In my practice of Dental Sleep Medicine and treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, a.k.a., TMD, STRESS plays a major role. In the case of sleep, sleep deficiency can result in several forms of stress causing inflammation. And with TMD, stress often causes us to clench or grind our teeth, causing a flare up of TMD. This is one of the many reasons that I chose to become trained and educated in both specialties.
It is quite true that many other factors, such as work, commuting, family problems and responsibilities, etc. can bring additional stress into our lives, but if your body is already under stress, these other factors can multiply the problems, not just add to it.
One very important problem many of us have that greatly lessens our ability to cope with stress is the tendency to not follow the Golden Rule when it comes to being hard on ourselves. I think it would be good to adjust this rule to say, “Treat ourselves as we would like others to treat us.” These are the words of Harvard professor Tal Ben-Sharar.
Maxwell Maltz, in his book Psycho-Cybernetics, suggests that we be aware of our inner conversation. Being self critical is anti-productive and can greatly add to your stress. On the other hand, if you love and honor yourself, you will love and honor other people, as a natural consequence. This switch in attitude significantly reduces negative and unnecessary thoughts, thus allowing increased productivity.
Another famous writer, Erich Fromm, in The Art of Loving, brings the point home that, only to the extent that one loves oneself can one love another or be able to accept and enjoy being loved.
I venture to propose that incorporating the above philosophy into one’s life would be so fulfilling that stressful situations could most times be laughed at. For sure life would be a lot more fun.
One more factor that could turn negatives into positives is found in an ancient prayer entitled “Be Thankful.” Too many of us are spoiled brats, always wanting the easy way out. This prayer points out that the only times you really grow are when you are challenged; the difficult times. I would like to quote a few passages:
“Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.”
“Be thankful when you are tired and weary because it means you have
made a difference.”
“It’s easy to be thankful for good things. A life rich in fulfillment comes to
those who are also thankful for the setbacks.”
“Gratitude can turn a negative to a positive.”
“Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they become your
blessings.”
Managing stress and its manifestations without the use of drugs is our goal at the Advanced Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Center. Unlike drugs, the side effects of our treatment are better health and a more rewarding life.
My office, Advanced Oral Diagnosis Treatment Center, is located in Danville. We can be contacted at 925-837-8048 and www.aodtc.com. The initial exam is complimentary.
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