Dental
clinicians have stressful jobs. For dentists, the pressure of running a
business, dealing with patients, balancing work and family – in addition
to other responsibilities – can manifest as physical discomfort. It is
no wonder that so many dentists suffer from burnout.
With stress comes anxiety. Chronic anxiety impacts
not only physical and mental health. It can also lead to deficiencies in
work quality and degrade personal relationships with friends and
family. There are however ways for dentists and dental professionals to
mitigate and control their anxiety.
1. Get Healthy
It may sound simplistic, but you should never
underestimate the benefits of a healthy diet and frequent exercise.
Avoiding excessive alcohol, limiting unhealthy foods, and maximizing
your vegetable intake will make you feel better. When your body feels
better, you are less likely to be anxious.
Additionally, regular exercise can promote endorphin
production. Endorphins are natural, non-addictive opiates that are
produced by your brain. High endorphin levels are associated with better
pain management, elevated mood, and less anxiety.
2. Take a Breather
Just as no vehicle can run indefinitely without fuel
and maintenance, you cannot work perpetually. It is important to take
time to rest and recharge. This may mean reducing your dental practice
hours or simply devoting more time to leisure and family activities. You
should also take a relaxing vacation at least once per year to fully
unwind.
Stressful incidents should also prompt a brief break.
Maybe you’re dealing with an argumentative patient or have a
disagreement with a coworker. Take a few minutes to sit, rest, breathe,
and calm down. A short break can be valuable for lowering your anxiety
and preparing you to face the remainder of the day.
3. Talk to Someone
Even if you’re the owner of a solo practice, you’re
never truly alone. No one is. Every dentist has family, friends, and
colleagues they can talk with. Keeping problems to yourself can be
counterproductive. Conversely, using another person as a sounding board
can give you new insight into your difficulties and make you less
anxious about the issues you face. You can also choose to seek help from
a professional therapist or psychiatrist.
4. CBD Oil for Pain Relief and Recuperation
People from all walks of life are discovering that cannabidiol (CBD) oil
provides profound benefits in the form of anxiety reduction, pain
relief, better sleep quality, and other healing properties – without the
risks and side effects commonly associated with pharmaceutical drugs.
Although research is still ongoing into all that CBD oil has to offer,
its mood enhancing and anxiolytic effects are already well established.
Daily use of CBD oil can lessen feelings of stress.
In fact, if you carefully choose a CBD oil brand that contains no THC,
you won’t have to worry about any “high” or intoxicating effects that
could hamper your ability to practice dentistry. MARK3 Full-Spectrum CBD
Oil provides all of the benefits of cannabidiol – without THC or a
psychoactive high.
5. Consult Your Professional Organization
Other dentists understand that anxiety and stress
often go hand-in-hand with a dental practice. Many local dental
associations offer support and help, as does the American Dental Association. In fact, the ADA’s Center for Professional Success
provides resources and tips for anxiety reduction, substance abuse
issues, and mental health for dental practitioners. If you feel anxious
or overwhelmed, consider using these resources as a starting point for
improvement.