Ways to stay calm

I have a dentist appointment today. It's my first one in a few years. Ok, more like five years. I'm a serious dentaphobe. As I was tooling up to stay calm before my dentophobia took over, I thought I'd share what helps for me in these situations.

Everyone has something they're afraid of and with a chronic illness you're likely to have to face those fears over and over again. I know I sure have! So here's some tricks that help keep me calm.

1. Timeline. I try and keep it all in perspective. It's a blip in my day (week, month, year) and will be over pretty fast.
2. Bring something to hold. A small rock, shell, Beanie Baby, whatever. It helps me if it's something heavy to help keep me grounded and relaxed.
3. Check your muscles. When I'm stressed I tense up a lot. Checking in with my body, especially if I start to feel pain and intentionally relaxing into it is really helpful for me.
4. Pick a smell. For me nothing makes me happier than the smell of my husband's deodorant. I equate that smell with him. Mix it with Irish Spring and Head and Shoulders and I'm over the moon. But for something like a dentist appointment stealing his deodorant and wearing it for the day is enough. It's like he's there with me and that helps me relax.
5. Be comfy. Many times I would have no control over a situation, but I can control what I wear. I skip the bra and wear clothes that make me feel happy and relaxed.
6. Treat yo self. I can't tell you how many times the thought of a chocolate shake or a caramel apple cider pulled me through stressful medical procedures.
7. Bring a soft blankie. Another trick I've done that was super helpful. Hospital blankets suck, so having my own has been helpful many times.
8. Have someone you love take you. My mom is taking me today, though she won't be back with me. But she would if I asked. That's love. To sit in the dentist office for someone!
9. Visualize. Everyone should have a calm, happy place they can easily go to in their mind. I have at least ten. Use it and transport yourself.
10. Breathe (if you can). It's not always possible to take a deep breath through things (spinal tap, MRI, dental crap), but if you can try and notice your breathing and keep it calm and slow.