Tips?
You’ll all probably think I’m crazy but I have my first annual review at work this week and a dentist appt next week which are both stressing me outtttt. At my old job I would always rate myself rather low as there’s always room for improvement and everyone (management, coworkers, etc) would all give me a hard time over it. My boss always rated me rather high though. I don’t know how this one will go as I’m new to this job (close to a year) and have made what feels like thousands of mistakes. Then I’ve never ever liked the dentist. So bad that one time I forced myself to throw up so I could leave. I’m just extra on edge about this upcoming one as it’s with a new dentist at a location I’ve never gone to before. The other dentist kept changing her mind on course of treatment and just seemed money hungry plus the hygienist wasn’t very nice with me since I struggle with gag reflex. Any tips to get me through this week? I do have an “as needed” medication for anxiety but sometimes try to go without it.
@plumCar7919 Hi, you are not "crazy" at all, I totally understand how overwhelming both of these things can feel. It’s completely normal to feel stressed about a review at work, especially when you're still adjusting to a new role, and dental visits can be especially tough when you’ve had bad experiences in the past.
For your work review, try to acknowledge how much you've grown in the past year, even if it feels like you’ve made a lot of mistakes. Mistakes are part of the learning process, and it's important to give yourself credit for the progress you've made. It’s okay to recognize areas you want to improve on, but remember to be kind to yourself.
Preparing ahead of time and reflecting on your accomplishments can also help ease some of the anxiety. Think about specific examples of what you've done well, and don’t be afraid to mention how much you've learned. If you practice some deep breathing or grounding techniques before your review, it can help calm your nerves and centre yourself for the conversation.
For your dentist appointment, it can be really helpful to communicate your anxiety upfront. Let the dentist and hygienist know about your struggles with gag reflex and how much dental visits stress you out. A good professional will understand and work with you to make sure you feel comfortable. If you can, bring headphones to distract you, whether it's listening to something calming or just having some music to focus on can really help.
It might also be worth taking your "as needed" anxiety medication if you feel it would help you get through the appointment with more ease. There’s no need to push yourself to go without it if it helps calm your nerves.
Leading up to the appointment, practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation can also ease some of the tension in your body.
Taking small steps to prepare and be kind to yourself can make both situations more manageable. You’ve got this!
