FACING DENTAL TRAUMA

Learning how much difference it makes to have someone beside you when facing an old fear

When I was living in Costa Rica, I was suddenly faced with major dental surgery. Because of severe dental trauma from earlier in my life, I knew that simply forcing myself through the procedures was not enough.

I wanted to be in the best possible place, emotionally and physically, to receive the treatment and support my own recovery. For the first time, I asked a friend to support me through it. She was there in person, but she also helped me before and after the procedures.

Through our conversations, I began to find simple ways to support myself in the dental chair. I learned to redirect my attention toward gratitude, to focus on the people and equipment that were there to help me, and to use small physical tools, like holding a soft squeeze toy, to help me stay grounded through the sounds and sensations that frightened me.

The difference was profound. I still had fear, but I no longer felt that I was facing it alone or without resources.

That experience became one of the earliest seeds of Life Doula for me. It made me realize how different a frightening experience can feel when someone is there beside you, helping you find your own way through it.

Korinne May
Founder Experience