| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| lobstershack |
Posted - 06/05/2006 : 20:05:57
(This soy ice cream is uncannily delicious.)
I need clarification on one aspect of the way TMS as a syndrome functions. Just because you experience an intensification of pain on a particular day, not a relapse, doesn't mean that you're "moving backwards," does it? In addition to the other question I posted, this seems to be giving me some trouble. I often think that if I'm hurting more for a particular time--could be an hour, could be a day--that, like I said before, moving backwards.
This is frustrating. Please advise.
Seth |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| armchairlinguist |
Posted - 06/08/2006 : 15:34:45
Hi Seth,
I'm glad my comments were helpful. Someone said something very similar to me when I first came on the board recently, about the application of perfectionism to TMS itself.
TMS is definitely not easy. The longer I am working with it, the more I understand why some people, especially those not in seriously disabling pain, are not open to it. Some days I get a certain pain level, and I just say fine, I can deal with that level, I don't want to bother trying to psychologize right now. Even though I know this is not so productive. (I get lazy because I know that ultimately I am in control and can choose to banish the pain if it gets bad.) It is a major effort to work with it, to try to confront the somewhat buried feelings of emotional pain, anxiety, and guilt, and the deeply buried rage. But one worth making, as I try to remind myself.
PS. I am actually becoming a fan of soy ice cream these days. |
| n/a |
Posted - 06/08/2006 : 07:55:06
Actually, Sarno makes the point that the intensification of symptoms in the course of TMS treatment is a sign of progress. Sounds strange, but the point is that you are getting closer the source of the problem and the brain is fighting back in last ditch effort to convince you that you have a physical problem.
It happens all the time
This cazy brain of mine
Wrapped around my mind
Refusing to unwind
oooooh oooooh, crazy brain
Tonight I'm gonna a break away
Just you wait and see.......
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| lobstershack |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 17:01:54
I just realized something regarding initial question, by thinking along these lines I'm in essence trying to CONTROL my TMS, which isn't possible!
I would love to shake my perfectionism, it's so confining. My mind tries to convince me that just because I'm not following the TMS guidelines 100% every day, all day that I'll be hopeless until I do.
ahhh
Seth |
| lobstershack |
Posted - 06/06/2006 : 17:17:38
armchair,
(i've released myself from the anemic confines of punctuation for this posting)
how soon i forget my perfectionist tendencies! believe it or not, sometimes i worry about how my worrying is not perfect enough.
you brought up an excellent point, there is no "right" way to get better, and to search for or expect one is not possible!
but it does put my mind at ease when you say that just because the pain is worse one day or the worrying is more intense one day or i have more fear one day, does not mean i'm moving backwards at all.
(can i get an amen?)
you know, i didn't start taking TMS seriously till around february or march, and want to know one thing i've learned? IT'S NOT EASY!
Seth just let go!
Seth |
| armchairlinguist |
Posted - 06/06/2006 : 13:44:15
Seth,
My understanding is that you are not moving backwards just because you experience pain. Any backwards movement would only come if you could not recognize that pain as being part of TMS. In fact, more or different pain is an opportunity to 1) notice that you are making progress because TMS is trying to work harder to fool you, and 2) dig into what might be bothering you. I am having some odd pain today, in my left lower back which has not hurt for several weeks at least, and rarely before like it does today. I think it is some anxiety about work. Of course, my first thought was "I wonder if I hurt myself running to the train this morning." Then fortunately I thought "That's kind of silly, I did fine running. Maybe it is a strange TMS thing." So it's normal for the first thought to be structural, and the TMS thinking to take a little while to kick in; don't get on yourself for that.
And don't worry too much. We are mostly perfectionists here and that extends to TMS. We want to kick our TMS "perfectly", with no setbacks or anything. But it doesn't matter so much, as long as you are on the path. |
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