The Invisible Battle: The Emotional Toll of TMJD on Singers

The Invisible Battle: The Emotional Toll of TMJD on Singers
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD) is a prevalent yet often misunderstood condition that affects millions of people worldwide, including many singers and music teachers. While its physical symptoms are well-documented, the emotional toll it has on vocalists remains largely unseen. Let's delve into the hidden struggles faced by singers battling TMJD, shedding light on an often-overlooked aspect of the music industry.

Understanding TMJD:
TMJD is a condition that affects the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, causing symptoms such as jaw pain, stiffness, clicking or popping noises, headaches, and difficulty in opening or closing the mouth. For singers, whose livelihoods depend on the flexibility and precision of their vocal instrument, these symptoms can pose significant challenges. It can be a super scary place to be to not really understand what's physically happening!

The Emotional Impact:
Beyond the physical discomfort, TMJD can take a profound emotional toll on singers. The uncertainty of symptom flare-ups, the fear of compromised performances, the unknown of how long it will last, and the frustration of navigating a condition with no easy fix can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and self-doubt. I personally felt so alone in it often. I remember walking home from a choir concert on campus one night by myself because all of my friends went out for dessert afterwards but I was in too much pain to join them. I wrote more about these feelings in my chapter of The Truth About Finding Joy in the Darkness.

Navigating Treatment Options:
While treatment options for TMJD vary, singers often find themselves on a journey of trial and error as they seek relief. From physical therapy and dental appliances to medication and surgery, finding an effective treatment plan can be a daunting task. Dental professionals pawn it off on medical and vice versa. I experienced that over the course of 5 years before finding solutions (on my own) to provide relief.

Finding Support:
In the face of these challenges, many singers find solace in connecting with others who understand their journey. Online support groups, vocal coaches experienced in working with TMJD patients, and sharing experiences with fellow artists can provide much-needed support and encouragement. I'd be happy to be a sounding board or resource for you! I created TMJ Strong for this very reason.

The emotional toll of TMJD on singers may be invisible to the outside world, but its impact is undeniable. By raising awareness of this often-overlooked aspect of the music industry, we can foster greater empathy and understanding for those facing this invisible battle. To all the singers grappling with TMJD, know that you are not alone, and your strength in the face of adversity is commendable.

Do you struggle with TMJ pain? Or do you love someone who does? How does it take a toll on you emotionally?

Amazon Favorites of a Music Teacher Mom

Amazon Favorites of a Music Teacher Mom
Today is Prime Big Deals Day!

Here are bunch of my favorite Amazon finds as a music teacher mom, most of which happen to be part of the deals today, too. I use these ALL the time in my home and teaching space.

1. Rubber Chicken! We play a game called chickens & foxes with ours, there's lots of other uses. My students named him drumstick, haha! He's also a great model of open tall vowels for choir.

2. Googly eye rings! I use these for arioso, small group singing, and conversations in song back & forth between students.

3. This super cozy nursing and maternity sweatshirt -- so nice for fall/winter days and for nursing baby discreetly!

4. This white noise sound machine has been the best. It's not too big, so great for traveling. And even has colors if you need a night light feature.

5. These footed pants were SO cozy when baby was tiny. 10/10 recommend, especially if you have a fall/winter baby! This is all my baby girl wore except for footies last winter.

6. A pickler triangle set -- this is a great toddler activity for those cold winter days where we're all cooped up inside because it's too cold to even play in the snow. I am getting one for my baby girl for Christmas.

7. Classroom instruments are a great way to engage students without breaking the bank. I typically own only 1-2 of each instrument and we grow in patience, social skills, waiting, turning taking, etc by only using one. Here are a few I found on sale today: cabasa set, rainbow streamers for expressive movement, wood block, guiros, juggling scarves, and more!

8. Non toxic crayons! Perfect for beginning babies who are going to put them in their mouth.

9. I am getting this busy board for my baby girl because a friend recommended it for long car rides (or air plane rides!).

10. This musician's journal I created -- fun colors! You have SO MANY notebooks you're writing in allll the time too? You're in good company.

11. So much silly fun with pop tubes!

There's more, but this is a great start. Happy shopping!

How to Make a Nighttime Cloth Diaper

How to Make a Nighttime Cloth Diaper
Cloth diapering can be intimidating, especially at nighttime because we want to let baby sleep those 8-10 (or more!) hours without waking them up for a diaper change. It can be especially challenging if you have a heavy wetter or flooder like I do because you need something that both absorbs fairly quickly but also holds a lot.

My best recommendation for you is to make sure you use natural fibers and pockets or covers with gentle elastics, what brand you use doesn't matter so much.

After trying a lot of different types and styles, I personally use pannolino bambino and two little hands co pockets the most. PanBam has the gentlest elastics I've tried so far that don't leave big marks on her cute rolly thighs!

For inserts, I typically stack a PanBam trifold with a cotton doubler because I've found it is enough absorbency without being too bulky (since she's still only 4 months old). Here's a video of how I put together the nighttime diaper. I avoid microfiber like the plague because it causes compression leaks (like a sponge) and really only worked for us for the first 2 months or so before we were having leaks.

I just bought some specifically nighttime trifolds from PanBam recently to try for when she gets bigger; I'll let you know how we like them!