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lobstershack
Australia
250 Posts |
 Posted - 02/06/2006 : 18:39:55
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Since I started buckling down and truly applying the TMS principles I have come to some realizations:
Firstly--and this shouldn't come as a surprise to most who participate on this board--but the TMS work is not easy! I discovered that in the past, even after seeing Sarno, that I was not even remotely implementing the appropriate tactics. Case in point, during the day when my mind begins to focus on a particular symptom. In the past, I might have half-heartedly tried to change the trajectory of my thinking, but mostly I would revert to obsessing. But now, I realize that I have to put up a fight! And I'm really trying hard throughout the day to tell my mind who's boss.
I've also started listening to Dr. Schechter's CDs again. Before I begin I tell my unconscious, "You're going to absorb this material like a sponge whether you like it or not," and I try my hardest to pay close attention. A few things both Dr. Schechter and Don Dubin said resonated with me:
The notion that the number or intensity of a person's particular symtoms does not necessarily correlate to the severity of their TMS. In other words, just because one person may suffer from pain in multiple locations does not mean they have TMS any worse than the individual with, say, mild back pain. TMS is TMS.
Along similar lines, the fact that TMS is not a deeply rooted psychological problem. I tended to think quite the opposite, that I was suffering from, at one level or another, serious psychological issues. But it is perfectly normal for ours minds to react this way. A comforting thought.
That I need not be so rigid in the way I follow the TMS treatment. If thinking about my problems for 15 minutes every night instead of journaling them works better for me, that is completly ok.
What else, what else? Just really honing in on all the fears that are going on inside of me, and becoming cognizant of the fact that anytime I sense a particular fear, it is something that should be looked into. For instance, I have a terrible fear that I will never be able to enter into a healthy relationship due to my lack of sex drive which stems from all these years of pain and symptoms. But as Dave pointed out, this fear is TMS! I never ever would have thought of it in this regard had it not been pointed out to me.
I had a tendency to convince myself that particular events had to transpire in order for me to get better. For example, I must have sex because the repression of my sexuality is such a big issue for me, or I must move out of my house, or I must talk to my father every day, or I must cry a cathartic river. Yes, in time these things will come to pass, but forcing them with the idea that doing so will speed up my TMS healing is unfounded. I used to put such pressure on myself to try and get these things, any many others done as soon as possible for fear that if I didn't, I would never get better. Is this line of thinking correct?
You know, I did have one question, one which I forgot to ask Sarno during our consultation together. Basically if you are not able to discuss every single symptom that you have or have had during the consultation, but are diagnosed with TMS nonetheless, it's perfectly acceptible to treat everything, your whole constallation of symptoms, as TMS, right? I understand that anything out of the ordinary and alarming that might arise after the consultation should be checked out.
That's all I can think of for now. I thank you all for your insights and support!
: ]
Seth |
Edited by - lobstershack on 02/07/2006 07:12:09 |
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yowire
USA
70 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2006 : 20:55:33
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quote:
I have a terrible fear that I will never be able to enter into a healthy relationship due to my lack of sex drive which stems from all these years of pain and symptoms.
Hi Seth,
I think you're making a mistake by insisting that your reduced sex drive is caused by your other TMS symptoms. If you believe this, you are almost insuring that your sex drive will remain low until all your other symptoms clear up. On the other hand, if you treat the low sex drive as a TMS symptom, it may be the first symptom to resolve, especially considering your age.
You've raised this issue several times now, so it is clear you are very distracted and fearful of the low sex drive. That sounds like a TMS symptom to me. I have treated my own low sex drive as TMS and have seen clear improvement. There is no question that it can be a TMS equivalent that is independent of other symptoms.
quote:
Basically if you are not able to discuss every single symptom that you have or have had during the consultation, but are diagnosed with TMS nonetheless, it's perfectly acceptible to treat everything, your whole constallation of symptoms, as TMS, right?
Yes, if I were you, I would treat all of them as TMS.
Yowire |
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lobstershack
Australia
250 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2006 : 05:11:59
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Yowire,
You make an excellent point. Going forward, I am going to take your advice and stop making the correlation in my mind between the low drive and my other symptoms. Thank you!
Seth |
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Some thoughts I wanted to share
