First of all I really dislike going to the dentist, who doesn’t? Don’t get me wrong, I love the dentist that I have, I think he is an amazing dentist, he is understanding, and takes the time to understand why. But also: There’s usually shots involved which means needles, and lots of drooling, and slobbering, and someone is looking and inspecting how good you are at taking care of yourself. Most times it feels like you’re just being judged the whole time. They know whether or not you smoke, drink coffee, tea, they can tell a lot by your teeth and when you recognize that, it feels like they are judging you for it. The whole time you’re just like oh my gosh, why didn’t I floss more, I should be brushing 3 times a day, they probably think I’m a monster! And then you put on some head phones and try to listen to music as they go about their business in your mouth. When my teeth are being drilled I can barely hear my headphones on full blast. It feels like I am in a war zone. The whole time I have my eyes closed, I can’t look at the needle from the shot or the drills, or their judging eyes. I just want to hide away in my head away from everything that is happening to me. It feels like I have no control. I take a breath and I remember the float tank, my safe space. I remember the only control I have is how I react and what good is it if I continue to react like this?
And then I began to think of my next float and how much I need it. I’m sitting in a dentist chair and I realize that my whole body is tensed up. I am actively having to remind myself to relax. That is an hour of exhaustion for me. If I wasn’t consenting to this it would feel like a trauma, it would be considered torture, but I am consenting.
My fight or flight response is turned on, leaving you with your overactive amygdala. Luckily the tank shuts your amygdala off, shuts down the fight or flight response for just a little while at least, sometimes more with practice. The epsom salts also help to release whatever toxins you got from that experience. You also need to heal, my mouth is usually sore from all the poking and prodding as well as holding it open for that long. You heal in rest and the tank is the deepest state of rest your brain can have. So get in the tank.
And then I began to think of my next float and how much I need it. I’m sitting in a dentist chair and I realize that my whole body is tensed up. I am actively having to remind myself to relax. That is an hour of exhaustion for me. If I wasn’t consenting to this it would feel like a trauma, it would be considered torture, but I am consenting.
My fight or flight response is turned on, leaving you with your overactive amygdala. Luckily the tank shuts your amygdala off, shuts down the fight or flight response for just a little while at least, sometimes more with practice. The epsom salts also help to release whatever toxins you got from that experience. You also need to heal, my mouth is usually sore from all the poking and prodding as well as holding it open for that long. You heal in rest and the tank is the deepest state of rest your brain can have. So get in the tank.
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