| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| johnaccardi |
Posted - 02/22/2008 : 12:24:58
Hi Everyone,
I would greatly apreciate responses, I'm quite depressed right now and have been for a while, can you please give me your opinion on my situation...
My name is John, I'm a 19 year old college student.
I read "The Divided Mind" by Dr. Sarno and could relate to a lot of what he was talking about(being a perfectionist and people pleaser). This is what brings me to believe I have TMS equivilants. About 5 months ago when I moved away to college I suddenly developed a dry mouth. It was extremily bothersome(and still is) and I obsessed about it. After a month went by and this wasn't going away I went to see a doctor who mentioned the word Sjogren's Syndrome, he didn't say I had it, he just mentioned it. I started looking this syndrome up on the internet, finding all the related symptoms, which dry mouth was one. A few weeks later I started developing the other symptoms related to this disorder like dry eyes, dry skin, joint pain, and numbness. For the past several months I have been extremily scared that I have this syndrome(because it's chronic) and my obsession is ridiculous. The thing that tells me I probably don't have it is that the symptoms developed after I read about them. What do you guys think about this? Does this sound like TMS equivilants? How should I get rid of these annoying symptoms? Thanks. |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| johnaccardi |
Posted - 02/23/2008 : 10:21:05
Thank you so much everyone, these replies help so much. I appreciate your putting the time into helping me out and relating to me. |
| Baseball65 |
Posted - 02/23/2008 : 09:47:07
Hi John.
Wow...you're really lucky to have even a clue at your age, and I don't mean that facetiously (and there is also no PUN in FACETiously...OK...maybe a little one )
But really. I am always astounded at the 'new' syndromes and diseases,Prescribing MD's, support groups,lobbyists, medications and survivors being created by our techno-medical-wunderkind-juggernaut.
jug·ger·naut (j#365;g'#601;r-nôt')
n.
1. Something, such as a belief or institution, that elicits blind and destructive devotion or to which people are ruthlessly sacrificed.
I don't even want to look up this SJorgen's,lest I find myself suffering from it next week.
However, I think it's great that a 19 year old has the wisdom to see this sort of thing so early, and maybe their is hope for the resistance movement against the negligent diagnoses being tossed around in the medical profession. I have noticed that Most MD's tend to diagnose things that they, coincidentally have the skills and MEDICATIONS to treat (and never you mind that your doctors palm pilot and golf bags have that pharmaceutical company's logo on them...purely coincidental )
John, to me as a passing reader as soon as I see the 'O' word (obsession) with any symptom , I would suspect some sort of partial or complete Psychological reason for it's need. Having suffered from OCD symptoms for a large portion of my life, I can assure you that when you are obsessed with anything that you are good and distracted from EVERYTHING else, not just your emotions. It is one of the most miserable states of being I can think of.
But, going back to that clue, I think if you follow it's lead you might find some stuff... Like leaving for college,anxiety about failure and success, Family relationships, Money,etc.
I don't know you, but those would be normal concerns for any person leaving home. To someone who had a propensity toward perfectionism,conscientiousness,etc. this might be the sort of life altering move that would trigger a need for a distraction. If it became an obsession that would be even better.
You seem to be right on time. Don't be depressed. You are waaaaay ahead of the curve in getting it. when you overcome this problem you'll be one of the youngest TMS recoverees I know .
My Son is 15 and gets symptoms periodically.He also knows about TMS and tends to recover from them really quickly.
welcome.
-bb65 |
| Dave |
Posted - 02/23/2008 : 08:56:34
The Internet can be your worst enemy when trying to treat TMS. Doctors, your second worst.
Looking briefly at http://www.sjogrens.org/syndrome/diagnosis.html it would seem unlikely for a 19 year old male to get it.
However, one passage was interesting to me: "The symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome may overlap with or “mimic” those of other diseases including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple sclerosis."
Could it be that Sjorgens itself is TMS? I wouldn't rule it out.
The anxiety and obsession you feel are just symptoms. TMS is winning the battle. While you are consumed with medical diagnoses for your symptoms, you are effectively distracted from the unconscious rage.
TMS: 1 John: 0
Hopefully you will win the next round. |
| mk6283 |
Posted - 02/22/2008 : 20:43:18
John, I highly doubt that you have Sjogren's Syndrome. SS is almost exclusively a disease of middle-aged women. Your symptoms are all viable TMS manifestations. You also don't appear to have any of the objective signs of inflammation like parotitis that tend to accompany SS.
I know what its like to worry. I know that, at least in my case, such hypochondriacal thoughts were quite disabling. You really do need to repudiate the physical and start thinking psychologically. Of course, you should see a doctor if you are still not convinced because any bit of doubt will definitely inhibit your recovery. If it takes a simple blood test to give you the peace of mind to proceed w/ confidence in the TMS diagnosis, then waiting around here for people to give you that reassurance (w/o even seeing or knowing you) is quite foolish. Hope this helps.
On a separate note, I waste way too much time on this forum. I don't know why, but its just so damn addictive. Maybe it represents the "final" TMS equivalent :). Also, all this numbness talk of late has left my fingertips feeling "odd" all day. I need a vacation.
Have a great weekend.
Best,
MK |
| mizlorinj |
Posted - 02/22/2008 : 18:50:21
Interesting you developed the other symptoms; realize the seed was planted in your brain after you read about it on the internet.
Get Dr. Sarno's book, The Divided Mind, and start reading. Then read again. Think about life's stressors and start writing about them and how you FEEL about what is going on. I am angry that . . . sad . . . afraid, etc. How did you feel about moving away to college?
Dry mouth could certainly be a TMS equivalent; someone at one of Dr. Sarno's lectures had dry eye and was told it was a TMS equiv. Actually, you'd be surprised why physical ailments can (and usually are) mind-induced.
We are conditioned to suppress feelings. It's time to GET THEM OUT.
-Lori |
|
|
