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Veteran Member
Member Since Nov 2013
Location: USA
Posts: 673
10 62 hugs
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#1
My therapist will start working my phobia (of the dentist) soon. I told him about my phobia a month ago but we're taking it super slow because I'm ashamed of my phobia. Up until this point we've only talked about how it felt to tell him.
Has anyone done phobia work? What was it like? Did your therapist try systematic desensitization? From what I gather it involves visualization a followed by relaxation/grounding. I'm feeling really uncomfortable about starting this. It'll be very different that my typical sessions and that concerns me. Since I'm in therapy to work on relationships my therapist and I spend tons of time talking about our relationship. I'm scared there won't be time for that anymore ![]() Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ As wolves love lambs so lovers love their loves - Socrates |
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![]() Bill3
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![]() Bill3
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Grand Poohbah
Member Since Mar 2013
Location: US
Posts: 1,708
11 2,018 hugs
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#2
It's difficult to change directions like that....any way you can look at it as though your T's confidence is a huge plus and means he believes he can help you? So if you can trust him with it, it could be part of the relationship building process....like it's a way to work on the relationship without talking directly about it, if that makes sense.
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Elder
Member Since Jan 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 5,248
10 91 hugs
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#3
I am terrified of the dentist as well. I don't know what part of the experience is your phobia, but it's very common to have fears/phobias around dentists and dental work. There's nothing to be ashamed of. You might be surprised at the number of people who share your phobia
![]() __________________ HazelGirl PTSD, Depression, ADHD, Anxiety Propranolol 10mg as needed for anxiety, Wellbutrin XL 150mg |
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Poohbah
Member Since Feb 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,302
10 1,041 hugs
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#4
I have a dental phobia, too, but it is much less of a problem than it was for many years. I also have some other phobias. When my T and I did systematic desensitization, before we ever did any visualizations, she told me to make a list of all the "parts" of the phobia, going from least afraid to most afraid, and we would work from that list. She also did EMDR with me, and that helped a lot.
__________________ In a world where you can be anything, be kind. ; |
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Free to live
Member Since Jul 2011
Location: In a sheltered place
Posts: 27,669
(SuperPoster!)
13 5,051 hugs
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#5
my old T tried more of an exposure therapy technique with me for one phobia ... this way sounds more gentle especially with the grounding process being involved as well; hopefully you can find time to keep talking about your relationship as well as working on this
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