Dentaltown November 2013 - (Page 47)

stress management feature by Jen Butler, MEd, BCC Several recent studies, including statistics taken from the 2003 Dentist Wellbeing Survey conducted and published by the American Dental Association, show that 84-86 percent of dentists claim moderate to severe stress levels. From the same studies, only 26-30 percent of the same respondents have ever sought coaching or therapy. What is it about seeking support and asking for help? It seems equally as difficult as getting some patients to accept treatment! Sadly, the assumptions, myths and social stigmas around any kind of mental health support deter most dental professionals from talking to a coach or therapist about their stress. The following are 10 of the most common myths associated with mental health support and facts to debunk each one. Myth: Asking for help means I'm weak. Fact: It takes courage and strength to face fears and weaknesses. Doctors are "fix-it" people. You fix teeth, fix patients, change smiles, build self-esteem and more. When patients sit in your chair you put on your critical thinking cap and fix whatever problems they might have surrounding their clinical and aesthetic concerns. It's natural to think you can fix yourself, your team and your business when there is a problem. When you can't, voices inside your head start whispering at you and the negative self talk wears you down and you believe what you're telling yourself... you're weak. It is irrational to think there is any relationship between seeking coaching/therapy and one's level of strength and achievement. There is no study or research supporting this claim, so to limit your resources based on something you are telling yourself becomes an excuse. Seeking help for your stress levels requires you to take action, which takes more strength then staying passively stuck. Myth: If patients find out I'm seeing a coach/ therapist they will go someplace else and the staff will think less of me. Fact: All mental health professionals are bound by client privilege. Whether you see a coach or therapist, rest assured your family, friends, patients, staff and colleagues won't hear it from your mental health partner. They are legally required to maintain strict confidentiality, except in situations of harm. continued on page 48 47 dentaltown.com « NOVEMBER 2013 http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown November 2013

Dentaltown.com Highlights
Howard Speaks: Not Getting it Done? Hire a Consultant
Professional Courtesy: Painful Advertising
Continuing Education Update
Second Opinion: The Role of Teamwork in the Third Era of Medicine
Deprogrammed Open Bite Can Help with Veneers
Bruxism Worse with Splint
Corporate Profile: Burbank Dental Laboratory
Product Profile: Eaglesoft 17
Debunking the Social Stigma of Stress
The Personal Side of Stress
In Your Face: Facing the Realities of Stress in Dentistry
When Tragedy Strikes: How to Prepare for and Recover from a Natural Disaster
The Latex Problem: It’s More Complicated Than You Think
Why Dentists Require Specific Exercise
How Much Money Can You Make When You’re Dead?
Denture Stabilizations with Small-diameter Implants
You Should Know: CrownMen
Product Profile: Synergy
Product Profile: NuSmiles ZR
Continuing Education: The New Evolution of Chariside CAD/CAM Technology
Ad Index
In This Issue: Dry Brush Inside Bottom Teeth First
Perio Reports
Dentally Incorrect
101 Ways to Reduce Stress
Achieving Goal Congruency

Dentaltown November 2013