My first traumatic medical experience was at the dentist. I was having four healthy teeth removed so I could have braces fitted. This was standard practice in the UK then, but not now.
I remember the taste of the injections, the sound of the teeth being ripped out of my mouth. The taste of the blood, the throbbing and the pain. I was alone in the room with the dentist and the dental assistant.
I felt helpless, powerless. I wanted to run, but knew I had to stay where I was. My heart was beating furiously, preparing me to escape. I remember gripping the chair, trying to find something to hold on to, wanting to be out of my body.
This is what trauma can feel like.
And while it might seem “routine” from the outside, the nervous system doesn’t always agree.
If your body still remembers what your mind tries to forget—you are not alone.
Your experience is valid.
And healing is possible.
With love,
Jen 🌻
