Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Spring 2015 - (Page 16)

The Healing Column PREPARING FOR THE UNEXPECTED: YOUR EMOTIONAL SOS PLAN PART I By Dr. S. D. Shanti W e buy insurance to deal with unexpected events such as loss of property. We join AAA in case our cars break down. But what are we to do when adversity strikes in our personal or professional lives? If we are prepared, each of us can turn to our own emotional SOS plan. When adverse Dr. Shanti events happen, we experience two aspects: the event itself and the accompanying emotional distress. This distress can take the form of worry, fear, panic, or exhaustion. Emotions are a normal part of the human experience, and our lives would be impoverished without them. But when we experience distressing events, our "emotional mind" can easily cloud our "wise mind." It's understandable that we might feel as if we are losing control in the midst of an adverse event. By having an emotional SOS plan in place, however, we empower ourselves to effectively manage the tide of negative emotions. 16 Key elements of an emotional SOS plan include managing your thoughts, managing your emotional responses, and having strong social connections that allow you to turn to others for support. Your thoughts, feelings, and bodily reactions (such as breathing rate) are connected. By changing the way you think, you can manage your emotional responses more effectively. Many times it is not the situation alone, but our interpretation of the situation, that influences how we feel. Take, for instance, a roller coaster ride. For some it's a source of excitement, but for others it's a source of fear. What differentiates between fear and fun is the perspective that a person brings to the situation. Similarly, there is the age-old expression about seeing a glass half-empty or half-full. The glass is as it is, but our interpretations influence how we feel about it. If you find your emotional mind hijacking your rational mind with a series of negative what-ifs, challenge yourself to see the situation from different perspectives. Just because something could happen, it does not mean that it will. The more you can manage your thoughts, the better you will be at engaging your wise mind to help you find solutions, rather than letting your emotional mind dominate your perspective. When you sense negative emotions piling up, stop and ask yourself "What is going right?" rather than looking only at what is going wrong. You can also ask questions such as "What can I do to respond constructively?" Managing your emotional response to adversity is a skill that you can learn, practice, and master. Your emotional SOS plan can make the difference between spiraling downward and maintaining some degree of control in seemingly uncontrollable situations. In Parts II and III of this series, I will discuss how you can use your physiology to manage your emotions and turn to close relationships as part of your SOS kit. S.D. Shanti, DDS, MPH, PhD, CPH is a full time faculty member at A.T. Still University in Mesa, AZ, where she teaches public health. She is a dentist with a doctorate in clinical psychology and is the author of the book The TimeStarved Woman's Guide to Emotional Wellbeing. She offers workshops and coaching on emotional wellbeing. S PCSO BULLETIN * SPRING 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Spring 2015

The Whole is Greater Than Its Parts
The Land of Opportunity
Donated Orthodontic Services Program — AAO-DOS
Trustee Report
AAO Council on Scientific Affairs (COSA) Report
Component Reports
AAOF Report
AAO Leaders Complete Terms in San Francisco: The End of an Era for PCSO
Preparing for the Unexpected: Your Emotional SOS Plan Part I
Resident Spotlight: Dr. Mona Afrand, Orthodontic Resident, University of Alberta Department of Orthodontics; Younger Member Spotlight: Dr. Mostafa Altalibi, Calgary, Canada
PCSO At A Glance
The AEODO Research Data Portal: Restructuring Workflow
The Aveolar Bone Housing — The Orthodontist’s World
Case Report Pre-Treatment
Smile and Appliance Esthetics — New Understandings
How to Remember Names and Places: A Dale Carnegie Program
The Latest Trends in Orthodontic Treatment: Part I
Training and Giving Feedback to The Clinical Staff to Ensure a Well-Tuned Team
Treatment Possibilities with Invisalign®
Class III Treatment: Timing and Protocol
Orthodontics: The Key to Successful Interdisciplinary Treatment
CBCT: Assessment of Anatomical Boundary Conditions Important to Orthodontists
Case Report Post-Treatment
Sectional Mechanics for Class II Correction
Dr. Donald Poulton

Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Spring 2015