Breathing Space Therapies Newsletter

Hi Everyone

I went for my bi-annual dental check-up and visit to the hygienist recently and, as I was sitting in the chair, it occurred to be how stressful visits to the dentist can be for some people and how breathing & relaxation techniques can be so helpful in this kind of situation.  So I thought I'd share a few thoughts with you on the subject.

As those of you who have experienced a session with me will know, I'm committed to providing you with tools and coping mechanisms that you can use in your daily routine and which are proven to work. It is not my aim to have you sign up and book sessions ad nauseam, but more that I can equip you with the means to let go of fear and lifestyle habits that hold you back so that you can start living life to the full and be all that you might be.

So, here are a few practical tips that you may find useful at the Dentist and in many other potentially stressful situations:

1. If you look after you teeth and (perhaps more importantly) your gums on a daily basis, there's less likely to be a need for dental work.  In the same way, if we look after our general emotional as well as physical health and wellbeing, we're less likely to run into issues later.

If we neglect to look after our oral hygiene, it's more likely we need to face fillings, extractions etc and often, this remedial work is more challenging than if we'd managed to build an extra minute or two into our daily routine.  The same principal applies to our emotional and physical health.

2. In the dentist's chair, every so often I was aware that my muscles had become tense.  My fists were clenched or my shoulders were raised, for example.  Because I practice breathing & relaxation techniques, I am able to let that go, as soon as I'm aware of it and this is of huge help.  When we become tense, we are resisting potential pain and in fact, this resistance is likely to make any pain more acute.  So learning and practising breathing & relaxation techniques is very helpful in allowing you to release tension in all manner of situations.  That's why I recorded my series of audio CDs and downloads (available on www.breathingspacetherapies.com in the 'Go Shopping section).

3. When sitting in the chair at the dentist, it's good to distract your mind and think about something really enjoyable that has happened in your life.  Recall every detail.  Who was there, what was there, where you were, how you looked and felt, what you could hear, taste, touch, smell etc.  This kind of distraction technique is extremely useful in stressful situations and you soon find you are at the end of your treatment and all is well.

Finally, if you want to feel in control of the situation, monitor your stress levels and score them every so often on a scale of 1 to 10. Then visualise a dial (such as that you'd find on a volume control).  Using that dial, turn the tension and stress down and you'll notice that you can allow yourself to relax more.

These techniques are equally valid in a number of situations and I hope you find them helpful.

Please let me know whether or not this information is helpful to you, what your experiences are with the techniques and also if you have any ideas to share with others receiving this newsletter or if you would like me to offer advice on a specific topic.   I'm always delighted to hear from you. So, till the next time, keep calm, be clear & confident.