| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Michele |
Posted - 11/18/2004 : 07:49:37
Through the weeks and months I've been learning to identify my emotions and tensions, instead of focusing on the physical. I'm also journaling alot. Reading the books, listening to the CDs, and reading this forum have also helped.
Anyway, a huge source of tension I cannot eliminate is my husband and 2 teenage boys. Of course, they are not 'perfect', they are not 'organized' and our mornings are quite chaotic. They are just being who they are, which causes tension for me. My pain is always worse in the mornings while everyone is scurrying around getting ready for work and school. I have tried and tried to "think psychological and not physical" and I tell my brain over and over again that we're not doing the pain thing today, but I'm still struggling.
So give me some strategies to get through the tense times in life we have no control over! Thank you!!
P.S. I'm still running (4.4 miles this morning), and last night I heard my husband tell his California friend (while planning a Vegas trip for us) that I would be ready to run the Las Vegas Half Marathon by January 30! Guess I better get busy . . . |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 11/18/2004 : 11:51:18
Michele, thanks for asking. My technique is getting better on the tennis court. In practice, or low-level competition, I am improving my footwork. I am picking up my feet better, more on my toes with my weight forward. This makes it qucker to respond to a ball that may be traveling at 125 m.p.h. From a "physical" standpoint, my body is lined up better to the path of the ball. If I do things right, I can let gravity do much of the work and use my opponent's power. This also results in less torqueing on my body. If my footwork is good I don't need to stretch, lunge and strain to reach the ball.
This breaks down under the barage of good opponents. If I can't do it in practice, with little or no pressure, I certainly won't be able to do it in the heat of competition.
It's somewhat analogous to TMS thinking, it takes practice to be able to make it work when the pressures get great.
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| Michele |
Posted - 11/18/2004 : 10:38:45
Tennis Tom:
You're right, I have a busy lifestyle, one I chose, but in true TMS fashion, I believe I can handle it all, be organized, efficient, and make sure everything is as perfect as can be! Oh, and I'm a goodist too, volunteering in my "free" time. No wonder TMS thought I was a good candidate! 
I do my TMS work while I'm running, or reflection and journaling on my lunch hour. I am a TMS multi-tasker. 
TT - is the tennis playing getting any better? I know you had started to run, but tennis was still giving you some problems. |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 11/18/2004 : 10:27:20
Quote from Dave:
"Treating TMS is not about eliminating tension. There will always be stresses in our lives. The important thing is to acknowledge our true feelings and experience them when they occur to the greatest extent possible."
I feel Dave has hit the nail right on the head. Are our nervous systems evolved enough to handle the "modern" life style? Reading Michele's post about her busy day, I can see where it would be difficult to fit in the time for TMS reflection. I'm single, no kids, and can't imagine the pressure of the responsibilities of caring for kids. I have seen what my brother goes through with his two kids though, and we haven't had an un-interrupted phone converstion since they were born, (and I don't expect to 'til they're off to college). I used to get frustrated with this, but now I cut him some slack and keep the calls to a minimum. I realize his brain has changed since having kids, due to over-work and chronic sleep deprivation.
Active, modern, lifestyles, don't leave much time for TMS-reflective thinking.
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| Texasrunner |
Posted - 11/18/2004 : 09:44:29
Bottled up rage=pain. A simple formula, but difficult to acknowledge. Monte is right when he says "It's all about awareness," because that is how the rage is rendered impotent. Instead of showing up as pain, it is exposed, acknowledged, and so the pain has no reason to shout for your attention.
So the antedote formula could be stated as:
Constant awareness=what am I feeling/thinking RIGHT NOW? |
| Michele |
Posted - 11/18/2004 : 09:31:02
quote:
Originally posted by Dave
Also, think about why things cause tension. Why do you get angry when your family is disorganized? Part of it could be that you are really angry at yourself for not being as organized as you want to be or think you should be. Maybe you are imposing the same unrealistic expectations on your family that you are unconsciously imposing on yourself. When those expectations are not met, it causes RAGE.
Thanks Dave, you pegged me exactly! Why can't my family be like me, and I can't even meet my own unrealistic expectations! Honestly, I think I have alot of bottled up rage and I'm working hard to acknowledge it. |
| Michele |
Posted - 11/18/2004 : 09:28:19
I thought I had injuries this spring, and that's why I quit running. Through MRI and x-rays, it was clearly shown that there was no injuries. I spent May, June and July in alot of pain, and in early August, stumbled across Dr. Sarno's books. That's when I knew I had TMS and I better get busy and start acknowledging the emotions.
I don't have any injuries, and resting didn't "heal" anything. Only reading and studying about TMS and accepting that TMS is the cause of my pain have I been able to resume my active lifestyle. |
| jack |
Posted - 11/18/2004 : 08:51:16
Michele:
I would like to ask you a question. You said you have not run since May because of your "injuries". Do you think that the time off not running healed those injuries? Do you think it was the rest that caused the pain to go away? That is kind of double edged sword.
Thanks
Jack |
| Dave |
Posted - 11/18/2004 : 08:33:39
quote:
Originally posted by Michele
Anyway, a huge source of tension I cannot eliminate is my husband and 2 teenage boys. Of course, they are not 'perfect', they are not 'organized' and our mornings are quite chaotic. They are just being who they are, which causes tension for me.
Treating TMS is not about eliminating tension. There will always be stresses in our lives. The important thing is to acknowledge our true feelings and experience them when they occur to the greatest extent possible.
Also, think about why things cause tension. Why do you get angry when your family is disorganized? Part of it could be that you are really angry at yourself for not being as organized as you want to be or think you should be. Maybe you are imposing the same unrealistic expectations on your family that you are unconsciously imposing on yourself. When those expectations are not met, it causes RAGE. |
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