When a literal smack in the face knocks your writing off track, how do you get back on the rails? In the hope it might be helpful to you, here is what I've learned.
I can’t speak about creativity, as my limited talents in that sphere have almost totally dried up.
My upper front teeth are crowns, and I can remember that having them fitted (with the root canal, and grinding down of my remaining tooth stumps) was one of the most ritually upsetting medical procedures that I’ve had. Even more so than any other dental work, because of the location; for some reason it’s very intimate and invasive being there in the front of your mouth. Plus, as you say, being part of one’s visible face, you have the added anxiety of “what if this goes wrong” in how you actually look. This is all on top of the physical pain.
All the extra cortisol from this stress puts you in “fight or flight” mode, so no wonder you couldn’t do much at the time.
Others are better placed to say how to get your mojo back (which you appear to be, already). I just wanted to say, don’t give yourself a hard time, and don’t worry - what you went through is so much more than most people would realise: it’s not just the physical trauma, it’s the emotional, too.
The stitches are all out, it needs six months to finish healing then we can decide what the permanent solution is going to be! Right now I have a acrylic denture that is driving me nuts.
It’s the prayer book of the Ordinariate, which suits me as a former Anglican now in Rome. I love it, but it’s very 16th C. Lots of thees and thous. I tend to smooth it out into modern English if i’m reading with my family. But I like it, it has prayers for almost every occasion and concern.
Thank you for this. I have found journaling has helped me with blocks and when I am overwhelmed. I start to feel rich with ideas. William Stafford in A Way of Writing talks about this process that might be useful to you. I’m sure it’s online.
I can’t speak about creativity, as my limited talents in that sphere have almost totally dried up.
My upper front teeth are crowns, and I can remember that having them fitted (with the root canal, and grinding down of my remaining tooth stumps) was one of the most ritually upsetting medical procedures that I’ve had. Even more so than any other dental work, because of the location; for some reason it’s very intimate and invasive being there in the front of your mouth. Plus, as you say, being part of one’s visible face, you have the added anxiety of “what if this goes wrong” in how you actually look. This is all on top of the physical pain.
All the extra cortisol from this stress puts you in “fight or flight” mode, so no wonder you couldn’t do much at the time.
Others are better placed to say how to get your mojo back (which you appear to be, already). I just wanted to say, don’t give yourself a hard time, and don’t worry - what you went through is so much more than most people would realise: it’s not just the physical trauma, it’s the emotional, too.
You capture the experience well, that invasiveness is absolutely right and the phrase “ritually upsetting” is perfect. It is shockingly debilitating.
Is your mouth better now?
The stitches are all out, it needs six months to finish healing then we can decide what the permanent solution is going to be! Right now I have a acrylic denture that is driving me nuts.
Oh no on the denture driving you nuts. What a trial.
Oh what’s that prayer book like?
It’s the prayer book of the Ordinariate, which suits me as a former Anglican now in Rome. I love it, but it’s very 16th C. Lots of thees and thous. I tend to smooth it out into modern English if i’m reading with my family. But I like it, it has prayers for almost every occasion and concern.
Thank you for this. I have found journaling has helped me with blocks and when I am overwhelmed. I start to feel rich with ideas. William Stafford in A Way of Writing talks about this process that might be useful to you. I’m sure it’s online.
I should definitely read more about it, thank you for the suggestion. The impact has shocked me.
It’s helping me clear overwhelm when I get it because my brain gets cluttered with online ideas.
Here’s the link: https://www2.csudh.edu/ccauthen/451S12/staffort.html