| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| n/a |
Posted - 07/01/2005 : 15:13:43
My question is how does one measure progress? What I mean by this question is how does one know they are on the right track and that they are getting better. How does one come to the point when they can say "ok, this is not working, let me try something else. Of course the ultimate progress is that we can move about again without pain and fear with the full recogniton of the real source of our physical symptoms. But what about the day to day progress? Yes, some of us get better quickly, but many of us - including myself- clearly are not getting better despite the intense mental work, extensive reading, physcotherapy etc. This, for me at least, is very enraging and I get the feeling that there is something inferior or lacking in me because others get well while I don't. |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Stryder |
Posted - 07/02/2005 : 21:25:02
Hi PeterMcKay,
Some people make the mistake of trying to put their recovery on a "timetable" of sorts, and that usualy spells frustration and doom.
Progress is going to pace very differently for different folks. Simply put if you are a bit better day-to-day, or week-to-week, or month-to-month, or year-to-year, then you are making progress. You will have relaspes, steps forward and back. You will have to come up with your own scale to measure your success.
Personally, early on, I only saw progress in terms of weeks and months. As long as I was seeing any progress at all, I deemed that success. For me getting to 95% pain free took several years.
Hope this helps, -Stryder |
| JohnD |
Posted - 07/02/2005 : 14:26:09
I think it was Abraham Maslow that talked about "being" rather than "becoming". Effort is good when it comes to retraining the mind in regards to TMS, but trying too hard & always analyzing progress can be more detrimental than helpful.
My opinion as far as how to measure progress with TMS is that its a good sign when you don't have to ask that question as much as you used to, and eventually don't have to ask it at all because you just know. |
| Allan |
Posted - 07/02/2005 : 11:09:36
I like Albert's reference to a "change of heart."
From all the postings on the forum, it appears that a lot of TMS problems seem to stem from relationship problems. Improving the relationship with a "change of heart" (attitude) would appear to go a long way to helping overcome TMS.
There always appears to be an underlying problem causing the TMS pain. It is usually a relationship involving stress or anxiety more than anger. It could be that most people recognize the underlying problem, particularly if it is a relationship problem. From the postings it appears to be someone close in the family or in a work relationship. Maybe that is why 95% recover without psychotherapy.
How does one measure progress? One way is to measure the progress made in the ability to use the painful area more and more despite the pain. The pain moving around has to be the most significant indication of progress. Think of it. My knee hurts. Now my knee doesn't hurt but my elbow does. Conclusion, the knee pain was TMS. If it were structural, it would still hurt. The brain has chosen a new area for TMS pain.
Allan.
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| Baseball65 |
Posted - 07/01/2005 : 23:43:15
Hi Peter.
This is relative to the individual,his experiences and the one un-knowable...how deep are the ingrained patterns, the conditioning,anger and belief systems we have .Each and every one of us is different,despite perceived similarities.It's all repressed,so no questionaire could 'rank' us.
There also seems to be a correspondence between desperation and recovery time.....like any recent convert to any way of thinking,the worse off the person was,the longer it might take to recover,but the QUICKER they digest and understand the system.
If I understood you correctly in your other post,you read the material about 5 months ago,but only recently 'hit the racks' so to speak.
I read the book out of anger and desperation/frustration with my chronic pain doctor.I was slamdunk/100% convinced Sarno was spot on....this made it extra frustrating when,two weeks later I was still in pain...sometimes worse.
I just kept reading and writing and in retrospect had a fairly rapid recovery,but while it was going on,it seemed like an eternity.
I had many thoughts like quote:
How does one come to the point when they can say "ok, this is not working, let me try something else
.....and than I'd review....sometimes it was merely the certainty that my other doctors were wrong that kept me at the brain work.
Like an impatient child,I wanted recovery NOW....and there is really many levels of recovery....lack of fear,mobility,mental changes,actual pain levels,pain free days followed by more pain.
I'd guesstimate that most people get results after about 20 days...that's what most psychologists agree is the amount of time it takes to change a habit.I was free of the majority of my symptoms at 3 weeks,though there were many days of relapses and doubt and fear.If I hadn't cut myself off completely from the medical world,there were days I might have given up....
The resolution of the last little demons took as long as a year if you're counting minor stuff(I had sciatica ONLY on the drive home for about 6 months.....not enough to scare me or ruin my day,just enough to make me angry)
But......once you've seen the truth,the lies can never hold your attention the same way again.
I think you're right on track.
peace
Baseball65 |
| alanc |
Posted - 07/01/2005 : 19:54:03
Progress - I've only been at this for about four weeks. Experienced relief right after I finished Sarno's Healing Back Pain. Progress is periods without pain. Why would at times one have pain and at others the pain is there. Painfree means TMS theory is working or in fact a proper diagnosis. Would not you be in pain all the time if it were structural? Do you have times when you forget about the pain? Certainly progress. I think the biggest progress factors is not thinking about the pain and concentrating on emotions and of course not experienceing pain. If you are not thinking about the pain you are overcoming the conditioning effect of fear. |
| Albert |
Posted - 07/01/2005 : 16:17:47
I don't understand how it could be a matter of being inferior. Some people get better while reading the book, some people take much longer. I believe it's partly a matter of how in line your mind already is with the premiss that it's psychological, not physical; and partly a matter of how much you don't want to contend with the psychological issues that lead to the pain.
For me it wasn't just a matter of seeing what my psychological issues are, but also a matter of having enough of a change of heart so I could find a resolution for them. If you insist on holding on to what ever issue/issues is/are playing a role in creating pain, it will be difficult to let go of them or at least ways get to a point where they don't influence you as much and cause tension etc to be created in your body.
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