| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| HopefulAli |
Posted - 03/23/2011 : 23:32:24
Hi gang,
First of all thanks for the support that I have received since joining here a couple of months ago... it's nice to see that I am not alone in this!
Just a recap, I have had many chronic tendinitis issues (for 7 years) plus skin problems and chronic back pain for 2 years. Prone to anxiety issues. 26 year old female otherwise in good health.
Read Sarno's books... improved greatly, but still get flare-ups every few weeks though not to nearly the degree I used to experience. Have started to be active again but have had a few false-starts, or TMS "tricks" as one might say.
Recently I did a Jazzercise class and felt only a small twinge after. Two days later I went for a long walk and began experiencing some of the same old symptoms... pain in low back where my supposed "degenerative disc disease" is as well as cracking and stiffness and pain while sitting. (This has all happened before after a walk). I mentioned it to a friend and he said "but how can a walk hurt your back?" ... my thoughts exactly. So I persevered and did Jazzercise again yesterday. Today I am not terrible but still experiencing some pain.
I have recently started Schubiner's workbook. So far, so good... what have you all thought about it? I really seemed to connect with his section that describes other examples of how emotions/stressors can cause physical symptoms. It seemed a little more concrete than Sarno's explanation of "we don't really know why, it just happens!"
Any suggestions for what I can do to talk myself out of this latest minor flare up? I have been trying to remind myself of affirmations such as "My back is strong. I am not fragile" and "My nervous system is creating this chronic pain; there is nothing structurally wrong."
Will be getting into the "meat" of the workbook soon.
Thanks!!!
Alex |
| 1 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Darko |
Posted - 03/24/2011 : 02:01:23
Hi Alex,
Welcome! I've not spoken/posted to you yet. I have had 3 major flare ups in my life. First one when I was about 22 years old. Had dramas since I was in my teens though....I'm now 34 so I have had plenty of time to work at this. I have "cured" myself two times before only to have the pain come back. I'm now going through the ups and downs depending on what is happening in my life.
I'll try and keep this brief.....basically the typical Sarno approach failed to alleviate my pain permanently, and this is the same for plenty of folks here. I'm not saying his info doesn't work.....not even close to saying that, but what I am saying is you MIGHT need to dig a little more as I did.
I have found it important to understand my personality........I mean really get to know how you work. EG I have issues with money. We didn't have much of it when I was little so now I have to have lots and lots of money. I not only need lots in the banks but lots of income otherwise I focus far too much on it ( in a negative way ) and create tension in my body. I also am not present enough to what I might be feeling.....as most of us here can probably relate to. So now that I have quit my job to focus on business ventures you can imagine the tension this creates for me. I have enough cash in the bank to keep going for a long time but I also have a very strong desire to become wealthy......so spending this money creates tension. I must ensure I focus my mind on the correct and positive things that are happening otherwise things get very difficult for me.
In other words I live by the following formula:
Rubbish/negative thoughts = emotions I can't or don't know how to handle = TMS pain.
This has served me well. It's all a battle with the mind really.
Now this is where things get fluffy.....bare with me
For a long time I have believed that I have to be in control of everything in my life to have it work out well. I didn't really believe that God or the universe were on my side. This led to anxiety and lots of pain. The trick was to start believing something else....and that was that everything was going to workout fine in the end. THis puts me at easy right away.
So basically what are your beliefs & mental thought habits?? Do you like most people see more of the negative and what's not working in your life. You might be happy and bubbly on the outside but it's the mental talk that is what we really need to watch.
It comes down to basically fear, anxiety and stress for me. You CANNOT control these emotions......but WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL IS THE THOUGHTS THAT CREATE THE EMOTIONS. Thoughts create feelings and bad feelings create pain in us. Stop focusing on your pain and start focusing on your thoughts. Thoughts=fuel Feelings=fire pain=smoke
If you take away the fuel then there will be no fire or smoke. What TMSers do is add plenty of fuel and try to suppress the fire. What happens then is you get lots of smoke and when control is lost....and massive fire. Hope you can follow my analogy.......focus on the thoughts....I kept this short so it might seem patchy to you, just ask if you need clarification.
TMS is not a bad thing....it is the reason I am the person I am. We are the blessed ones that can find a way to help ourselves, so don't get down about it. It's a journey of self development and discovery......you either grow or live with pain and disease :-)
hope this helps
D
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