To take a soft toy to the dentist as an adult?

I can’t believe I never thought about adding this to my arsenal of tricks to get through an appt without a panic attack.

I’ve jumped out of the chair and not been able to complete the session before so anything I can do I will do. It would be nice not to cut my hands with my fingernails for a change.

Do whatever you need to do for you to accommodate treatment without making too much fuss.

Well done OP!
If the toy helps, take it next time as well.
My dentist gives me a stress ball to fiddle with so they must be used to people needing things like that.

I recently had day surgery under local anaesthetic, and one of the nurses actually asked in advance if I would like somebody to hold my hand: I accepted gratefully! Obviously, this was a regular enough occurrence to have arrangements in place!
Your dentist should similarly take helping nervous patients in their stride. They want you to cope and have the treatment you need, and are delighted that you have faced up to your anxiety enough to finally face your fear and go ahead,

Stress ball and also ask if they will let you wear airpods/similar during the treatment. I put mine in, volume up, and try to zone out. It isn't perfect, but it really helps me. I tell the dentist if it hurts etc then i'll raise my hand. So far none have objected to it.

As a nurse I adore all teddies. Age doesn't matter. Bring it!

I take crystals with me - I don't believe that they have any therapeutic effects, I buy them because I like the colours and shapes. Just having them to feel and turn in my hands helps somehow.
I also like to imagine/remember a favourite event or day (like a wedding or really nice holiday, festival) and walk myself through it in as much detail as I can as slowly as possible.
I find anything playing on earbuds overstimulating with the sounds and sensations already happening so it doesn't help me.

I’m a dental nurse. We wouldn’t bat an eyelid. Take whatever you need to get you through it x

@FettleOfKish YANBU, I had eye surgery in a private clinic in my early 40s and gave no indication of being nervous but the nurse still popped a soft toy in my hand after I was wheeled in lol

Also, little tip, I have a small unobtrusive cross body bag which I just keep around my person when I go to doctors or sit in dentists chair and attached on it is one of those plushie keyrings so I always have a little ‘comfort/stress’ toy as it were to help me get through any difficult appointments 🙃

Well done.

My 36 year old took his blanket and me! The staff were brilliant with him.

Well done OP! Now relax and enjoy your weekend 🥰

Go for it.

As a hilarious, have temped in a dental practise but also phobic - they’ll just be delighted you’ve got a plan that means won’t faint. It’s mighty inconvenient when patients do that.

I count. 1234 breathing in. Counting each one on a finger against the arm rest on the chair with one hand (like slow motion finger drumming) and then the same for breathing out on the other hand. Starting with little finger to make it harder to do.

It’s enough to concentrate on that it helps tune anything else out.

Well done OP. As someone who hasn’t been to the dentist in four years because the last time I went I fainted after an experience at the hands of the hygienist which I can only describe as some sort of water-boarding, I know how you feel!

I do know that dentists are usually very kind to us wimps. My old dentist used to get his nurse in to hold my hand sometimes! Happily she didn’t seem to mind either.

You might now have inspired me to make that appointment….

I totally get you OP. Fear of the dentist must be horrible.
I have a friend who has a small bag with lavender and she holds it if she is upset or nervous about something. She says her brain notes the softness of it and diverts some attention from the fear onto how nice it feels and it helps her.
Do what you need to do.

Well done! You’ve been amazingly brave already.

You wouldn’t think I gave birth with only 2 paracetamols would you

Isn’t it weird how we all fear different things?

I have absolutely zero fear of anything dental or medical - to the point where hospital staff have commented on it several times. But put me in a room with a large spider and I’d probably die of the horror. I literally have nightmares about it.

Similarly I’m really unafraid of even potentially violent confrontations, and have intervened in fights, thrown violent drunks out of bars, calmed down volatile people having psychotic episodes in public etc. But making a phone call at work to introduce myself to someone and set up a meeting with them makes me so anxious my stomach cramps up and I start sweating.

I’m sure they won’t mind.

I held one of my young child's soft toys at an awkward gynaecological appt - not only did it give me something to grip but I think the scent was actually somewhat relaxing. The practitioner didn't bat an eyelid.

Maybe treat yourself to a new plushie after it's all over? ❤️

I've done it before and will do it again! (41 year old)

Not quite the same but I have a pain killing injection every 3 months and find it painful. (I'm fine with the flu vaccine, etc)

I usually take a stress ball. Forgot it on Tuesday and took my phone. I see the same nurse every time. She asked where my stress ball was. I replied that I forgot it. She then said they have stress balls at the hospital

Get yourself a rosary! (Might even earn a bit of perpetual indulgence that way, next time you are at the dentist.)