I spent
many years avoiding the dentist, and my life was affected in
many ways. Not only did my dental and general health suffer,
I also lost my self-confidence and self-esteem.
Very
rarely did I smile, it showed my teeth and I was so ashamed
of them.
When
talking face to face with others my hand was held in front
of my mouth to hide my rotten teeth.
Eating
was often a problem but I persevered. After all it was better
than going to the dentist, so my fears told me.
I felt
dirty and ashamed of the way my teeth had deteriorated.
Frequently
I would dream about teeth and often woke up with broken bits
of tooth in my mouth.
Abscesses
were regular occurrences and often lasted for several days
swelling the side of my face. The constant pain was almost
unbearable but still my fears prevented me from seeking help.
I have heard
it said that "when it hurts enough people will go to the
dentist." ..... which does not hold true for dental phobics!!
Eventually
I came to the "crossroads" in my life and realised
smoothing must be done. I could not continue to suffer in this
way. About a year previous to this I found a self-help group
in my home town so I decided to contact them and see if they
could help. It was a difficult decision to make but, eventually,
it turned out to be one of the best things I could have done.
With the
help of a brilliant dentist and support from the group I finally
managed to beat "the fear".
Realising
not everyone has the good fortune to have a support group, or
access to the kind of dentist needed, I formed Beyond Fear
