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Kristin
98 Posts |
 Posted - 03/12/2006 : 13:25:13
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In the Pacific Northwest Spring has arrived early and about a month ago I started to feel the familiar symptoms; sore,runny nose, pressure headache, fatigue, and sneezing. I know people have had success treating allergies as TMS including Dr. Sarno.
I'm guessing I'm conditioned to expect this in the spring but I also expect that my understanding in TMS will help me overcome this problem. Reading the books has helped me with many other issues although I have not had to overcome the mental obstacles resulting in extreme symptoms that many on this website have had to deal with. I instantly recognized myself as a TMS personality.
I also fear that I'm suspicious ever so slightly that it is TMS. If spring and summer pollens bother me, then why don't indoor dusts and cat dander affect me? My car is sometimes coated with the stuff, so I know I'm breathing it. I would just like to have more control over my body's response to it. Usually I resort to Allegra which works with almost no side affects.
I tend to get agitated in the spring. I am trying to catalogue the different things that may be bothering me but for some reason am not dealing with consciously. It seems like a good time to start journaling. If anyone has insights into successfully dealing with allergies, I would love to hear about them.
I'm having a slight deja vu. I apologize if I posted this last year. |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2006 : 08:51:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Kristin
If spring and summer pollens bother me, then why don't indoor dusts and cat dander affect me?
Questions like this are counterproductive.
Nobody knows the exact mechanism of TMS. It affects different people in different ways.
Hypothetically speaking, a seasonal allergy is a more successful target for TMS. The best symptoms are those that we expect to happen. We expect to get lower back pain when we sit; we expect to get knee pain when we run; we expect to have joint pain when it is humid outside; we expect to have allergy symptoms when exposed to pollen.
Of course it could be a partially random process as well. Perhaps your immune system is somewhat sensitive to pollen, and TMS intensifies the reaction just a bit more, in order to produce symptoms that will successfully grab your attention.
All we have are theories; I doubt we'll know the true details of how TMS works in our lifetime. Luckily, we don't need to know in order to get better.
If an Allegra helps your symptoms, take it. There is no reason to suffer, and no need to conquer every single symptom. |
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Kristin
98 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2006 : 17:25:47
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Thanks for your response. In thinking about it my real question is "Can seasonal allergies be TMS?" I'm thinking it's fairly complicated and puzzling like you suggest.
My question about dust was actually rhetorical in a twisted kind of way. I have not always been allergic to pollen and am not allergic to all pollens. The only reaction I got in an allergy test was to grass and it's too early for that. I know there is some difference to the hystamine response and the body reacting to a irritant and a foreign body. I am unsure if my body's response is to the fact that there's a bunch of microscopic entities invading it or if my immune system is really kicking in. What ever the cause the result is not fun and my prescription for allegra is in the works.
So I'm guessing by your answer that you might think allergies could be partly actual physical causes which can play into the scheme of TMS. It seems to me it would be hard to combat this using tms theory wondering exactly how much is actually TMS. I guess it's up to me to figure out what part of this is treatable through Dr. Sarno's method.
I know there are expectations that symptoms will arise in spring but I honestly have told myself that if this is TMS there's no reason to have this reaction. I lent my books to a young co-worker. It's time to get them back.
The whole syndrome puts a damper on my energy and activities. I think I need to look at all of that. Yesterday was beautiful and my pounding head kept me from taking a planned bike ride. If Allegra takes care of all the symptoms is it still TMS. Also it seems that headaches and head pain is hard to get past. It is literally "in my head".
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Edited by - Kristin on 03/13/2006 17:27:48 |
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Scottydog
United Kingdom
330 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2006 : 07:21:15
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Is it a seasonal allergy or is it TMS cos you're stuck in the darn stuffy office when there is blue sky, warm sunshine, spring flowers etc etc and you can't get out to enjoy it?
Anne |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2006 : 08:12:28
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I have always had a ragweed allergy. The last few seasons I have not had any symptoms.
But if my eyes start to itch, I'll take an antihistimine  |
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yowire
USA
70 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2006 : 08:38:32
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Hi Kristin,
I get the seasonal stuff every spring. It lasts for anywhere from 2 to 4 months. Every spring except last year which was a few months after reading Dr. Sarno's Mindbody Prescription and starting the work.
I don't think this is a coincidence.
Yowire |
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altherunner
Canada
511 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2006 : 21:06:45
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| I also lost my seasonal allergies when my back pain went away. I purchased Monte Heuftle's cd on allegy disorders, and gave it to a couple of people at work, to see if it helps them. I will post any results. |
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imdplum
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2006 : 01:10:27
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I would say that seasonal allergies could most definitely be TMS, because they are a response of the immune system.
Then again, maybe sometimes and allergy is just an allergy. ;-)
My guess is -- most often, not, but if it's the only thing and easily managed...one can pick ones battles. I prefer to get rid of my allergies because I don't like the side effects of the pills or their long term use. I'm one of those people who only recently hit the back pain/sciatica that caused me to find out about TMS, but I have a lifelong history of tension headaches and 20+ years of gastritis, acne, allergies, tendonitis, and "overuse injuries." Classic. It only took me a moment to figure out I fit the profile very well. So I believe my allergies are TMS. I'm hoping they'll resolve as I resolve other symptoms, now that I'm on to their game.
Chris |
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Monte
USA
125 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2006 : 11:56:05
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tms or not it is an autonomic immune system response that can be re-programmed.
Allergies are a dynamic hypersensitivity against a normal substance that really has
no threat to your health. They are a misdirected, or a misplaced response of your
immune system which is acting as if this normal harmless substance were some
dangerous foreign invader. Interestingly Allergic responses are also Learned
responses. Learned responses that can be Un-Learned.
one thing is for sure...constantly wondering and diagnosing this and that and is it or is it not tms keeps it working in your life.
http://www.runningpain.com/allergyrelief.html
Monte Hueftle |
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Kristin
98 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2006 : 17:31:01
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Thanks for the continued responses. My allergies have definately become less severe and less prolonged after first reading HBP about 4 years ago. The whole "allergy" things has often turned into a downward spiral for me and come to think of it, spring is often the time when I have gotten a kink in my neck. Spring seems to bring up memories of lots of emotional baggage.
I'm going to jump in and accept it as TMS. Is it possible that clinging to the idea of being super-sensitive helps TMS get hold? This is an idea supported by both others and myself. I know there are many self-perceptions that aggravate and add to TMS. To be able to let go of defeating self image seems to have positive effects beyond ridding the body of painful and aggravating symptoms! |
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altherunner
Canada
511 Posts |
Posted - 03/17/2006 : 10:53:47
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Monte - I had a few questions regarding your self hypnosis cds.
Do they work if you fall asleep listening to it? I have been listening to the peak performance one at night, and I usually conk out. 2nd- could the allergy cd work for my friend if he doesn't really buy into the concept fully? 3rd-are the cds a short cut for people that just won't read a book? I have been telling everyone at work about Sarno, and tms, but only a few will read his books, or watch his tape. Any feedback appreciated. |
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Seasonal Allergies
