious fear of falling asleep? From what I've been able to learn, it's not really a fear of not waking up as much as it is a fear of losing control.

There are nights when I actively fight the process of going to sleep. On those nights there is always a lot of anxiety about sleeping.

Yes,
That is mostly it.


This desire not to sleep is stronger than my desire to have good days.

Mari