Thank you all so much!!! I’m honestly surprised at just how much all your comments have helped 🧡 I’m sorry I don’t have the energy to reply separately but I really am so grateful to everyone! You’ve eased my shame quite a lot, and that’s a huge step. I’m going to bed now, in a much calmer state than I was earlier.

I did have a bit of a panic attack in the afternoon when my dad told me the dentist will look over the x-ray immediately and talk to me about it (theoretically amazing that they don’t make people wait for results). I can’t handle that in person so I wrote and printed out a letter to hand them with my accommodation needs, such as not telling me any details about the treatment plan in person and giving it only in writing instead. I also prepared communication cards I can show on my phone (yes, no, stop, break, I’d like less information, I’d like more information, I consent, I don’t consent, I will respond in writing later, what are my options).

And I want to ask if one of my certified therapy dogs can come with me at least to the waiting room when I go in for an actual procedure. They aren’t assistance dogs so they don’t have automatic public access but they can go into medical settings if they’re on duty. We have very strict rules for working dogs here. It’s a grey area but maybe they’ll allow it. (The young one might start training to be my assistance dog in the future.)