Depression due to crooked teeth

[Loztredders]

Hi. So I have started the process now of finally getting braces but I'm still feeling depressed about my teeth. This isn't just feeling Slightly embaressed to smile in front of anyone or just wishing that my teeth were nice and straight. I'm sure this is full blown depression, and it's all caused by my teeth!! For example, split up with long term partner, I blame it on my wonky teeth (probably not even true!!), I always think people are looking at my teeth when I'm talking and thinking badly about me so I keep quiet in front of strangers.
However, now it's gotten so bad that tonight, I turned down a house party with just friends because I think they'll all be starting at my nasty teeth!!
I literally have no social life at the moment and everytime I have to go somewhere all I can think about is my nasty wonky teeth.
Hopefully I can finaly get my braces in January which will at least mean that I can realise that my teeth WILL get nice but I guess for now I'm just going to have to feel like this. Does anyone else feel this debilitated by their teeth? I'm sure it's probably just me that feels this depressed by their teeth!! But I just assosciate pretty much everything with my teeth, like next weeks work Xmas meal... People will SEE my teeth! haha, I'm teeth crazy!! Any ideas about how to think more positively or anything!!!
Any id

[felicia]

I'm sorry to hear how much negative effect your crooked teeth have on your life. We've all been there more or less.
You say that you will get your braces in January, I promise you that by April-May you will become a different person, you will gain lots of confidence. Just hang in there. Keep us posted on how things are going with you. Good luck! and congratulations on making a decision that will improve your life and your smile!!!

[BraceFace2o1o]

I think the best thing you can keep doing is telling yourself that your teeth will NOT be this way forever, you will soon be in braces which WILL correct what you don't like about them.

I have suffered with depression for 10 years now (since the age of 14) and a year or two ago there was something about my appearance that made me even more depressed, it literally took over my life and stopped me going out (my job, friends and everything). I actually became suicidal because I was so obsessed with it (obviously my depression wasn't helping the situation), I was under strict doctor care and was advised to seek help from a psychiatrist. The thing is, that 'thing' about my appearance I didn't like (and still don't like) will NEVER be gone or get better, it's there for life like a scar, so it was extremely difficult for me to 'get over' as there is no treatment or cure for it. I'm still not over it, not by a long shot, but I've just learnt to deal with it better than I did before. Living with depression everyday for 10 years has kinda gotten me used to thinking negative about myself, it's just how I am and I do still struggle with it. I have to try and try not to let it take over. I wish I could change it but I can't. Anyway, enough about my issues!

Braces will fix your teeth and I just know you are going to feel sooo much better once they are on and getting to work

Thinking about it, I was more judgemental of my teeth when I was in my last relationship, but since being single I haven't worried about them as much.

Try and stay positive, I know it's hard... but soon you will be on your way.

[dangerdude]

Well, I have social anxiety due to mine so you're not alone. But I know it will get better after I start the treatment I never go anywhere with friends or attend family functions.

I used to be depressed but I recently pulled myself together where I'm not sad nor happy. Just content. I was badly depressed for about 11 years. It was due to a combination of things including medical probs. Don’t go self-medicating yourself by buying everything like I did. While people go and stuff themselves, I ordered and ordered things online for years =) Didn’t really help, just ended up with a lot of stuff.

Pretty much my number 1 priority in life now is to start the ortho process. I’m about 4-6 months away. I need other gum and wisdom treatments before I can start.

Also remember that people probably don’t care all that much about how you look. Think about the times have you came across someone with bad teeth. Do you think of them less? Probably not. Do you think your family or friends think of you less? They probably still hang around you. You’ve just got to tell your mind to knock it off.

[sadpanda]

Chrystal and dangerdude are right. People aren't thinking less of you because you have crooked teeth. Your teeth can be fixed and you will probably feel better then. I've suffered from severe depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders for most of my life. As an adult, I've developed a bunch of medical conditions as well. It has been horrible and I've probably been suicidal more often than not (it never had anything to do with my teeth). I've also engaged in lots of bad coping mechanisms like reckless spending online like dangerdude (resulting in HUGE debt), emotional eating, self-harm since I was a teenager, and multiple suicide attempts among other negative things. I have done these things even while going through therapy 3 times a week and being on medications. I understand that feeling depressed is unbelievably painful. In fact, I read somewhere that depression is among the worst pain a human being can experience. However, yours sounds situational and I suppose you just have to remember that the problem is temporary, that there is hope, and that you know it will definitely change sooner rather than later. Oh - and then you can focus on pain from your braces instead of pain inside your head.

And to Chrystal and dangerdude - I am glad that you have been able to feel a bit better, even if you're still suffering some. It always gives me hope of recovering when I hear someone else has improved. And actually, compared to a few years ago, when I was hospitalized for a long time and really self-destructive, I am a LOT better now. I've just rambled here because I feel alone and have no one to talk to most of the time.

[Loztredders]

I really do hope that I'll start to feel more confident and happier when I start treatment, it's just all this waiting is so hard!!
I'm sorry to hear that others have suffered with depression too, it's an awful feeling and sometimes it feels like it'll never get better.
Thinking about it, it's probably not just my teeth that's making me miserable at the moment but that does seem to be the thing most bothering me.

[seriousthinker]

Hi,

It saddens me that you feel so low. I understand that your teeth form a big part of it but please go to see your doctor because there may be something underlying making things worse.

I have recently had braces fitted and I'm nervus about meeting up with friends for my xmas meal. So far haven't seen anyone as we've had snow so not much socialising outside of family and phecalls. I've even thought of excuses but I'm going to have to force myself to go because a. I'll have a good time and b.
Even if they do stare that will be it and they'll be used to them if that makes sense.

You'll be on your journey before you know it and then you can relish in the knowledge that you'll have one of the best smiles around

ST

[meemsie]

I feel completely sympathetic--it will feel better though. The last month has been a very low point in my life. I've just been mentally anxious about work and my teeth, and I know anxiety and depression can be gut-wrenching feelings. I made the mistake of looking at old photographs spanning all the way to high school because I was trying to figure out when my overbite/overjet developed. (Apparently, the first orthodontist didn't fix the bite issues when I was a teenager.) And urgh, I didn't photograph well at all, especially in candids. I had one of those, "Oh, gawd, I've been looking terrible for so long!"

But I realized part of why I was feeling terrible, was that I wasn't taking my medication and I've been neglecting my health because of work stress. So upped my fish oil intake and vitamins, and have been eating more vegetables and fruit and avoiding sugar. I also thought of what I didn't like about my physical appearance, and I realize a lot of it can be fixed fast (e.g. getting nicer glasses or contacts, haircut, makeup). Or importantly, just being more mindful about sleep, food, and exercise.

So try talking to a professional doctor or therapist. Just take care of yourself. It will feel a lot better. Just remember nothing has to stay the same.

[NervousNewbie]

I could have written your post - really. You're definitely not alone. I still turn down events now because I want to wait until I'm out of braces. It's not quite as bad as it was, because I do feel more confident now that I'm in braces, but it's still not as great as it will be once I'm out of the braces. You have a whole group of support here - we all get it!

[RedDress]

teeth are important.

[sammywantstraightteeth]

I haven't suffered from depression, but I can relate to one aspect of your post.

Once I had made the decision to straighten my teeth - I became so much more bothered about what they looked like than I ever was before. The time waiting for my treatment to actually start, and the early days when it looked like nothing was happening, I just felt so miserable about my rubbish teeth! Its like before I decided to have them straightened I could pretend there was no problem. Perhaps you are now going through a similar heightened sensitivity to them now that you have decided to have treatment.

I like to think about it this way: there are things I don't like about myself that can never ever be fixed, and my teeth aren't one of them. There is a safe, affordable (just about!) way of fixing teeth and we have all had the guts to go ahead and do it.

The first time I looked in the mirror and saw that my teeth were definitely moving it felt like my heart just leapt out of my chest and I wanted to go around telling EVERYONE. It was an amazing feeling, and I can't wait for you to feel that

[Loztredders]

Thanks everyone for their kind words, it really helps to have people that understand how I'm feeling.
I'm feeling much more positive at the moment than I was a few days ago, had the work Xmas meal lat night and had so much fun that I didn't even really have time to think about my teeth , and everyone commented on how nice I looked which is always a good confidence boost

[sadface]

You're definitely not alone, my teeth bothered me for around 7 years.

I would dream ALL the time about the teeth that bothered me the most, I would always dream that those 2 teeth got really painful or fell out.


Now i'm in braces i'm fairly happy with progress, but not over the moon.

I got ceramics on top and metal on the bottom, and for some reason the ceramic ones make my teeth look yellow while my bottom ones look fine, which is a bit of an annoyance, so I still try to never smile.


Worst thing is I met someone recently who I like and i'm meeting them for coffee this weekend, I imagine i'll come across as an idiot whose trying to keep his teeth hidden constantly.