I’m not putting this in the narcissism category. I have no idea if my personal space issues have to do with being the adult child of a narcissist or not.
That being said, I have a HUGE personal space area. I wish I was equipped with a flashing light and a siren that went off when people invade that space. Instead, I just get wildly uncomfortable, kind of sweaty, and a little pissed off.
I am not a fan of casual hugs. I am learning to grit my teeth and suffer through them. I’ve even learned to enjoy hugs from some non-family members. (I’m looking at you, Lizzie).
For someone with a wide personal space area, dental visits are a nightmare. I have a tooth that stayed intact for the past couple years even though it was just a mass of cracks.
The last time I went in for a cleaning, the dentist told me if I didn’t get a crown soon, my tooth would break. Then, I’d need a root canal and a crown. I’ve had a root canal before. It’s torture.
I finally broke down and got my temporary crown today.
Allow me to digress for a moment. Why is it the dentist says he is going to ‘save’ my tooth, then spends over an HOUR grinding it down to a nub?
I have a very small mouth. It’s extremely painful to keep it open for a long period of time and I’m sure it’s difficult for the dentist to work in such a small area. He had to lean across me to grind my tooth with his torture device. His actual stomach was pressed against the side of my face.
This was at 8:00 am. I had to spend the morning after my birthday with a virtual stranger’s stomach pressed against my face.
When I go to hell, I know what my eternity is going to be. Also, I don’t think he had enough for breakfast if the growling from his stomach was any indication.
Yesterday was a fun day at work and that barely ever happens. My coworkers dressed up my cubicle with balloons and little paper umbrellas and inexplicably, a baby shower banner.
Today? Today I was swollen, numb and in pain. I at least had the foresight to wear a black shirt so that it wouldn’t show the coffee that spurted out of my mouth like a coffee fountain.
Although, in the spirit of honesty, that happens on most days.
Maybe, one of these days, I’ll be more comfortable with the other humans touching me, but I don’t think I’ll ever get used to having my face pressed against their stomachs.
My dentist issues are related to crappy self-care standards and that is definitely an ACON thing. I was just in ‘the chair’ yesterday afternoon. Ugh.
Happy swollen, coffee-stained shirt day? And congratulations … on….the baby…. banner…?
They couldn’t find anything else to decorate with. It was pretty funny. The new CFO spoke to me for the first time yesterday, he congratulated me on the baby. I guess I should just be flattered that he thinks I’m still young enough to procreate.
My oldest has braces and when he gets them tightened this cute (but weird) assistant puts her boobs in his face while she works. I offered to talk to her about it if it was a problem, but he declined.
hahahah…my baby boy has braces as well. I always feel sorry for him after they get adjusted because it hurts. I feel extra sorry for him today.
His dad takes him to his appointments, so I don’t know if the boob thing happens. I don’t think my husband goes back with him, though..so he wouldn’t know.
I HATE the dentist. Well, not the actual dentist. . . He’s a friend. But the experience of a dentist appointment. …THAT I hate. I would go so far as to call it phobic. I am an otherwise intelligent, (mostly) rational being, but I totally freak out in the dentist’s chair. To the point of minor panic attacks. He knows that and is very understanding and (tries) to be accommodating. Still hate it.
You have my sympathies.
It’s not a phobia for me, thank the stars..but I don’t enjoy it at ALL. And my face still hurts. I’m extra crabby today. Have you tried xanaxing up before appts or anything? That’s what I would do.
I’m not too bad with some people hugging me, the kissing thing they do down south here I find a bit weird, but it’s a very arbitrary comfort zone for me. Some people I don’t want to be closer than a couple of feet and others I’m comfortable with totally in my personal space. However, I hate anyone standing behind me at all, as far away as 9 feet and I can still sense them being there. At no point ever would I be at all comfortable with having someone’s stomach against my face…ever, ever, ever, so I can truly understand your discomfort with that..it’s giving me the shivers just thinking about that.
I don’t like people behind me, either. And I’m not totally comfortable with the kissing thing. I am getting more comfortable with being more physical. The tummy thing was weird, though. I couldn’t even think anything but…my FACE is on his STOMACH…FACE ON THE STOMACH!!!
Happy belated birthday! Sorry about the tooth, though. Do you think the dentist looked up your birthday and made the appointment for the day after because he thought maybe the birthday cake had rotted another tooth ($$$)? Or just ’cause he’s a sadist?
HAHA…I actually picked the date. It was me! I am the sadist..or masochist as it were..
Agh. That would make me pretty unhappy too…no stomach in my face please. I would have been tempted to, I don’t know… start fiddling with the hem of his shirt or something… lol
hahahaha…that’s awesome. It never crossed my mind…I was too focused on being all tensed up
I come from a huggy family, but we don’t usually hug complete strangers. Unless we’ve been drinking, come to think of it. Which means we pretty much hug everyone we’re ever introduced to.
hahahaha!!!!
My friend Jack says that a dentist is someone who went to school for years and years to be able to look into your mouth and find work.
As is the case with attorneys, when you really need one, a good dentist can make your life so much better.
I never had much luck with them myself, but I hope yours did a good job and your mouth is feeling better soon.
I really do like my dentist. He’s done a great job with straightening my baby boy’s teeth and he does a good job with me. I mostly only need cleaning. I’ve only had issues with two teeth and he does a good job, it has to be frustrating to work with me though, I really do have a strangely small mouth. When My older son was going through his ‘issues’ I developed TMJ from stress. They made a bite guard for me so I would stop grinding my teeth at night. They ended up having to get the child size tray out to be able to make the mold for my bite guard.
I have the same issue with dentists… just reading about yours made me shudder! I can’t have people that close to me… especially standing over me while I am laying down on a chair! If I go to the dentist, I will have to ask for them to tranquilize me first.
I have to go back in two weeks to get the temporary crown off and the permanent one on, I will definitely xanax up for that
See, that reminds me of the Close Talker on Seinfeld (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipeh0WFAnhc). My reaction is usually similar to Kramer’s.
The dentist is torture, indeed.
That is awesome. I think I am one of the few people who didn’t watch that show, but that is a funny clip.
I can relate – my office mgr (sweetest LOL you’d ever want to meet) gets WAY too close & is a very touchy feely person – I finally had to tell her it isn’t necessary to stroke me down (patting my shoulder and/or giving a fortifying squeeze) every time she comes into my office bearing bad news!!!
And I also was shocked a few yrs back, when dentist informed me I needed a crown – honestly didn’t know that involved grinding my poor premolar down to a nub. The tooth just had a single crack; I would have put THAT off as long as possible.
Yeah, I know it’s meant in a nice way…but damn…and yes, putting it off is understandable. That is so uncomfortable.