"the extreme fear has remained"
18/01/2014 16:33
From one of my students....
Anyway, I think I mentioned that I had a root canal last week. Not sure if I have ever mentioned I am terrified of dentists. I had a very nice, but horribly brutal dentist when I was a child (my Godfather). I remember one time in particular I had to have several teeth pulled to get the baby teeth out of the way so they could put braces in.....one nurse holding my feet and another my shoulders while the dentist worked and me screaming for what seemed like forever. I didn’t know till I was an adult that I am a person for whom Novocain had very little useful effect, so I felt everything. Once I left home for college, I didn’t see another dentist till I was in my 30’s, and only then because of extreme pain (no choice). I usually spend my time in the chair as rigid as a fencepost, and I barely breathe the whole time I am there. The drugs are much better now, so I rarely feel pain till later when they wear off, but the extreme fear has remained, and although my current dentist is very nice and very good at his work, it is still a struggle.
Last Monday, I was surprised to find that I was not rigid, and was breathing slowly and deeply the whole time. I had a root canal about 10 years ago and I remember it hurt like the dickens after. My jaw was sore for days, and I couldn’t eat on that side for quite awhile. Last Monday, I went home after and went to bed for a couple of hours, then got up and it was like I had never been to the dentist.... no pain, hardly any stiffness in my jaw.
I blame tai chi and qigong.
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