anxiety is ruining my teeth!

[emax]

so recently it's been a bit of a sucky battle. I changed job roles with my partner last year & she got sick, really sick and we missed a LOT of time at work and money was tight and I was exhausted and stressed about her and work and us and it felt like everything was so much of an effort. the simplest things going wrong made me so angry and frustrated and i figured if i tried to control Everything it would all calm down or stop. But it didn't. So i moved back to my old job role and even though i knew the contract was up for renewal I didn't think it wouldn't be renewed. It wasn't renewed, and foe the first time in my life i will be kobless. I spent so many nights awake going over and over how we would cope, when we have little money now and i am so mentally exhausted everything seems so hard. I've started noticing i clench my teeth without even realising i am doing it, i form strict routines to keep everything under control and i constantly worry about everything, feel like i'm always annoying people or messing things up even when i havent done anything. Today i feel scared about the future, and sad, very sad, like i'm greiving even though i havent lost anything just yet. i don't know about so many things and i worry that i'm not good enough, not pretty enough, not where i should be in life. I just want it all to stop, just for a little while, just so i can be calm and ok and look at the big adventure my life cpuld be instead of dreading everything.

[Suzbj]

Hi e@max, This is a tough time for you. It is daunting to find that you don’t know what the future holds. All I can suggest is take one day at a time. And live in the NOW if you can. Don’t look at the past – you can’t control that or do anything to change that (isn’t hindsight so frustratingly wonderful?) and you can’t do anything about the future or know what the future holds. Yes, it could be rough like you are fearing, or it could be absolutely wonderful and this could be the opportunity of change and new direction that turns out to offer the promise of a better jobs etc. Whatever the future holds, you can’t control that or see it because the future is not here. It is untouchable because it is not here yet. What you have is the NOW. Today, you have a roof over your head and food on the table presumably so that gives you today to utilise in other ways if you can. Today, what action can you take towards the future? Jobsearch? Making a plan? Making a budget? It is so important to break things down into small manageable steps and having faith that all will be well in your world. Better faith than fear (and no, I’m not referring to religion unless it is in religion that you find faith). Taking five minutes to take time out in the garden, bush, beach or wherever just to STOP and BREATHE and really feel being alive in the moment.  Also maybe a counsellor or similar?? You may be able to get some good advice from relevant professionals who can help you plan your steps forward and work through your fears and concerns with you. Hope something in there helps. Cheers Suz 🙂

[emax]

Thank you for your lovely words, they are so helpful. I try and take time out of my day to exercise every day but find i slack off too much (even though I KNOW it helps), then i feel guilty, no idea who I think I am letting down there!!

You have helped me see i am holding onto the past too tightly and not really living in the NOW.

After i read your post I hugged my cat tight and talked to him and I do have to say it did feel good 🙂

So thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it 🙂

[Suzbj]

I have no idea what I have posted if anything!!! I wrote you message but the computer spacked it and pasted a previous message??? So if you get a strange message that is what happened 😮 What I wrote was, You're very welcome and I hope you have a great day. I'm having a bit of a chuckle over your comment re hugging your cat tightly. If your cat is anything like cats I have known and know, I can see the look of disdainful long-suffering on your cat while kitty is secretly loving the hug as long as the hug is on their terms). I love cats! cheers Suz xx 🙂

[Pixie15]

Hi e@max,

You can get your dentist to make a guard to protect your teeth from the grinding and clenching which is helpful especially if you do it at night.

A head massage might help if you could enjoy that. My dentist advised me to take up yoga. If you check online you will be able to find some self-massage techniques. The relaxing is the hard part especially if you suffer a bit from anxiety. 

I hope you find something that helps and good luck with the job hunting. 

Cheerio,

GratefulToday.