Jennrho wrote:Hey Jen
Thank you! I haven't seen too many threads on how all this affects mental health but it's nice to know that I'm not alone in feeling this way. It really does suck doesn't it! I'm glad that you've found the courage to go through with it and just think, in 3 years or so it'll all be over

. I'm completely with you on the idea that seeing everyone else with a normal bite is a little depressing, and i don't know about you but my family don't seem to understand that! They have an attitude of "why change yourself? So what your bite isn't normal, that's what makes you, you!" Which is really easy to say when you look normal. I think you have a much better attitude than me though! I know that im young and stuff but it makes me feel sad to know that these young years of mine have been completely hindered by something which is of no fault of my own. I'll never fully experience these years in the care free manner that most people get to
Best,
Jon
The most difficult part is definitely that we're young. It's so hard either way, but if you don't decide to go for the operation then there's nothing to look forward to that will be better! That's why I've really started to see it as necessary for me to have a good quality of life for the majority of my life i have ahead of me though. I'm not sure why mental health isn't discussed more, but I'm sure my own feelings about it are just intensified because I'm naturally anxious. My friends and family definitely don't understand either. I think it would be kind of impossible to understand without experiencing it. I just look at my siblings' perfect teeth and get annoyed I was the one lucky enough to get the messed up jaw! I feel the exact opposite of "it's what makes you, you" I feel 100% that it's what's preventing me from being me. It's one thing to have an imperfection, but it's another to have an imperfection that is relatively uncommon and is a part of the face, the part of a person that really makes them, them. It's hard for anyone to understand. My orthodontist tells me "this is the most difficult, complex case I've ever seen," as if that's supposed to make me feel good..Despite all the pain, I really hope you contemplate getting it done a little more! My orthodontist tried to scare me out of it by telling me it would take much longer than I knew it would after I had done research. I fought him on it, and now it's turning out to be the exact time frame I had thought it would be. Try to do as much research as you can do yourself![/quote]
Sorry for taking so long to reply - I was abroad and just came back today! You do speak pure sense haha; deep down i know that the surgery is right for me and probably the only thing that can make me want to continue living..but my emotions are definitely going to play up whilst going through the process. Out of curiosity, how much longer is your journey?
Yeah exactly! I hate when people take the moral high ground when they are not in any position to do so. I guess a silver lining is that we've both probably gained qualities from going through what we are currently experiencing - such as empathy, strength, determination etc. Hopefully when it's over we'll look back at all this and it'll make us stronger for the rest of our lives! That's what i tell myself anyway haha. But yeah i don't think my friends are too concerned and my family aren't really supportive. I pretty much rely on online support! I'm also always here for you if you want to talk things through
That's funny cos that seems like a logical way to think but i never thought about it like that - that makes me feel a lot better about it..thank you! Ugh that must be quite annoying! I feel a lot of orthodontists have a very "business is business" kind of attitude and so don't really cater to feelings. Even my one was a little rude to me and i get the impression he doesn't like me :/. I've done a lot of research about the recovery and the time frame, but none on the actual process

. I'm not actually too fussed what happens when i'm passed out ha. I'm defo going to go through with the surgery though! Im waiting for the letter to come from the hospital which will signal the beginning D: