| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Suz |
Posted - 08/23/2004 : 08:33:34
Hey guys,
I am back from my trip to my Dad's in North Carolina - what a beautiful part of the country. I had a rather tough time with my back - over the last week the pain is shifting all over the place - after four months of no pain, this is really strange. This morning, I woke up with the same old sciatic pain. I actually think that the TMS never went away - was just using equivalents. However, I have got rid of the acid reflux with nexium and know that it is stress related. Also, my skin has cleared up as I am just not worrying or focusing on it any more. I was suffering from stomach problems but I have changed my diet and now convinced myself that I will no longer have stomach issues - they of course have stopped! -
I really think the TMS had nowhere else to go so it has gone back to it's old place. I am reading the book every day and am starting the journalling again ( I couldn't do it at my dad's).
The pain is shifting all over the place. I am yelling at it and am trying to think emotionally - it is amazing how hard that is to do when you are in pain.
I think the TMS is desperate and holding on to anything for dear life! I am experiencing a terribly stressful time in my life - doing an anullment, just broken up with a boyfriend while I focus on anullment, job is very stressful etc. etc. - it really isn't surprising. The only thing is that I really cannot change many of these things. I believe that I will always create more stress at a job as I am such a perfectionist. My very nature creates more anxiety than maybe the average person.
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| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| johnfindlay |
Posted - 08/25/2004 : 21:37:51
quote:
Stress and anxiety are TMS equivalents, not ingredients
i'm not sure i quite get the term "TMS equivalents" -does this mean the
equivalent IS TMS?[or sort of like it?].
Anyhow I know Im deblitaed by stress & anxiety, to the point I cant function - is that my brain doing a TMS trick as well-like Sarno regards depression a TMS "equivalent" ?
Hope my question[s] were clear.
Thanks.
JF |
| johnfindlay |
Posted - 08/25/2004 : 20:51:53
quote:
The perfectionist sees this as a failure; it unconsciously feeds the low self-esteem that is the basis for the perfectionism. It can be a vicious cycle.
This describes me well-i had quite a clear up of symptoms 1/2 way thru reading Sarno's first book-I got really excited about starting up some
projects again - then I had severe "flare-ups" -which have continued for about 4 days.
I do remember a thought I had once when I woke up early -to do with feeling i had failed at a certain job last year-that may have triggered the flare-up.
JF |
| Suz |
Posted - 08/23/2004 : 13:30:29
Isn't it perfectionist/obsessive types who get TMS in the first place? - or are you saying they have worse cases? I agree with you that it is very difficult to break the obsessive thinking. I am certainly someone who has spent years obsessing over my health - I have had the back/sciatic pain for 12 years and I am only 34.
However, I believe that one can change one's conditioning by reconditioning oneself. It probably takes a lot of hard work and persistence. Part of the cure for me is to do all the things I would never do before - like running, wearing high heels, sleeping positions etc.
It is not easy but I imagine there are people here who had pretty extreme pain for a long time and have reduced if not entirely eradicated it. I might be one of those ones who has to feel the emotional pain
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| Dave |
Posted - 08/23/2004 : 13:18:16
quote:
Do you think that it is not enough to know it is structural and one has TMS - one must do the exercise of thinking emotional so the brain gets the picture?
I believe everyone is different. There is no magic recipe. Some may get permanent relief immediately after reading Dr. Sarno's book. Some may get relief simply by understanding and accepting the TMS process. Others need to confront emotional issues that they have been avoiding. Others may need to feel certain emotions that have been repressed for so long.
Personally, I believe perfectionistic/obsessive types have a harder time getting rid of TMS. Lack of success leads to frustration and harsh self-judgement. The perfectionist sees this as a failure; it unconsciously feeds the low self-esteem that is the basis for the perfectionism. It can be a vicious cycle.
More than anything else TMS is a bad habit. Just like any habit, some are more capable of breaking it than others. Some people can quit smoking cold turkey; others struggle for years with frequent relapses. TMS is even more stubborn because it is somewhat out of our control. The habit is unconscious; we have to attack it from many different angles in an attempt to get the message through. |
| Suz |
Posted - 08/23/2004 : 12:51:10
Thanks Dave. I just took a lunch break (unheard of for me at work!) and read the "Healing Back Pain" book. I realize that I am still obsessing over the pain - it is extraordinarily difficult not to - but not impossible. There is a part in the book that really struck me - it tells one on page 77 to focus on something psychological as soon as one feels pain - "for that sends the message to the brain that they're no longer deceived by the pain"
For some reason, this really struck a chord with me. I am sure I have read it countless times before but this time a lightbulb went on! I am pretty sure that I have never really done this - I thought I was 'cured" four months ago as the back pain went, but I have suffered many other things since. I thought it was enough to just accept that the pain was TMS but I do think the subconscious takes a lot longer.
Is the key to constantly think of an emotional bother every time I feel the pain - maybe to keep doing that over and over again. Does the unconscious finally realize that it is a waste of time? Could one become totally self obsessed? ( I already think I am thinking way too much about me as it is!)
I accepted the TMS diagnosis almost immediately as I know as a result of many, many tests that I have nothing structurally wrong or physiologically wrong. A top gastroenterologist told me that my IBS is totally due to stress. I know I am a total perfectionist so my personality is very TMS.
Do you think that it is not enough to know it is structural and one has TMS - one must do the exercise of thinking emotional so the brain gets the picture?
Sorry this was so long - just trying to get the hang of this thing! |
| Dave |
Posted - 08/23/2004 : 10:53:25
quote:
The only thing is that I really cannot change many of these things.
You don't have to. If we had to change ourselves to get rid of TMS then nobody would do it.
1. Accept; 2. Ignore. Those are the most important concepts. Not sure where you are on #1, but it seems you have some work to do on #2.
Stress and anxiety are TMS equivalents, not ingredients.
You're doing the right things, yet still obsessing about the pain. It's tough, I know, but as long as the pain is predominant in your thoughts, it will continue, for it is working to distract you. |
| Suz |
Posted - 08/23/2004 : 09:50:08
Mat,
Are you journaling or going to an analyst? I know I must be one of those ones who has a great deal of rage and so need to get to the bottom of it, so I am seeing a therapist through my church. She believes strongly in John Sarno's work and is working to uncover my anger. I think this TMS is a tricky thing but I also believe one can get rid of it - it just takes work.
I pretty much stopped taking the nexium - I take it very occasionally - normally if I have drunk too much coffee and I get heartburn.
I came off steroids recently and became very obssessed with my body after wards. I was on a very high dose for my back and started feeling really awful a month later.I thought it was my adrenal glands - however the endocrinologist said they were fine. I was exhausted all the time and could not focus. I finally went to my naturpathic doctor who put me on some natural supplements and now I feel fine. I now believe that the TMS was creating this exhausted state. The Naturopathic herbs acted as a placebo.
I really believe that a TMS equivalent can be any kind of obsession that keeps one occupied and not thinking of the emotions. I put on weight from the steroids and became very self conscious -thinking about it all the time. I changed my diet and have since lost a little weight and so am not focusing on it any more. Before my back pain set in again, I had a terrible tension headache - I had never had one of these before and could not understand what it was - - now I know it was TMS.
I really think the only answer is to be patient and keep on with the work. I think one can work on generating a little less stress in life - knowing one's boundaries etc.
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| 2scoops |
Posted - 08/23/2004 : 09:18:41
Keep at it, you have had it on the run, which let's you know that it is TMS. Just curious on the acid reflux thing, are you still taking Nexium? I have acid reflux also and also take Nexium. The thing is how do we know if Sarno's theory works with acid reflux if we are taking a pill for it?
I have had the lower back pain for about 2 years and found out about Sarno a little over 5 months ago. I have had a reduction in back pain, but have not gotten rid of my symptoms. I have had other stuff happen to me in the last month that I believe to be TMS related, like dizziness, tingling in my head, skin irritations, and my allergies have really started flaring up. This TMS is tricky. I guess I wonder that why when other people's symptoms move around, they seem to usullay get rid of their back pain, but mine seems to not give up, along with the additional symptoms. |
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