| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| AndrewMillerMFT |
Posted - 03/01/2017 : 18:29:43
Hello all,
I wanted to share a technique that has been quite helpful to many people I've worked with in the TMS community and hope that it's an added weapon in your arsenal to not just combat TMS but understand it as well. My hope is that this technique can become a staple of the growing interventions people use to address their TMS.
The exercise that I wanted to share with you today simply asks: What is my TMS trying to tell me? Many of you are already familiar with a number of Journaling Techniques in relation to the work of Sarno, Gordon, Schubiner and Schecter. This technique is one more journaling exercise that can expand awareness.
1) Sit down to journal and imagine your TMS in your mind's eye. You can close your eyes to do this but some of us prefer to keep our eyes open. When you imagine your TMS, allow your mind to explore freely and see if it takes a form beyond the pain, the symptom itself. Is it anthropomorphic? Does it take the shape of a person in your life or an animal, a place, an entity? Allow your imagination to run wild. One client of mine imagined it as a bear that was crushing her body with it's paws. She had a significant amount of Neuropathy all over her body.
2) Write out a description of the TMS at the top of your paper. Try to describe what it looks like, sounds like, feels like here.
3) Start a dialogue on paper with the TMS. What does it say to you? What do you say in return to it? What does it want? What does it need? How does it feel about you? How do you feel about it? Whenever you feel lost in this conversation, close your eyes again and review the description at the top of your paper.
This exercise is a unique opportunity to explore the underlying characteristics that feed your TMS. People often find insight into deep patterns of self-loathing, fear, lack of self-care, and discover direction towards taking action in life. This last piece - discovering direction - can be important as sometimes there are nagging issues that need to be addressed in some way (not necessarily eliminated) to affect change in TMS symptoms.
If you're open to it, I encourage anyone to try this and I would love to get feedback on how the experience is for you.
If at any point the exercise becomes too activating, please stop and contact your doctor or mental health professional.
Best of luck in your healing journey,
Andrew |
| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| blossom |
Posted - 05/11/2017 : 03:10:14
I tried this last night and had a very significant dream which seemed like a big clue as to why I have that symptom. I found having the conversation with the symptom as I was falling asleep really effective almost as though I was in a hypnotic state which helped my subconscious thoughts to flood through. Thank you for the post I am going to continue trying this method
Be yourself, everyone else is taken |
| healingfromchronicpain |
Posted - 04/02/2017 : 16:40:11
I like this idea. It's less intimidating than thinking about having to write down all the negative stuff in my head that I'd rather not face :) I just tried it for a little while, so I can't really report yet on whether I think it has any impact on me, but I like the concept. Thanks.
Healingfromchronicpain
(My story and journey are described at www.healingfromchronicpain.com) |
| Jackhammer |
Posted - 03/29/2017 : 12:48:38
Hello Andrew!
So, I recently watched your interview with Forrest from a few years back, and you had mentioned talking to my TMS. That very night, I was having major foot pain and leg cramps, and was unable to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. I closed I my eyes and asked my TMS what it wanted, and I saw it hovering in my mind. Seconds later I had a memory flash from nearly 10 years ago while having surgery on that same foot for a bunion. I was under a lite sedation and the doctor was sawing the bone in my big toe in half. Suddenly I could feel the saw cutting and tried to get the message across in my stupored-state. I did, they gave me more anesthesia, and all was well.
But, my unconscious did not forget, and I have had bones breaking while I walked (that a team of all varieties of specialists could not explain) and after that all stopped, major back pain (spinal stenosis blah blah blah) and now a numb/searing pain in my leg and foot. I was on crutches and headed for back surgery until I found Dr. Sarno mentioned on a spinal stenosis forum. That was 3 months ago.
I have been trying to reach out the inner me that is still furious about the sawing incident and get him to see that all is well. I just completed the SEP at the other forum, and see that there is much more to work on.
Thank you so much for all the "tools" you shared in the interview.
Jack |
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