TMSHelp Forum - My How Things Have Changed

TMSHelp Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

TMSHelp

TMSHelp General Forum

My How Things Have Changed

New Topic

Reply to Topic

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

GeeWhiz

USA
8 Posts

Posted - 07/12/2004 : 11:21:19

Wow, it's been awhile since I have visited here and was I ever surprised to see the new setup!

I did get the layoff I wanted. Hooray!!! I have moved to my retirement home in North Central Washington. It gets really hot here and windy. I am really close to the Columbia River in a town of less than 1,000 folks. I love it, and the energy here is very peaceful and relaxing.

It took me a while to remember Marc Sopher's name so I could find this forum.

I have made some associations with my TMS since I last posted here. I have discovered that my sciatic pain is triggered by visits from my kids (I love them but for some reason they stress me), also if I go to spend money unnecessarily or in large amounts.

I get a sharp low back pain in the pelvis area at unexpected times. A few days ago I was out in my front yard and a neighbor from across the street came over to say hi and how ya doin'. We have talked before so she wasn't a stranger. She is a very nice young mother. Right after she came over the pain started. When I came in the house I said to myself, "hummm, this pain is from the visit of Brigitte" and it stopped immediately.

Also, my next door neighbors who are wonderful and I like them very much, I get sciatic pain many times when I am associating with them.

So, now that I know all this, why does the pain continue to happen????????

Also, my sister (8 years younger) was suffering mightly from pain which started in her hip then began in her neck shoulders and arms. At first her doctor told her to stop taking Lipitor. Then he talked to another doctor who said it is Polymyaliga Rheumatica. She was prescribed with prednizone and is finally pain free. I loaned her my book but she wouldn't read it.

Any ideas about her condition being TMS?

Dave

USA
1864 Posts

Posted - 07/12/2004 : 11:43:35

quote:
So, now that I know all this, why does the pain continue to happen????????

In my experience you cannot expect to be completely pain free. The fact that you were able to short-circuit the pain by connecting it to an emotional source is tremendous. You can be hopeful that the pain episodes will cease completely, but don't be discouraged if it takes awhile.

One thing you might try is to be introspective about the feelings that occur during these episodes. Visits from the kids and interactions with your neighbors are triggering psychological defenses (i.e. TMS). What is the defense protecting you from? One possibility is that the image you feel you are projecting to your kids (or your neighbors) might somehow be deficient. Maybe you can't truly "be yourself" without some level of harsh self-judgement going on. This is just a possible example of something that might be going on under the surface that you're not truly aware of.

quote:
Also, my sister (8 years younger) was suffering mightly from pain which started in her hip then began in her neck shoulders and arms. ... Any ideas about her condition being TMS?

I would say that it is likely. You will know for sure if the placebo cure offered by the steroids is temporary, and her pain returns.

GeeWhiz

USA
8 Posts

Posted - 07/12/2004 : 13:16:48

Thanks Dave. Tears are stinging at my eyes. I am very insecure and have this internal feeling that if people really know me they probably wouldn't like me. Yet, I generally hide it quite well because I am well liked by people. I was a favorite at my job. My daughter tells me that people like me. However, I do think I have this anxiety going on that people will expect more of me than I am willing to give, and I am a wimp and sometimes struggle to say no. I am much better now though but maybe deep inside I don't quite believe I am capable of saying no. Probably because I still do things for people that I don't want to do. I also am quick to make offers that I later find I can't actually do. Then I feel like a guilty loser, etc, etc, etc.

There was a time several years ago when I was taking 10 ibuprophen at a time and was still in pain. Sometime after that I figured out on my own that I was using pain to get attention. There was a dramatic decrease in pain after that. It was just about a year or so ago that I stumbled on Dr. Sarno.

I have to smile at myself because shortly after I made my previous post I started a few new pains. Like...will I be accepted to the forum now that I had to register and identify myself. This is so funny when one begins to see almost immediately a connection!!!!!!!1

Dave

USA
1864 Posts

Posted - 07/12/2004 : 14:14:03

What you describe is typical goodism and perfectionism. It puts so much internal pressure on yourself to always have to be perfect and good, or more appropriately, to always appear to be perfect and good because deep down you do not feel that way.

It's a tough habit to break, but just keep at it as best as you can. Try to realize that when you think about how someone else might feel about you, it is a defense against your own low self-esteem. Slowly but surely, recondition yourself to be a human being, not a superhero.

GeeWhiz

USA
8 Posts

Posted - 07/12/2004 : 20:02:21

Thanks again Dave,

I need to be reminded every once in a while.

Carol