| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| mk6283 |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 17:09:37
I'd love to hear any accounts of people who have successfully overcome skin conditions using TMS techniques. I have strongly been considering dermatology as a specialty, but I would hate to not have an outlet for my knowledge of TMS.
Acne, psoriasis, eczema, etc. are all plausible TMS equivalents as speculated by Dr. Sarno, but can the same approach used to overcome back pain be used to overcome them? Anyone have any experiences with this?
I wish I knew what I know now when I was a high school student and had acne. Much of my conviction as to the validity of various TMS equivalents comes from my personal experience with them (and then overcoming them by acknowledging them for what they were -- TMS).
Best,
MK |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| campbell28 |
Posted - 04/11/2008 : 12:12:07
littlebird - interesting to hear that about the person with vitiligo. I'd love to know what kicked mine off - I've had it for such a long time I don't even think about it so I suppose its pretty redundant as a distraction! i can't even see if its spreading as I'm so pale anyway.
I suppose the difficulty with getting rid of low-level things is that most of the time you don't even think about them - with the RSI it would flare up and get painful and I would go 'aha, you're trying to fool me, stop messing around' and think about emotions instead. With the psoriasis - and my sinuses, which were the other original bugbear, its just sort of there and I don't notice it most of the time except as a vague annoyance. Perhaps i will make more effort now to think of them in the same way and see what happens.... |
| westcoastram |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 16:46:07
Let me say, as I think that my post wasn't as clear as possible, I do believe my acne is 100% psycho-somatic. I still have it a little... mainly because I've been too lazy to do the work.
I've also suffered from hives and psorasis on a much lesser scale and both have been symptom imperatives.
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| mk6283 |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 16:17:07
quote:
Originally posted by stanfr
For example, even if something is 100% created by the psyche, that doesnt mean it is necessarily 100% reversible by the psyche. If you cut yourself, the scar doesnt go away no matter what you do. There are limits to the body healing itself.
This is precisely my question. Almost any dermatologist you consult will agree that emotions/stress factor in heavily to disorders like psoriasis and acne. The marvel of TMS is that it is REVERSIBLE if one does the necessary acceptance and work. Whether or not this pertains to the dermatologic equivalents is still a bit cloudy in my mind. However, it does seem that some of you (so far) have had variable success with a TMS-based approach so I guess it MAY be possible. Thanks for the feedback.
Best,
MK |
| sborthwick |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 14:07:09
How are your anxiety levels? |
| stanfr |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 14:02:37
No question that most dermatologic issues are exacerbated by emotions, but whether they are caused by anxiety or a TMS-like psychosomatic process; that is the $1 trillion question. I had acne for years (still do, but seriously reduced due to using accutane over a decade ago) and i am now much more convinced that the primary contributor was emotional/anxiety. Unfortunately when i came to that conclusion, i blamed myself for not coming to that realization years ago, which in turn just caused more stress! 
Last couple years i dealt with psoriasis, which i have under control, but it is still present even when not symptomatic. Id love to know how to rid myself of it all 100%, if that's even possible. There's a lot of 'ifs' and assumptions. For example, even if something is 100% created by the psyche, that doesnt mean it is necessarily 100% reversible by the psyche. If you cut yourself, the scar doesnt go away no matter what you do. There are limits to the body healing itself. |
| sborthwick |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 13:42:54
Oh yes....this Claire Weeks approach is extraordinary. I know it is going to take a little time but it deals with anxiety and nerves as the underlying cause of all the physical symptoms and depression. Her theory is that the nervous system has become so sensitized that it reacts way over the top to life and one's thoughts. She shows you with a simple exercise how to turn down the dial on your nervous system - eventually the anxiety disappears and all the physical symptoms. I can tell you....so far it is working. I feel absolutely great. My boyfriend is freaked out and can't understand why I am so relaxed and happy!! |
| Littlebird |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 13:40:09
I recently caught part of a show that said Vitiligo is often triggered by a stressful event. (I can't remember what the show was.)I know someone who has Vitiligo, and it started right after this person learned there was a marital affair going on. A decision was made to maintain the marriage, but it's been very stressful at times. The Vitiligo has been spreading ever since.
I've talked to this person about Dr. Sarno and TMS, but without success. |
| johnaccardi |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 11:57:23
I just developed psoriasis 2 weeks ago, I am going to approach it with a TMS mindset and we'll se what happens. I think that if you have skin conditions it probably means that you are always susceptible to them but they don't always have to express themselves. For example, Psoriasis - If you have psoriasis it probably means that it is expressing itself as a result of TMS-like reasons(anxiety, sress...) but if these things are reduced the symptom will not express itself. So to answer your question - TMS theory works. |
| campbell28 |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 11:28:50
I have very mild psoriasis, which, interestingly, first developed just before my RSI symptoms began to get really bad. I am sure it is a TMS equivalent but in a way it is such a low-level annoyance that it is harder for me to focus on and deal with as a definite 'distraction' than the RSI symptoms were. I had sort of hoped that once one symptom went, the whole lot would but not yet: maybe one day.
I also have vitiligo which started to develop after I had a very bad bout of urtecaria as a child. I am not sure if vitiligo is an equivalent but i know Sarno says urtecaria (hives) are so I am suspicious of it! Again, although annoying it is not a major problem but if I could get it to go away I would be very pleased... I would also be interested to hear if people with low-level TMS symptoms have managed to banish them as well as the major ones as they do seem to want to hang around more. sborthwick, sounds like claire weekes is working for you? |
| westcoastram |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 10:53:57
I have suffered from acne most of my life. I have yet to banish it fully but when I treat it like TMS it goes away for awhile.
And no treatment has ever done that. |
| sborthwick |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 08:48:46
I have suffered from mild acne for most of my life. I now know that they are a result of anxiety - a TMS equivalent. I have been using Claire Week's tapes and book to banish my anxiety - she is very similar to Sarno...guess what - skin is clearing!! |
