Visits to the dentist make me nervous. Some visits are down right terrifying. When the trembling started I felt so disappointed. I could feel the terror spreading. I closed my eyes and tried to will my heart to slow down but I just could not breathe. My heart felt like exploding and my entire body shook. As soon as the fear hit me I broke out in a sweat and chest pains.
Great…a full blown panic attack. There was a time when these episodes occurred often in my life but not anymore. Anxiety gets the best of me sometimes but it is manageable.
Spinning and dizziness hit me, my fingers and toes tingle. Then the weird floating…detached sensations arrive. Panic attacks are overwhelming and I cannot hide the symptoms. I feel betrayed and trapped by my own body.
My doctor was completely unfazed. He told me my reaction was completely normal for some people. He takes the blue paper bib off of me and helps me to stand up. He calls an attendant to help me “walk it off.” I need someone to help because I am shaking so hard and feel dizzy…my walk is more like a drunken stagger. Which is fine when full of wine but kinda odd when sober. He continues to explain that my reaction is caused by the epinephrine in the anesthetic…triggered my adrenalin “fight or flight response.”
I wasn’t sure which idea was more shocking: that I wasn’t having a panic attack or that this moment was “completely normal”. All these years I thought I was terrified of the dentist.
Nope. Completely normal.
February 25, 2016 at 2:48 am
I guess it’s a little reassuring to find out its normal. Still panic attacks wether natural or induced by medicine are awful.
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February 25, 2016 at 12:57 pm
I’m sorry you had this experience. What a scary feeling to be out in public when a panic attack hits! I keep a secret klonipin hidden in my wallet for such a case. I’ve needed it once, so I can say this is a win for the panic part of my bipolar. Try that next time you have to go to the dentist. (If you have medication for your panic attacks) Sometimes just knowing it’s there can calm you down. You are your own biggest fan! Take control of the dentist!
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February 25, 2016 at 5:11 pm
I don’t do dentists either, I always leave finger marks dug into the chair where I grab it so hard. 😦
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February 27, 2016 at 12:29 pm
Oh, I’m so sorry you struggle with panic attacks. How horrible for you, although I guess (?) it’s reassuring to find out they are normal at the dentists!
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