| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| rjm |
Posted - 07/20/2007 : 12:55:07
Yesterday after experiencing the prior night and the following morning the worst leg muscle spasms yet of my TMS manifestation that I wrote about under the "Throwing In The Towel" thread, I really went to work to try to refocus myself on the mind-body connection.
I listened to the 20/20 segment and the podcost with Dr. Sarno and it really hit home hearing the good doctor speak for the first time--I've only read his stuff. Plus, one of his patients from the 20/20 show really hit home with me when he said that he says to himself when he gets a pain he says "I'm doing it to me".
So I started thinking again about what could be behind why I am doing this to me. As someone who is an overachiever and expects a lot from myself and others, I know from my readings that this TMS could possibly be representing something newer that is controlling or more rigid than I like.
I thought hard about it and realized that around the time I was 80% better was when I started a new diet and working out even more with a personal trainer determined to not give in to the pain and also thinking it couldn't hurt to be at my ideal weight (not very heavy, buut could be better) with all my aches and pains--less stress on the body frame. I also added this device that measures your burn rate for all activities throughout your day that you wear and upload the data to a web site and track what you eat. Pretty precise stuff. I've always been a pretty healthy eater (just sometimes eat portions that are too big and not burning off enough). In about 2 1/2 months I lost 12 pounds and have been feeling empowered going to the gym and working with my trainer and taking better control of my diet and weight.
Not long after I started with this, the leg spasms and pain switched legs. So I thought about it and realized that when I was stressed I used to eat extra to get through it, and now I was not doing that anymore. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to not work out and get to optimal weight, especially when it is important also to battle the TMS to stay strong. But I was thinking that I got rid of my stress coping mechanism without having another acceptable one take its place.
So I decided yesterday to dig out my guitar and a friend is going to restring it for me and tune it so I can start playing that again. I also love classic video games, and have decided to get a game system again, and I love to write as you can tell from my post lengths so I decided to get back to that too. I also realized as it was hot outside I stopped taking lunchtime walks that I enjoy with my Ipod and now that I have a short work commute, I don't take my detachable car radio out--another stress relief and music outlet gone--I am bringing both of those back too.
Last night heading back from the gym, I put the radio on and sang with the songs. I still had a leg spasm getting out of the truck, but it was briefer and I actually hummed a song I had just heard on the radio and tried to put a smile on my face and focused on the fact it sucks but it will ease, and that was an improvement. When I woke up from sleep at night and then in the morning, same thing, still tight, but eased quicker. Then this morning after I got to work and I was really worried after yesterday morning's 20 minute experience of working out the spasm, I got out of my truck and I had just about a 30 second one. A huge improvement and relief.
So maybe I am on to something with finding relacement stress outlets. My new thought I keep in my head is "I'm doing it to me, and I can fix me".
It's worth a shot! Hope this helps someone else! |
| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| rjm |
Posted - 07/23/2007 : 10:20:09
Thanks for the encouragement. Unfortunately it doesn't look like it's going to be as simple as my initial success with this as I had another "mother of all" spasms after an hour and a half car ride late Friday night and several more horrible ones this weekend.
But I guess that's just my brain's way of trying to fight back now that I am on to it. One thing I tried that I like a lot is a tape set I bought that was referenced in the Fred Amir book--"5 Permanent Keys To Stress Reduction" which you can get off Amazon. I listened to the first tape and got so relaxed I drifted off into a nap and woke up without any pain or spasming like I usually do.
I've taken the second tape into work with me so I can listen and relax at lunch. |
| armchairlinguist |
Posted - 07/20/2007 : 14:38:27
Bravo, rjm! Sarno actually describes TMS in MBP at one point as having to do with the "rage/soothe ratio". There are things we do or experience that make us angry, and we also all have things we do that we enjoy, that relax and soothe us and make us happy. You got rid of a bunch of those things, one deliberately but several by accident. With insufficient soothing, the rage component is proportionally larger threatens to come into consciousness, and a true distraction -- pain -- becomes necessary. Putting the soothe back in -- and refusing to accept pain as a distraction -- should sort things out, I imagine.
This is something I need to think about as well because I think I am not doing enough soothing things.
--
Wherever you go, there you are. |
| Dave |
Posted - 07/20/2007 : 13:20:34
I think you are definitely on to something. It's not necessarily a "stress outlet" but an alternate distraction. You used to be able to distract yourself by eating. Now you don't allow yourself to do that anymore, so your unconscious chose a new distraction: the leg spasms. Once you are successful at ignoring those spasms, not obsessing about them, and not allowing them to affect your life, your unconscious will give up on that distraction. It will probably choose another. Just keep one step ahead and laugh it off. As you learn the mind's tricks it becomes easier and easier. |
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