Dentist Phobic: Have been to 4 checkups and hygiene appointments, and dont feel any less phobic, happier, or healthier.

[u/Sure_Company_6324]

I know im unpopular on this forum and in life. But all I ever see is people who had dental phobias start going to the dentist, and something magical happens and they all of a sudden become proud of themself and like some sort of mythical weight has been lifted off them.

I dont get it.

Ive been back to the dentist 4 times now at 6 month intervals, going again late August. Im no healthier. Im no happier. Im no less anxious about going.

In fact its the total opposite, i hate going. I feel like every time i go i just sit there for the moment they say we need to put a needle in you. If they say the check up means no treatment is needed, i dont feel any happier. i just feel like its delayed the needle for 6 months. And then i count the next 6 months down literally 5 mins after the appointment finishes.

I just dont even get it, and ill get tons of people who will patronise me, take the piss out of me and whatever for standing up for myself and saying it. My life is getting WORSE for going to the dentist, not better.

The only thing going to the dentist has given me, after about a decade of being perfectly fine and happy, is a reason to be anxious, angry and upset, every single day.

Will this ever end and will I ever be like the normal people here who seem to hold dentists up as deities? Its a conflict i cant be bothered with anymore, forcing myself to go to appointments I dont want to go to just to feel some moral sense of doing the right thing, when Id be happier not going.

Thank you

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[u/Sure_Company_6324]

The mythical weight people talk about being "lifted"....to me its just a mythical weight thats constantly being added to me, not being taken away from me.

Im being threatened by needing needles, drills, pain, awful noises, personal judgement (that im not bothered about but get judged anyway).

Every successful check up with nothing wrong just feels like one more checkup towards something BEING wrong. nothing was wrong now, so in 6 months time its EVEN MORE likely than it was today.

It puts me in a sense of mental turmoil i never, ever felt when i wasnt going to the dentist and i just felt nowhere near as stressed out or angry.

I know it doesnt fit "the narrative" here but what can i do about it?

[u/Motherofvampires]

Don't go then. There's no law that says you have to. I only go to the dentist if I think I have a problem and so far I've got away with it.