Thank you for all the responses everyone. I'm sorry too (((Theodora))) for the loss of Crackers. It's amazing the connection we feel to our pets - I sometimes think Bella understands me more than even my own family lol. I've told this story in the pet forum - when we go somewhere Bella still has to go in her crate because she tends to eat things. When she was younger I used to bribe her with kibble and it took a few minutes to get her to go. Now even before I get my shoes or coat on, I look over and there she is sitting in her crate with the door open lol. I don't say or motion in any way - she just senses it.

Talking about pets relates to breathing because it's well known that petting our furry friends lowers our blood pressure and probably calms our breathing too. When ever I get this TMJ flare up, I know I have to be mindfull of where the tension is in my body. I've been making a point the last few days to be mindfull every so often of my breathing. Within seconds of noticing my breathing I start to feel more relaxed. I think many who suffer from anxiety automatically get in the habit of holding their bodies in a tense fashion. Good luck today with being more aware.