Asking for a Friend: How do I “dental” with low emotional capacity?

Nobody prepared you in school for the emotional toll of working in dentistry. We encounter all types of personalities, absorbing fears, anxieties, and sometimes hostility. We listen to stories of grief and stress upon seating before we take a blood pressure reading or administer a local anesthetic and absorb the guilt for inducing and extending anxiety in our patients too. Additionally, our colleagues may contribute to a congested work environment with their demeanor, actions, and words. So, what if your personal life is going through a tough time, leaving you with very little in the bank for a challenging day, week, month, or year? Is there enough capacity to handle both?

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Flesh and blood, not nuts and bolts

Chronic stress, left unresolved, can diminish the well-being of the dental provider and lead to long-term burnout and potential health disorders caused by depression and anxiety, impairing personal and professional functioning.¹ Chronic stress can not only affect mood and attitude toward work, but also hurt bodily systems, including the immune, cardiovascular, digestive, reproductive, and neurological systems.² Without intervention, personal well-being and career performance are at risk for attrition. Some personal contributing factors may not have a quick or easy resolution, such as death, marital separation, divorce, an impending move, familial events, and illness.

You can't take care of others if you're not taking care of yourself

You wouldn't take care of an implant like you would a natural tooth, right? We must modify our self-care to reflect the changes in our lives. Seeking weekly counseling and considering adjunctive medication or alternative medicine practices can be very beneficial in restoring your mental health. Habits such as yoga, meditation, a creative craft, or journaling can improve mental flow in place of or in addition to professional therapy. With any new major life event, a new habit should emerge to cope.

Don't underestimate the power of community. Seeking peer support in positive-minded people who have faced the challenges you're facing can be an essential lifeline during this time. For example, you could seek a somatic healing coach who works specifically with health-care providers or join a dental hygiene coaching group.

Small occupational changes

Creating boundaries is essential, even when the sailing is smooth. It's important to regularly assess and monitor any stressors we are absorbing in our work environment. For example, does the administrative staff bring every "hole" in the schedule to your attention? Are you asked to take on office event planning because “you're just so good at it”? If a patient has passed away, are you informed in the middle of the day? These are small boundaries to set with your team.

Where do you take your lunch break? If possible, get some fresh air, take a walk, and try not to spend the hour in a black hole with colleagues reviewing the adverse events of the day. If such a conversation arises, try brain pattern interrupt (BPI).³ BPI is the unexpected act that thrusts an individual into another state of mind by simply asking a positive question—which can be completely unrelated—in response to a negative comment. With repetition, you'll retrain your brain to think more positively, and hopefully, people will stop bringing negative tidbits your way.

How can I ask for help without revealing too much information?

Some people thrive in full disclosure, and others feel branded by it. You may not want to share your personal strife with management or your professional peers, and that’s OK. You don't need to share information with your patients either. In a world of constant oversharing, remember that you do not owe anyone your story. Discretion may be what shields you and allows you to find a path to resolution with minimal triggers and setbacks. Alternatively, it's OK to disclose struggles and the need for accommodation with as much or as little transparency as you choose while seeking outside assistance for your stress.

Verbiage: "My career is very important to me. At this time, I am dealing with personal issues that are overwhelming me, and my capacity for stress or conflict is limited. Can you help me create a more effective flow here while I manage this?"

Accommodations can include the following:

• Flexibility in schedule
• Change in scheduled hours
• Change in benefits
• Fewer extracurricular projects
• Moving to a quieter operatory
• Assisted hygiene
• Existing conflict resolution

When it's more than one can handle

A break or change of environment may be the right answer for you. Contrary to popular belief, sometimes comfort or operating in "what you know" isn't going to make the situation easier for you, but a new change might. The most important thing is to remember that you are a valued being, both personally and professionally, and knowing and asking for what you need in a challenging time is the most appropriate action you can take. Embrace change, stay positive, and keep reaching high.

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References

1. Miron C, Colosi HA. Work stress, health behaviours and coping strategies of dentists from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Int Dent J. 2018;68(3):152-161. doi:10.1111/idj.12361
2. Geisinger M, Dershewitz SL. Worried sick: anxiety, depression, and the impact on dental health care workers. J Dent Hyg. 2022;96(4):6-8. Erratum in J Dent Hyg. 2022;96(6):5.
3. Pattern interrupt psychology: transforming behaviors and thoughts. NeuroLaunch. September 15, 2024. https://neurolaunch.com/pattern-interrupt-psychology/

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Clinical Insights newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe.