I know that this topic has been discussed on other threads, but I thought that I would bring it up again, to see if any new thoughts arise...

I'm wondering if you all could share with me your best ideas for working with someone who bruxes at night. Some of you have already shared some ideas individually, but I thought that I would put it out to everyone, and see what happens.

I have tried the swish, and it doesn't seem to stick. Also, I recently saw a brief therapist for a visit, and it seems that my success has been limited. For some reason my jaws just don't want to give up this habit!

Thank you!

Be well, and at peace,

Phil (aka Strange Bird)

Wish I could help you, my friend. I believe the answer lies within, and you will find it.

Good morning, Tony.

Yes, I have the necessary resources in me to solve this problem, but I seem to be STUCK at the moment (it's all about the kinesthetic with this one!).

Rubin wrote me a very encouraging correspondence, and I do believe that I am making progress, but I am a very impatient grasshopper sometimes!

What did Milton do in a case like this...

Phil (aka Strange Bird)

What did Milton do in a case like this...
I don't believe Milton had a problem with bruxism....ha!

You are stuck, and you think that you can grind your way out of the stuckness.

russianbear wrote:

What did Milton do in a case like this...
I don't believe Milton had a problem with bruxism....ha!

You are stuck, and you think that you can grind your way out of the stuckness.

Very funny, Tony, and you know I appreciate your humor, in a midwestern sort of way.

And that second statement is compelling...

Phil

And it should be compelling. And tonight, while you sleep, your unconscious mind will sort out what that means.

And, my mind had an interesting way of dealing with the urge to clench and grind last night! Let's just say, that it is working itself out, finally...

WHEW!!!

Phil (aka Strange Bird)

Glad to hear that Phil..

Yes, John. My suspicions are turning out to be true...and just by being aware, I am able to begin to change the habit, and replace it with a less destructive one instead...thanks to two friends--Jay who provided me with an MP3 to listen to every evening (even though it was annoying, it's starting to work, Jay!), and Tony (aka russianbear) who slipped in a sneaky suggestion last night on the phone!

I expect this to completely resolve itself very soon. You were right, John. If it's a simple matter of habituated pattern, it does respond well to PHS. And it did!

Phil (aka Strange Bird)

That's interesting,

"I am able to begin to change the habit"

Do habits 'change' or are they discarded as soon as they are broken and new ones established?

Thanks

Matt

Matt,

I can only speak for myself, and in this particular situation, in which the shift from one habit to the other seems to be akin to a gradual morph. It is definitely not a case of the complete discarding of one habit for the other, but a fluid shift from one habit to the other!

And I bet you find that intriguing, Matt, don't you...

Phil

(aka Strange Bird)

Phil,
Call me tonight. I'll do my best Milton impression, cuz I have a few more sneaky suggestions to sneak in.

Interesting...

...my other half says that I'm doing something "different" at night, but it's not bruxing. Something unidentifiable...hmmm....

Twice last night, I remember waking up in the middle of the night, when my teeth went together, opening my mouth, and putting my tongue in between my teeth. I think that it's a direct result of a suggestion in the MP3 that Jay gave me to listen to...I listen faithfully every night when I go to bed, even though I find the "beach" story to be annoying! It's sort of like having to do one of those Ericksonian tasks...and eventually my mind gets so sick of hearing about the white sand and sunshine and breeze and seagulls and...that I just GO TO SLEEP!

Phil

Phil
I'm so happy that you are making progress.

I don't know if it's progress or just substituting one bad habit for another...what would I have to do to stop bruxing without replacing it with anything?

Is it possible to quit one bad habit without putting another habit in its place?

(scratching my head now)

Phil

Phil,
Is it possible? What do you think? If you believe it is possible to do something, such as to stop bruxing and not replace that behavior with something else, then it is. I'm not telling you that you can stop this whenever you want, however, the choice is yours. I know you are thinking that this is a daunting task, but I was discussing your situation with a friend of mine, and he told me about a client of his who told him, "It was difficult to learn to speak Swahili. It was so intimidating. At first I was certain that I would never be able to do that. But someone challenged this limiting belief and every day, little by little, I did it. At first my mouth wouldn't do what I wanted it to do, but I remained confident, and it began to obey. You know, it annoyed me when I couldn't control it the way I wanted to, but now I no longer annoy myself."
tony

Hi Phil,

Perhaps you could Google some info on bruxing. It can be caused by a lack of certain nutrients or vitamins in your diet. There may also be some emotions you need to clear up.

I wish you the best,

Gabriel

Or, just because I brux. Or not. Or...

Believe me, I've heard every reason in the book. I'm wondering why everyone I talk to about this seems to think that something is eating me just because I grind my teeth.

I'm beginning to get annoyed by this attitude, and sorry I ever posted in the first place--no offense to the well wishers--but seriously, isn't a brux sometimes just a brux? Why is it that even though my gut tells me this is the case (talk about an ideo motor signal!), nobody listens to me? And can't someone in this world help me get rid of it without replacing it with some other crazy habit???

Phil

Hay Phil



If you was not bruxing what would be happing all by it's self? now you have a choice point- you can either choose what could happen or allow what would happen anyway- yet in either case if you are no longer bruxing- something will have to fill in the gap- even if thats just a more relaxed jaw- so even if you don't replace it with something on a conscious choice level something will automatically fill in that gap-

Now a habit of choice could be just feeling good for no reason- or having an urge just to smile and relax- or to stretch or to make a nice cup of coffee/tea or something else that will bring you comfort- more and more yet I guess like all learned patterns there is a place and a time before the times and places before a beginning- now I know you know many things and have learned many different things, yet like when we learn anything - you need to have an idea even at an other than conscious level of mind just how and were to start and finish any new learning task-

Now I am guessing you must have at some point "in time" maybe a very long time ago- you started the process of learning how to read and talk- and as you talk- more and more you can notice just how words are constructed- like the word red or read they sound a like yet look different- yet you might be asking your self- what as this got to do with this- so has you might not know some times we have to do something more and more until it stops- so what would happen if you kept on bruxing more and more and know that at some level there is an end!! stop- inside and yell louder and louder to the right parts and see the muscles finish off the job it started off- and stop and as you jump "in time" only taking the learnings that allow you to undo and redo old learnings in new ways- and in doing not what was not yet at the same time redoing not now in the right times after the beginning where the start in new ways back there from the new future that was in the past before the "in time" learnings beginning in new ways that open up new paths to send yourself- and as you listen to your own messages- and talk to your self in nicer ways that allow you to create a old new future in that time back there before yet not until after you have gone all the way back "In time" to the beginning of the end- where you stop in side- and redo old learnings in new ways- so the future from that time is rewritten- so now as all that learning changes- what was once not into what was new and in different ways that support you in only the ways that work- in the right ways making only the right choices-m and soften and relax as the new learnings in all the times you need can be everywhere in times and places that give you the resources- through time and now as you can allow what even happens to happen in new ways and be nice to your self and in time you have all the learning you need..


J

Phil is spun out...