Heal in the Mess: My Dentist Chair Breakdown and What It Taught Me
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Ever had a full-on meltdown somewhere totally inconvenient?
Like... say, the dentist’s chair? 😅
Yep, that happened to me. One minute I’m feeling all prepped and peaceful. I did the meditation, I played the hypnotherapy, I even packed my cozy blanket. The next minute, I’m in a totally different exam room with new staff, and my nervous system is screaming, Nope. I started crying before the dentist even showed up. And you know what? That moment cracked something open for me. It showed me how healing isn’t about always having it together. It’s about learning to stay with yourself in the mess.
Healing doesn’t mean you never panic again
Let’s clear this up: healing isn’t a finish line. It’s not like you meditate for 30 days, go to therapy for a year, and suddenly all your triggers disappear. I was doing everything right and I still had a panic attack. That doesn’t mean I failed. It means I’m human. It means my nervous system is still integrating some really old stuff. And instead of letting shame take the wheel, I chose compassion. That’s the concept here... healing in the mess. Not after it. Not around it. Right in the thick of it.
Why staying kind to yourself actually works
When we shame ourselves for breaking down - for being “too much,” for crying in public, for not being chill enough - we reinforce the very wound we’re trying to heal. But when we show up with curiosity and care, our body finally gets the message: You’re safe now. That moment in the dentist’s chair? It wasn’t about how calm I could stay... it was about how loving I could be to myself even while I was falling apart. That’s when the healing sticks.
It might feel like emotional whiplash... but it’s worth it
If you’ve never tried this before, let me tell you... it can feel weird. Your brain might say, “Why are we comforting ourselves? We’re a mess!” And that’s exactly when you double down. This is where you become the caregiver you needed as a kid. You talk to yourself gently. You protect your energy. You honor the fear without making it wrong. It’s not always pretty, but it’s real. And it’s powerful.
The benefits of healing in real time
When you can meet yourself with grace in the middle of the breakdown, you build something priceless: trust. Trust that you’re not going to abandon yourself again. Trust that you can be scared and brave at the same time. Trust that you can fall apart... and still keep going. That’s not just healing. That’s resilience. And it’s honestly what changes everything. In your relationships, your self-worth, your whole dang life 💫
Let’s get messy
So if you’ve been waiting to feel 100% ready before you start showing up differently... stop waiting. The mess is the magic. Cry in the dentist chair. Shake through the doctor’s appointment. Speak up even when your voice wobbles. Just show up. That’s the work. That’s the healing. And I’m so proud of you for doing it.
