| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| atg |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 17:47:15
Though I fully accept the diagnosis, for the past few months I have been at a standstill. I see a tms therapist and journal regularly, but I must admit I am feeling very confused right now.
I have seen several posts by people on here, saying that they found that challenging the pain, arguing with it, etc. was what paved the way to recovery. One even wrote of using the mantra, "I will never ever give up!"
Yet on the flip side, several posters have written that it was not until they stopped fighting with, and finally accepted the pain that they began making progress.
It seems to me that these approaches are completely contradictory, and I am not sure which to adopt. I am very confused about it, but determined to adopt a specifc attitude toward the pain, as the one I've had thus far has not been successful.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Alan |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Stryder |
Posted - 03/12/2006 : 22:01:26
Yea, its both. Its like this...
(1) Fight TMS. Give up and you're toast.
(2) The pain is a false enemy. The Distraction.
For those of you who remember the early episodes of "Saturday Night Live" on TV... "New Shimmer" is a floor wax A-N-D a dessert topping."
Take care, -Stryder
- - -
From http://snltranscripts.jt.org/75/75ishimmer.phtml
75i: Elliot Gould / Anne Murray
Shimmer
Wife.....Gilda Radner
Husband.....Dan Aykroyd
Spokesman.....Chevy Chase
[ open on suburban kitchen, Wife and Husband arguing ]
Wife: New Shimmer is a floor wax!
Husband: No, new Shimmer is a dessert topping!
Wife: It's a floor wax!
Husband: It's a dessert topping!
Wife: It's a floor wax, I'm telling you!
Husband: It's a dessert topping, you cow!
Spokesman: [ enters quickly ] Hey, hey, hey, calm down, you two. New Shimmer is both a floor wax and a dessert topping! Here, I'll spray some on your mop.. [ sprays Shimmer onto mop ] ..and some on your butterscotch pudding. [ sprays Shimmer onto pudding ]
[ Husband eats while Wife mops ]
Husband: Mmmmm, tastes terrific!
Wife: And just look at that shine! But will it last?
Spokesman: Hey, outlasts every other leading floor wax, 2 to 1. It's durable, and it's scuff-resistant.
Husband: And it's delicious!
Spokesman: Sure is! Perks up anything from an ice cream sundae to a pumpkin pie!
Wife: Made from an exclusive non-yellowing formula.
Husband: I haven't even touched my pudding and I'm ready for more!
Wife: But what about black heel marks?
Spokesman: Dirt, grime, even black heel marks, wipe clean with a damp mop.
[ Husband accidentally sprays Shimmer onto the floor ]
Husband: Oh, sorry, honey, I'll clean that up!
Wife: Oh, no problem, sweetheart, not with new Shimmer!
[ Spokesman laughs continuously as he approaches the camera ]
Spokesman: New Shimmer, for the greatest shine you ever tasted!
[ fade ]
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| art |
Posted - 03/11/2006 : 10:57:53
I make peace with my pain. In other words, I refuse to worry about it, or fear it. I'm not perfect with it, but I've made a lot of progress.
On the other hand, from a physical standpoint I challenge it. If I've got knee pain, I continue to run. In fact, I might even run a little longer or a little harder. |
| Baseball65 |
Posted - 03/10/2006 : 16:41:35
It's both.
I 'accept' that it is psychogenic and there is nothing I can do in the 3 dimensional world to 'fix it'...that is I accept that it is REAL,it is Painful,and it is Harmless...I accept that I have TMS....not accepting it means I still think I can 'do something' to make it go away
Than,when I have some free mindspace...I challenge it to a fight in the parking lot.I test it,I tease it and I belittle it by humiliating it.
All of us communicate our experience it in different words,in different ways at different times of our development,different times of the day.
I think you've 'accepted it' so you might want to meet it in the parking lot at 3:05 and kick it;s butt....It's just a Bully,and like most Bullies,can be easily exposed as a fraud as soon as you stand up to it.
You're about 7/8ths of the way home bro.
-Marc |
| Suz |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 20:32:39
Alan,
I just want to add that the way I overcame the fear and was able to be so nonchalant and laugh at the pain was by reading and reading the books. As I made progress little by little, the fear started to subside. For me - it took a year and a half. I trained myself to switch my thoughts to emotions and thinking about my life - every time the pain started. It was only very recently that I finally tried the running (my last activity to conquer. I like that Sarno recommmends taking time to return to difficult activities. He is absolutely right. I had to be totally convinced before I could run again. The conditioned pain started up immediately - in the past, I would have jumped off the treadmill in horror and been miserable for two days. But now I understand TMS, I stayed on and battled through until now I have no pain when I run.
Sorry I went on a bit - just wanted to explain more clearly |
| Suz |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 20:28:20
It's a combination I guess. When I have got recent twinges - this is my approach:
Hmm - there's the pain. Oh dear - then I laugh a bit to myself. I just shrug my shoulders and say - "what is going on with me right now for the TMS gremlin to be tapping me on the shoulder like this" - If the pain starts to increase rapidly - I just mock it even more with comments like - "is that all you've got - pathetic"
Before - I used to get really really angry and I think this fed into it a bit - sort of got myself in a state. I think there is a happy balance.
The overall key and shift for me took place when I stopped being frightened of the pain - overcoming the Fear is the greatest challenge and where the ultimate success lies. Since I am not frightened any more - I know 100% that the pain is harmless - I really don't care any more if I get it or not. What has happened is that the brain has given up it's strategy. After all, it only works if one is frightened and threatened by the pain. Laughing at it is the complete opposite
Hope this explains the difference a little |
| FlyByNight |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 17:53:55
Well It is a very good question you are asking .. I am asking the same question since many months... the answer I came with until now is that you must learn to surrender and accept to who you are really and aknowledge the pain as something that is part of you now as a signal to turn yourself toward your innerself emotionnaly. At the same time you have to fight the TMS process because this little beast is very intelligent and do not want you to accept things.. it wants you to keep feelings repressed and keep Worrying about the pain.. so you need to fight the TMS when it employs its own strategies to keep you down (i.e. when iis moving around, inducing doubts ... etc ....)
I hope i am somewhat clear ..
P |
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