Guest guest Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 What a delightful post Stan. Thank you. Anne x > > A few days ago, I had the last of my sadly neglected teeth removed and my upper dentures put in. I now have a great smile, less self-consciousness, and a lot to get used to. > > ACT, plus a lot of research into how to adjust to living with a mouth full of plastic is helping me big time. I now have a whole bunch of new things to learn and cope with, such as: new ways of chewing food; speaking as my tongue adapts to its new environment (saying the tongue-twister 'The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick' for example, is a challenge); discomfort and some pain while my gums heal and change shape after the extractions; and an almost constant awareness of them being in my mouth. > > The mindfulness part of ACT was a huge help when my upper teeth were taken out a few days ago. Like a lot people, I have a huge fear of needles being stuck into my gums and the roof of my mouth, and my mind keeps telling me I'll experience more pain than I can cope with. > > Mindfulness to the rescue! As I lay back in the dentist's chair waiting for the first needle prick, I closed my eyes and put my awareness into my body and took a few deep and relaxing breaths. Then, each time I felt the needle go in, I focussed on what I was actually experiencing moment by moment instead of trying to fight and reject it. > > The result? A couple of mild stabbing pains that disappeared almost as soon as they were felt, and nothing I couldn't cope with. > > Thanks to a lot of research and watching YouTube videos of fellow denture wearers, I have a good idea of what to expect over the next few months. Learning to eat in a new way, for example; learning to adjust my speech as my tongue adapts to its new plastic filled environment; and some discomfort and pain as my gums heal and change. > > ACT will play a big part in this process. Using defusion to handle the inevitable discomfort and frustrations and negative thoughts are already helping me through this long transition. What also helps is that I have taken a huge step towards realising my social values. I no longer feel self-conscious when I talk to people, and I smile a lot more. > > If you're reading this and thinking of getting dentures, Google and ACT are your friends. Google because of the wealth of information it provides about your journey, and ACT because it helps you along your way. Oh, and this forum as well, of course! > > Cheers, > Stan > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 What a delightful post Stan. Thank you. Anne x > > A few days ago, I had the last of my sadly neglected teeth removed and my upper dentures put in. I now have a great smile, less self-consciousness, and a lot to get used to. > > ACT, plus a lot of research into how to adjust to living with a mouth full of plastic is helping me big time. I now have a whole bunch of new things to learn and cope with, such as: new ways of chewing food; speaking as my tongue adapts to its new environment (saying the tongue-twister 'The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick' for example, is a challenge); discomfort and some pain while my gums heal and change shape after the extractions; and an almost constant awareness of them being in my mouth. > > The mindfulness part of ACT was a huge help when my upper teeth were taken out a few days ago. Like a lot people, I have a huge fear of needles being stuck into my gums and the roof of my mouth, and my mind keeps telling me I'll experience more pain than I can cope with. > > Mindfulness to the rescue! As I lay back in the dentist's chair waiting for the first needle prick, I closed my eyes and put my awareness into my body and took a few deep and relaxing breaths. Then, each time I felt the needle go in, I focussed on what I was actually experiencing moment by moment instead of trying to fight and reject it. > > The result? A couple of mild stabbing pains that disappeared almost as soon as they were felt, and nothing I couldn't cope with. > > Thanks to a lot of research and watching YouTube videos of fellow denture wearers, I have a good idea of what to expect over the next few months. Learning to eat in a new way, for example; learning to adjust my speech as my tongue adapts to its new plastic filled environment; and some discomfort and pain as my gums heal and change. > > ACT will play a big part in this process. Using defusion to handle the inevitable discomfort and frustrations and negative thoughts are already helping me through this long transition. What also helps is that I have taken a huge step towards realising my social values. I no longer feel self-conscious when I talk to people, and I smile a lot more. > > If you're reading this and thinking of getting dentures, Google and ACT are your friends. Google because of the wealth of information it provides about your journey, and ACT because it helps you along your way. Oh, and this forum as well, of course! > > Cheers, > Stan > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 Hi Stan, I've done this too - the dentist is a great place to practice!. And it works! Happy Munching! Simone To: ACT_for_the_Public Sent: Wednesday, 18 April 2012, 2:28Subject: ACT and New Dentures A few days ago, I had the last of my sadly neglected teeth removed and my upper dentures put in. I now have a great smile, less self-consciousness, and a lot to get used to.ACT, plus a lot of research into how to adjust to living with a mouth full of plastic is helping me big time. I now have a whole bunch of new things to learn and cope with, such as: new ways of chewing food; speaking as my tongue adapts to its new environment (saying the tongue-twister 'The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick' for example, is a challenge); discomfort and some pain while my gums heal and change shape after the extractions; and an almost constant awareness of them being in my mouth.The mindfulness part of ACT was a huge help when my upper teeth were taken out a few days ago. Like a lot people, I have a huge fear of needles being stuck into my gums and the roof of my mouth, and my mind keeps telling me I'll experience more pain than I can cope with.Mindfulness to the rescue! As I lay back in the dentist's chair waiting for the first needle prick, I closed my eyes and put my awareness into my body and took a few deep and relaxing breaths. Then, each time I felt the needle go in, I focussed on what I was actually experiencing moment by moment instead of trying to fight and reject it.The result? A couple of mild stabbing pains that disappeared almost as soon as they were felt, and nothing I couldn't cope with.Thanks to a lot of research and watching YouTube videos of fellow denture wearers, I have a good idea of what to expect over the next few months. Learning to eat in a new way, for example; learning to adjust my speech as my tongue adapts to its new plastic filled environment; and some discomfort and pain as my gums heal and change.ACT will play a big part in this process. Using defusion to handle the inevitable discomfort and frustrations and negative thoughts are already helping me through this long transition. What also helps is that I have taken a huge step towards realising my social values. I no longer feel self-conscious when I talk to people, and I smile a lot more.If you're reading this and thinking of getting dentures, Google and ACT are your friends. Google because of the wealth of information it provides about your journey, and ACT because it helps you along your way. Oh, and this forum as well, of course!Cheers,Stan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 Hi Stan, I've done this too - the dentist is a great place to practice!. And it works! Happy Munching! Simone To: ACT_for_the_Public Sent: Wednesday, 18 April 2012, 2:28Subject: ACT and New Dentures A few days ago, I had the last of my sadly neglected teeth removed and my upper dentures put in. I now have a great smile, less self-consciousness, and a lot to get used to.ACT, plus a lot of research into how to adjust to living with a mouth full of plastic is helping me big time. I now have a whole bunch of new things to learn and cope with, such as: new ways of chewing food; speaking as my tongue adapts to its new environment (saying the tongue-twister 'The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick' for example, is a challenge); discomfort and some pain while my gums heal and change shape after the extractions; and an almost constant awareness of them being in my mouth.The mindfulness part of ACT was a huge help when my upper teeth were taken out a few days ago. Like a lot people, I have a huge fear of needles being stuck into my gums and the roof of my mouth, and my mind keeps telling me I'll experience more pain than I can cope with.Mindfulness to the rescue! As I lay back in the dentist's chair waiting for the first needle prick, I closed my eyes and put my awareness into my body and took a few deep and relaxing breaths. Then, each time I felt the needle go in, I focussed on what I was actually experiencing moment by moment instead of trying to fight and reject it.The result? A couple of mild stabbing pains that disappeared almost as soon as they were felt, and nothing I couldn't cope with.Thanks to a lot of research and watching YouTube videos of fellow denture wearers, I have a good idea of what to expect over the next few months. Learning to eat in a new way, for example; learning to adjust my speech as my tongue adapts to its new plastic filled environment; and some discomfort and pain as my gums heal and change.ACT will play a big part in this process. Using defusion to handle the inevitable discomfort and frustrations and negative thoughts are already helping me through this long transition. What also helps is that I have taken a huge step towards realising my social values. I no longer feel self-conscious when I talk to people, and I smile a lot more.If you're reading this and thinking of getting dentures, Google and ACT are your friends. Google because of the wealth of information it provides about your journey, and ACT because it helps you along your way. Oh, and this forum as well, of course!Cheers,Stan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 I have never been to the dentist as an adult. As soon as my mum could no longer force me, that was that. I think I need to overcome this, and your post is timely, thanks Stan To: ACT_for_the_Public Sent: Wednesday, 18 April 2012, 2:28 Subject: ACT and New Dentures A few days ago, I had the last of my sadly neglected teeth removed and my upper dentures put in. I now have a great smile, less self-consciousness, and a lot to get used to. ACT, plus a lot of research into how to adjust to living with a mouth full of plastic is helping me big time. I now have a whole bunch of new things to learn and cope with, such as: new ways of chewing food; speaking as my tongue adapts to its new environment (saying the tongue-twister 'The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick' for example, is a challenge); discomfort and some pain while my gums heal and change shape after the extractions; and an almost constant awareness of them being in my mouth. The mindfulness part of ACT was a huge help when my upper teeth were taken out a few days ago. Like a lot people, I have a huge fear of needles being stuck into my gums and the roof of my mouth, and my mind keeps telling me I'll experience more pain than I can cope with. Mindfulness to the rescue! As I lay back in the dentist's chair waiting for the first needle prick, I closed my eyes and put my awareness into my body and took a few deep and relaxing breaths. Then, each time I felt the needle go in, I focussed on what I was actually experiencing moment by moment instead of trying to fight and reject it. The result? A couple of mild stabbing pains that disappeared almost as soon as they were felt, and nothing I couldn't cope with. Thanks to a lot of research and watching YouTube videos of fellow denture wearers, I have a good idea of what to expect over the next few months. Learning to eat in a new way, for example; learning to adjust my speech as my tongue adapts to its new plastic filled environment; and some discomfort and pain as my gums heal and change. ACT will play a big part in this process. Using defusion to handle the inevitable discomfort and frustrations and negative thoughts are already helping me through this long transition. What also helps is that I have taken a huge step towards realising my social values. I no longer feel self-conscious when I talk to people, and I smile a lot more. If you're reading this and thinking of getting dentures, Google and ACT are your friends. Google because of the wealth of information it provides about your journey, and ACT because it helps you along your way. Oh, and this forum as well, of course! Cheers, Stan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 I admire your courage, determination to use your skills, and the way your values are directing your choices). My sister battled for many years to try to keep her teeth, and finally got an upper plate. She has shared with me the challenges she is facing. I had no idea how many adjustments there are, and I’ll bet most people don’t. Thank you for sharing this with the group. Rose, LCSW Outpatient Therapist Triumph, LLC 119 W. Depot St. Mocksville NC 27028 Phone #: (336) 751 5636 Fax #: This email and any files or documents transmitted with it are confidential and may be protected by law. They are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the email to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify us immediately by replying to this email and then deleting this email and any attachments from your computer. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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