| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Sky |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 13:22:05
you know what I suspect is an interestign distraction technique on the part of the ever so clever brain?
surfing the net. Ever ask yourself why you are checking espn.com, myspace, thefacebook.com, or other sites incessantly through the day, even though you have already checked them several times that day?!?!?
might just be another distraction technique... |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Woodchuck |
Posted - 05/21/2007 : 20:15:41
quote:
Originally posted by Woodchuck
quote:
Originally posted by Sky
you know what I suspect is an interestign distraction technique on the part of the ever so clever brain? surfing the net....might just be another distraction technique...
Very, very likely in my case! ...... I could be doing more productive things during my free time ;) I am really glad you brought this up though as I REALLY need to take a hard look at this.
Woodchuck
Well, I've taken a good hard look at this and I am starting to cut back on my online time. This forum in particular was helpful initially while I was determining if my condition actually was TMS. Now that I know it is and have had astounding results in putting Dr Sarno's ideas into practice, I see no compelling reason to stay active here as there is really nothing more I need to know at this point and the constant bickering on the board (ego battles, etc) has become a major distraction for me. This keeps me "living in the problem", so to speak ;) So, this will be my last post on the forum.
All the best to all the forum members here!
Woodchuck |
| Penny |
Posted - 05/21/2007 : 19:34:19
quote:
Originally posted by shawnsmith
Yes, I feel I am not comfortable just sitting with my thoughts for any length of time.
Shawn, When I read some of your responses I often feel like I'm looking in a mirror or my own journal. Do you want to run away to the woods to live deliberately ... together?  Thanks so much for being so honest.
Just curious ... Do you still have pWord? I don't find you talking about the physical manifestations: Are you physically better? Are you seeing a psychoT?
When I observe my thought "I'll think about it later," this is a BIG clue to me that TMS gremlin is-a-lurking.
After 3 years of research, surfing, healthforums, and earning a self-professed medical doctorate online (tell me a sx and I can give you 3 diseases to test for LOL!), I realize that my insatiable need for external information; my compulsion with doing doing doing things for others; AND my self-inflicted intense workload are all manifestations of denial and my inability to give myself space to be alone with myself and my thoughts and the processing of ugly feelings. I literally got all emotionally backed up.
After a couple months' leave from my TMS work, I'm now back to defragging my mental hard drive. I stop and try to watch my thoughts happen, and--as Byron Katie says--consider that my thoughts are not me. (BTW Thanks for recommending her ... have you read/heard any Eckhart Tolle?) Thoughts give big clues to self-destructive behaviour.
I have not been enough for myself for as long as I can remember, and I realize I've been literally trying to save the world to distract myself from this disappointing self-truth.
I now realize that no book, no dvd, no article, no link, no doctor or therapist, NO ONE can save me from my shortcomings and imperfections or my TMS .... no one BUT ME! Reading and listening to all the TMS info certainly has an important place in healing but it should only be used to remind us that the answer is inside us, not outside.
I don't know why I put all this here ... I guess I felt moved.
>|< Penn |
| armchairlinguist |
Posted - 05/21/2007 : 00:11:09
I would regard it as analogous to pain as a distraction -- you're supposed to stop buying into it as step 1, but step 2 is not letting it rule your behavior anymore. For me, this would mean stopping once I know I'm being compulsive, which doesn't always happen.
But it is going to happen now -- I'm going to go clean the bathroom instead of refreshing the board. :)
--
Wherever you go, there you are. |
| Sky |
Posted - 05/20/2007 : 08:23:32
Yea...it just requires some self-questioning, right? and how hard is that? |
| shawnsmith |
Posted - 05/20/2007 : 07:37:58
quote:
Originally posted by armchairlinguist
It requires a fair bit of commitment to really change though, and I'm not working hard enough. :(
I don't think it is really a matter of changing per se, but recognizing what is taking place and how these activities do indeed serve in the process of repression.
*******
Sarno-ize it!
|
| armchairlinguist |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 23:15:03
Yep, I think it is because if we are doing nothing, the feelings might have a chance to surfance. So we read or check the internet or whatever, as long as it is not sitting still. I have this problem mainly with internet and reading. I will just pick up a book I've read a zillion times and read a bit of it again, instead of just sitting or just doing one activity (like getting ready for bed, even).
I've been working on it a bit. It requires a fair bit of commitment to really change though, and I'm not working hard enough. :(
--
Wherever you go, there you are. |
| Sky |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 15:37:02
Interesting...
And yet, some of these activities you describe Shawn are really productive!
I guess you just have to see what is truly necessary, as surfing the net and checking the internet are, and what is excessive and possibly serving another - likely distractionary - purpose (like checking your email 2 minutes after you just checked it!). I guess the answer might just be to continually engage in a normal amount of self-questioning... |
| shawnsmith |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 14:13:37
Just yesterday, in the course of my journaling, I took note that is hard for me just to relax and do nothing either physically or mentally. In the course of my day I find that I:
1) Eat when I am not hungry
2) Think of sex when I am not even aroused
3) Check my e-mail, surfing the net or posting on this message board numerous times
4) Reading one book after another
5) Feel the need to go out and do something for no real reason
6) Constant journaling (I have close to 2800 of notes on myself)
7) Anything so long as I am not sitting down and doing nothing like a vegetable.
Yes, I feel I am not comfortable just sitting with my thoughts for any length of time.
*******
Sarno-ize it!
|
| Woodchuck |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 14:04:59
quote:
Originally posted by Sky
you know what I suspect is an interestign distraction technique on the part of the ever so clever brain?
surfing the net. Ever ask yourself why you are checking espn.com, myspace, thefacebook.com, or other sites incessantly through the day, even though you have already checked them several times that day?!?!?
might just be another distraction technique...
Very, very likely in my case! I worked online in tech support for 4 years from my home and have become a real internet addict. I was also on the internet as soon as it was feasible to do so and when 14.4k was "high-speed" ;) What has made it even worse is that I almost exclusively surf with my T-mobile Sidekick 3 which I have with me all the time. And, it has push email, so I'm connected/on-call continuously and I never turn it off. I haven't noticed that I've become all weirded out (probably am though and don't yet see it), but I could be doing more productive things during my free time ;) I am really glad you brought this up though as I REALLY need to take a hard look at this.
Woodchuck |
|
|
