| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| JohnO |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 09:15:45
I haven’t been on here for awhile. I was doing so well for some time with lower GI misery. I thought I had it beat once and for all. Well, about a week ago, I felt some kind of protrusion that was sore to touch and that got me back to thinking maybe there was something physical after all which is the worst thing that can happen with TMS, I know. Now the pain is ratcheted back like no comparison. I know it’s because I have creeping doubt about whether it is 100% emotional. This is such a miserable affliction and I have tried everything including physically hitting myself in the head to get me to believe it is 100% psychogenic again. I feel really depressed for the first time in a long time. Any ideas how to get it back? |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| JohnO |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 10:59:24
Sky -- Thanks for the post. I too live about an hour from Dr. Sopher and have seen him twice. He is awesome. Maybe I need to make another "refresher" visit. I think you are right that it is about hard work and re-visiting the books and the teachings and hammering away at it all but that tiny element of doubt sneaks in when you can actually feel and touch something in or on you that is sore. It just gets the brain second-guessing again. More work to do....... |
| Sky |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 10:43:56
JohnO,
my TMS problem was RSI in my hands from typing. I beat it 2 years ago after reading The Mindbody Prescription.
Then this past Spring all the pain in my hands came back. I found ways to rationalize how it could all have been phsyical, that Sarno's ideas weren't applicable to my situation and it had been physical all along. Meanwhile, I was trying to tell myself it was emotional at root. I had ideas about what emotions might be at the heart of it, but still, maybe it was physical?
Then I emailed Marc Sopher who practices like an hour away from me. I described my recurrence of RSI and suggested visiting him, and he wrote me back in the email something to the effect of: "I always tell people that I cannot make a diagnosis via email, but I do think it likely that nothing else but TMS is the cause for your symptoms. In my experience the history is diagnostic. Typing cannot cause pain! Having said that, many do get better on their own, by reading and re-reading Dr. Sarno's and my books and staying focused on this approach. The key to getting better is eliminating the doubt you have that there could be some physical, rather than psychological cause. As long as you pursue physical explanations and remedies, the symptoms will persist. The fact that you succeeded in the past is evidence that you will succeed again. The brain never gives up its strategy--this is what Dr. Sarno refers to as the symptom imperative."
After reading Dr. Sopher's email, I upped my commitment to the idea that emotions were at root of my RSI, and I kicked the pain again! Can't tell you how happy I was and am today. God, the pain felt so real the second time around again, my hands so fragile...these theories are truly amazing.
You'll beat it again! Best of luck. Let us know about the success story, too, because they are so inspirational to us all who often need that extra reassurance to truly attack the emotional roots of these problems. |
| JohnO |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 10:38:11
My fault for not mentioning before -- I did for 2 years and had 4 GI surgeries and endless procedures and tests and pills. They couldn't find anything and tossed me more pills and basically dismissed me. Sorry -- forgot to add that. |
| Shary |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 09:19:11
John, maybe you should see a doctor to rule out anything physical. Not everything is TMS. |
|
|
