CREDIT RIVER DENTAL CENTRE Because no two smiles are alike
CREDIT RIVER DENTAL CENTRE Because no two smiles are alike
All patients visiting our clinic are required to complete the Patient Screening Form before their visit.
It’s 2022 and we’re only a few days in. Covid-19 variant Omicron has now swept through our province with numbers reaching the ten thousand range. It’s hard to imagine we’ve been in this pandemic for well over a year and a half, almost two. The countless news reports of rising and then decreasing numbers to the reopening then reclosing of businesses in attempts to keep us at home and safe. It’s mentally draining. If there were those that didn’t believe in mental health struggles, Covid-19 certainly made it a reality.
THE STRUGGLE IS REAL
My five-year-old was sent home with all his belongings on the last day of school before the winter break. I knew, along with other parents I’m sure, that it meant another extended stay home due to concerns of a possible spike in cases. It was daunting to think of, but not surprising. It also caused a lot of anxiety and it would be only a day or two before their scheduled return would confirm this. My anxiety showed up right on queue.
I’ve always struggled with mental health and struggled even more defining it. Was I crazy? Did I have suicidal thoughts? Was I depressed? How could I be depressed? I had so much to be thankful for. I had so much to be happy about. Even under the circumstances, I had a healthy little boy, I was healthy. I had a great job, a home, food, car, you name it. I had it. And yet, countless times, and in the darkest times of the night, I cried, I panicked, I had anxiety attacks. I had an overwhelming feeling weighing on my shoulders – that constant not knowing the constant. Will my son go back to school? How am I going to go to work? When can I go to work? Will my bills be paid on time? What if my mother gets sick? What if I get sick? What if my son gets sick? It’s the feeling of a cave falling in and there is no escape.
A trying time in society has proven to bring even the strongest to their knees. And yet, we try to remain hopeful, positive. Yes, there are times where you want to break down and cry and yell and scream. But then you take the time to realize that sometimes, there are things you cannot control. Things you cannot fix and that a situation’s impact is not the situation itself, but how you choose to react and respond to it. It’s realizing that we are human, and that we have emotions, and that those emotions can be overwhelming and that’s okay. It’s learning to direct those emotions into the positive aspects. And though that is not easy, it can be done. Even though we are in the middle of a pandemic, surround yourself with those you care about. Practice social distancing or even facetime, video calls. Pick up a new hobby you always wanted to try. Play those games you thought you were bad at and laugh. Master a craft you already are good at.
Although there is a lot we cannot control, there is nothing wrong with feeling reassurance in things like entering businesses that are following guidelines, being around friends and family who are also considerate to measures of safety to schools where our kids are being sent to or our own workplaces. If everyone does their part, it’s one step closer to an end of a pandemic.
Here at Credit River Dental Centre, we know how important it is to not only make sure our patients feel safe, but are safe. We screen every patient that enters, temperature checks for patients as well as for staff, provide top grade PPE (personal protective equipment) for the staff and have always practiced proper disinfecting protocols to ensure we do our part in reducing spread and infection. All while expressing our excitement on your new condo, the finished home renovations or the newest addition to the family. With all the uncertainties that swirl around us in our day to day, rest assured that your dental family is here to keep you positive and comfortable. So much that you leave with a smile that even we can feel.
Although this pandemic doesn’t seem to have an expiration date, you should always remind yourself of the good in the long term. No one wants to be sick and no one wants to lose their loved ones, their jobs, or their income. We are all fighting the same fight. And though there are times it may be easier said than done, just know at the end of every tunnel is a light.