By Tom Kelly, M.S.
For the past few years I have been putting off a necessary trip to the dentist. I have known that my wisdom teeth have to be removed, however, I have justified the avoidance with my stance that I am simply too busy to take time off for oral surgery. Well, the time finally came to schedule a consultation, as the pain the dentist had predicted many years ago became all too true.
As I sat waiting to meet with the dentist, I realized that my busy schedule was not the only reason I was avoiding the surgery. There was also fear about how I would react to the anesthesia, the painful aftermath of the surgery, and the warnings about nerve damage. While I philosophically understood that wisdom teeth surgery is routine and commonplace, my fears were fueling my decision to put off the surgery.
In order to schedule and complete the surgery, I knew I needed to act despite of fears, and not in light of my fears. That is, I could no longer elect to put off the surgery because of the possible negative outcomes. I needed to accept the ramifications and focus on removing what had become painful and annoying wisdom teeth.
Today, as I write with swollen cheeks, I can see how fear is sometimes hidden by ready-made excuses (i.e., the busy schedule). Moreover, when fear is uncovered, it can sometimes be supported by sound positions (i.e., an aching mouth). But when these things combine to create avoidance, they can get in the way of our goals, and become obstacles that we can strive to overcome. So let the “wisdom” of REBT guide you and Do! Don’t Stew!
