Looking at the Influence of Thoughts and Emotions on Stress

In the Five-Part Model, thoughts and emotions often drive stress. A situation may be difficult, but how we interpret it usually determines the intensity of our response. In dental nursing, automatic thoughts such as "I must fix this immediately", "This patient thinks I am not competent" or "If I get flustered, I will make things worse" commonly increase anxiety, guilt, frustration or shame.

Those emotions feed into the rest of the cycle. Rising anxiety or frustration raises body tension, can make behaviour rushed or avoidant, and makes the environment feel more threatening.

The role of automatic thoughts

Automatic thoughts are the quick mental responses that appear in stressful moments. They are often inaccurate but feel convincing. Typical dental nursing examples include:

• "I have to get this perfect."
• "If this patient is unhappy, I have failed."
• "I cannot cope with one more interruption."
• "Everyone can see I am struggling."

Because these thoughts tend to be harsh or exaggerated, checking them can change the emotional tone of the situation.

Working with emotions more constructively

Emotions such as anxiety, frustration, embarrassment or irritation are normal in stressful situations. The aim is not to eliminate them immediately but to notice them, prevent escalation, and respond more calmly.

• Name the emotion: for example, "I am noticing anxiety" or "I am noticing frustration".
• Pause before reacting: one or two slower breaths can create enough space to choose a response.
• Reframe the thought: shift from extreme thinking to something fairer and more actionable.

Thoughts and emotions do not tell the whole story of stress, but they often change how large and urgent the stress feels. Addressing them early can reduce escalation through the rest of the cycle.