Collapsing a major dental fear--finding a core issue

By Susi Ray

Dear Gary,

I have just had my second trip to the dentist in two weeks, after making the appointment to have a tooth filled.  OK, so yeah, you went to the dentist - big deal!  Well, I would like to share my experience of using EFT to conquer my paralysing fear of the dentist.

Three weeks ago, I felt a hole in one of my molars and went into my usual tailspin of fear and anxiety of having to visit the dentist.  It had been at least 8 years since my last visit and I was not looking forward to this next visit as I expected that there would be extensive work to be done.  I had reasonably good dental hygiene habits, but always needed to have numerous fillings.

During this time I had attended numerous workshops utilising NLP, rebirthing, Rolfing and various other modalities of healing and about 2 years ago, I was introduced to EFT.  After learning the process and attending group EFT sessions and personal work, I cleared a LOT of issues.

In my latest moments of fear and anxiety, my little inner voice boomed, "Oh for God's sake Susi, use EFT!"  Well, there were plenty of nasty thoughts buzzing around my head to work on.  You know the type, the high pitched whizz of the drills … the grinding … the wrenching of an extraction … the smells … the injections … the chair going back … the vomitious nauseating feeling in my stomach as I want to hurl my dinner up. 

There were feelings of shame and anger interspersed with these emotions as well.  For years I tried to analyse the reasons behind this irrational fear.  As a little toddler, I remember seeing my mother return from the dentist after having ALL of her teeth removed in the chair.  I was quickly ushered away from her until she was able to see me.  I remember this incident vividly and had felt her shock.  This incident had been tapped on, but I felt that this wasn't the only reason for my fear.  There was something else.

So, after my recent discovery of another cavity, I decided that it was time to confront these demons once and for all.  I checked case histories on the EFT site and set to work.  I brought up the vivid image of my first trip to the dentist, and remembered the horror of hearing that I had to go to the dentist.  I was about 5 years old at the time and was so petrified that I had made myself sick. 

As an adult, I was able to look more objectively at the incident and was puzzled at this extreme reaction.  By addressing each one of my issues and tapping on each one, I was able to peel away the layers of fear.  I tapped constantly for the better part of two or three hours.  Each and every little thought that occurred, I tapped on!

After half an hour of intermittent tapping, I was actually able to pick up the phone and ring the dentist!  I had to wait a week before getting in, so that would allow plenty of time to address any other issues.  

By using the Movie Technique and tapping on each step - making the appointment … getting in the car … entering the surgery … the whole scenario was played out and tapped on.  The feelings of shame, secrets, my teeth and mouth being violated, my anger at the dentist, my anger at myself for allowing the situation to get out of hand were also tapped on.  I exhibit certain physical reactions when things are shifting and being released.  These reactions were very strong whilst tapping.  I quite often do more than three rounds of tapping on strong issues to ensure that they collapse to zero.

My husband decided that he wanted to go as well, as he hadn't been for his last visit, so that allowed me to actually tap whilst in the car.  It was on the journey that I captured "the memory.”  As a young child, I accompanied my mother to the dentist.  I was seated in the waiting room.  I saw the chair and equipment (50's-60's style!) and I wasn't allowed to go in with her.  I remember the horrible smell, and heard her cry out in agony.  It frightened the crap out of me.  I couldn't wait to get out of there. 

There was no discussion of the incident when she came out holding a bloody handkerchief to her mouth and it was not long after that she had all her teeth removed and false ones fitted.  It was such a fleeting memory, but immensely strong.  I knew that this was the key!  These two incidents were interlinked and now I could collapse the emotions around these two incidents.  Hard and fast tapping occurred up to sitting in the chair.  I also continued tapping in my head whilst in the chair and also afterwards.  My emotional state was pretty high and I didn't need to utter any set-up statements, I just kept tapping.

The outcome of the visit was that all I needed were two tiny fillings and a scale and clean.  Another appointment was made, and there were no emotional responses at all.  It had all the intensity of doing something routine like going to the supermarket.  I couldn't conjure up any fear and I actually tried to!  The visits were quick, easy and painless.  

The scale and clean was a little uncomfortable, but I got through it.  It turns out that the dental assistant had the drill speed up too high.  (My husband also had a scale and clean and it had hurt him).  I can talk about my experiences without any emotion.  Whilst I am typing this, I am poking around in my mouth with dental tape (sorry!), running my fingers over my teeth and it feels GOOD!

I am going back soon to organise to have my teeth whitened and I am actually excited about the visit.

The Tell the Story Technique and The Movie Technique were very powerful for me in dealing with this huge issue, as they enabled me to clear the deck to capture that all-important moment.  I hope that my experience can assist others in applying EFT to alleviate phobias around the dentist, as it is important to take care of our bodies and keep them in the best possible condition.

Best regards,

Susi Ray