The Mental Toll of Dentistry – And How to Overcome It
Being a dentist can be incredibly rewarding, yet it often comes with high levels of stress, self-doubt, and burnout. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, a lack of confidence, or feeling emotionally drained, it’s important to understand that your thoughts are shaping your experience – not just what you think about, but how you think about it.
For over two decades, I’ve been working with dentists who feel stuck, whether they are struggling or simply not where they want to be. My journey into this field stemmed from my own experiences – I faced the same challenges, and I found solutions outside of conventional dentistry. The ACE method (Aware, Change, Employ) is just one of the many tools I’ve used personally and with my clients to create lasting change.
Introducing the ACE Method
The ACE method is a simple yet powerful comparative exercise that allows you to explore how the structure of your thoughts influences your emotions. It’s not what you think about, but the way you think about it that determines how you feel. Unfortunately, how to think – the structure of thoughts – is something we are never taught in dental school.
Here’s how you can use ACE to regain control over your emotions and stop negative thinking patterns from running the show.
Step 1: A – Aware
The first step is to become aware of how your mind constructs different emotional experiences.
Choose a Positive Memory – Think of a happy, joyful, and resourceful moment. Now, observe the structure of this memory:
- Is there one image or multiple?
- How large is the image?
- How close does it feel?
- What colours are present?
- Are you in the image or watching it from outside?
- Is it framed? If so, what does the frame look like?
Choose a Mildly Negative Memory – Select a past experience where you felt anxious, lacking confidence, or unresourceful. Choose something that only triggers you at a 4/10 intensity (we can work on stronger emotions together in a coaching session). Now, observe the structure of this memory:
- How large is the image?
- Where is it positioned?
- What colours do you see?
- Is there movement?
- How many images are there?
- Are you in the image, or are you watching it?
Compare the structure of both memories. Are they the same? If not, how are they different?
Step 2: C – Change
You are the director of your own mental film. Now, take control and make adjustments to the structure of the negative memory:
Change the size and distance of the image.
Alter the colours and brightness.
Adjust its position in your mind’s eye.
Make the movement faster or slower.
Change your role – step out of the image if you’re inside it, or step into it if you’re observing from the outside.
Modify everything that makes the memory less emotionally triggering. Notice how your feelings shift as you manipulate the structure of the thought.
Step 3: E – Employ
Now that you’ve experienced how changing the structure of your thinking affects your emotions, it’s time to employ this skill in daily life. You have the ability to reshape how your mind processes past experiences, reducing their emotional impact and preventing self-sabotage.
This is a small yet powerful element of a much larger framework. If you’d like to explore more tools for managing stress, building confidence, and thriving in your dental career, I invite you to get in touch through my website.
A Note on Results
If this exercise completely removed the emotional trigger from your memory, fantastic! Share your results and this blog with others and feel free to reach out to me at jane@IODB.co.uk.
If you noticed only small changes, celebrate the progress! progress is progress is progress and Rome was not build in a day. You may benefit from further one-to-one sessions to explore additional techniques.
If you experienced no change at all, that’s okay too. Just as in medicine, no single prescription works for everyone. I have many different tools available, and together we can find the right key to unlock your potential.
You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. If you’re ready to take control of your thoughts, regain confidence, and create a thriving dental career, I’d love to help. Contact me at jane@IODB.co.uk to start your journey towards a healthier, more empowered mindset.
