| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Carrie |
Posted - 02/22/2012 : 10:47:45
Dr. Sarno's principles have worked for me as I've dealt with numerous TMS manifestations, but there is the usual resistance when one encourages another to consider TMS. A dear friend must eat very slowly, alone or in very quiet situations, to avoid food staying in his throat causing a choking sensation. His medical diagnosis is that there is a flap in his throat that prevents normal swallowing.
I gave him The Divided Mind; he believes in the mind/body connectiion and said he would read it but has communicated that he doesn't want to be pressured to explore this possible solution to his discomfort. In my humble opinion there is history that would suggest possible repression.
Should I quit hassling my head over this or use subtle ways to get him to look at it differently? |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Lissar |
Posted - 02/23/2012 : 21:58:15
Difficulty swallowing or having a lump in your throat can both come from have a lot of anxiety or stress. If you can get the stress under control after a while the symptom can go away. I think TMS and anxiety are like two peas in a pod. You could ask your friend if he is under a lot of stress or anxiety and see what he says. Good luck! |
| lynnl |
Posted - 02/23/2012 : 09:41:00
quote:
Originally posted by Carrie
Interesting that concentrating on sciatica helped with your swallowing problem at the same time.
Oh, it wasn't just the swallowing problem that cleared up coincident with resolving the sciatica. There was a long list of other minor symptoms that were fixed: wrist/thumbs/hand (carpal tunnel); elbow tendonitis; poor sleep (I started waking up as totally refreshed as in my teenage years - snoring stopped; a happier, joyful outlook on life. It was truly like being born again.
As for the swallowing, there's not a shred of doubt in my mind that it's a mental issue. Just as it begins to happen I'll have this little insidious thought start creeping into my mind "...uh oh, I hope I don't get that spasm started..." or something like that, and presto, ye old self-fulfilling prophecy. If I can divert my thoughts quick enough I can abort the episode before it worsens.
Suggest to your friend that he at least try approaching it this way; it costs nothing to try.
Lynn |
| Carrie |
Posted - 02/23/2012 : 09:08:24
Thanks, Lynn, for your helpful response. His other discomfort is sciatica. Maybe that would be a good first step into TMS territory. Interesting that concentrating on sciatica helped with your swallowing problem at the same time. |
| Wodg |
Posted - 02/22/2012 : 22:29:14
I used to overly focus on swallowing and used to think I swallowed so hard/loud that people would notice? |
| BecB |
Posted - 02/22/2012 : 17:45:06
I have an odd comment on this topic. When I was young, like 5 years old, I suddenly felt like I could not swallow. I didn't eat solids for probably 9 months and in that time looked horribly malnourished. My mom didn't know what to do and started buying me baby food. The doctors had no idea. I remmeber being so hungry and looking at a grilled cheese and just not being able to eat it. It went away and I don't remember how sincse it was so long ago. I have since read that is a symptom of an anxiety disorder caused gobulus, or somthing like that. It freaks me out to think I was already suffering anxiety, even at that young of an age!! Anyway, I think it is definataly anxiety/TMS related and I know it is listed under common anxiety manifestations.
Becca |
| lynnl |
Posted - 02/22/2012 : 12:39:58
Absolutely. I have those exact same symptoms. It has plagued me since I was in my late 20's. At an AF hospital, back in the '70s they ran some diagnostics, involving swallowing barium and watching my swallow mechanism in action with x-ray. No smoking gun was found and no useful results followed.
I'd go thru long periods without noticing it much, then periods when it would be a major problem.
When I made my breakthrough with the TMS sciatica in '98 or '99 (I need to pin that down so I can stop writing 98 OR 99) I noticed the swallowing problem cleared up TOTALLY. In the last 3 or 4 years, as other TMS symptoms have tried to re-emerge, so has the swallowing difficulty. When it happens, which is usually when I'm most enjoying the food, I can make the episode clear up by stopping and thinking emotional thoughts.
There's also an element of conditioning that's a factor. I noticed long ago that eating pecans, which I love, almost invariably would bring on the problem. When I mentioned this to my brother, he commented that the same thing happens to him when he eats pineapple.
Lynn
(added) I'll bet it's just a matter of description, but after re-reading your statement "...must eat very slowly, alone or in very quiet situations, to avoid food staying in his throat causing a choking sensation. ..." one further comment:
I would describe my sensation a little differently. It isn't like the food is sticking, it's more a sensation of a spasm in the esophagus. It can be extremely painful, and tends to cause a sense of panic, which only worsens the situation. I purposely tell myself reassuring thoughts, and seek a tranquil, serene mental state. |
| rbart4506 |
Posted - 02/22/2012 : 10:53:51
I think you have done what you can...
The whole basis of this is that you must believe...If you do not, there the results will not occur...
|
|
|
