Lately I would say I feel 90 to 95% better however as with most people dealing with TMS there are relaspes. I think its at these times that we are challenged as to our belief in TMS. When things are going well its easy to believe.
Today I took my son to a basketball camp and stuck aroung to watch. Memories came flooding back. Several years ago I used to coach basketball and just by watching my son I experienced alot of pain in my feet. Basically just sitting there. The whole experience has really taken me down and I'm having a difficult time picking myself up. On one hand I know its pschosomatic but on the other hand I'm pissed because even though knowing its TMS I'm still experincing pain. I'm a patient person however my patience gets testing because I came to accept TMS about ten months ago and I still go through periods of pain and feeling very down. Enough is enough! I wish this was over with so I could go back to coaching or doing the activities I used to enjoy. I guess I should be pleased with a 90% reduction in pain but I'm still feeling incomplete. I wonder what areas or thoughts I should zero in on. From reading past posts I know my experience is pretty universal among people trying to deal with chronic pain and TMS. Any thoughts wouldd be appreciated.
The trick - laugh at the pain - don't take it so seriously - that feeds into it. It is absolutely ridiculous that your brain could create pain in the feet. Tell your brain - it is absolutely mad and challenge it to give you more pain. That is what I say to myself - go on - increase the pain - because I don't care.
The pain perpetuates when we are scared of it and irritated. It is still serving as a distraction. Ignore it and switch your thoughts to something else
Suz is absolutely right, and for more on how this works, see VE Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning. This is known as the paradoxical intention. You will your thoughts to want what you are so deathly afraid of and it diffuses the concern. As with all books, there are stories of instant "cures'" but reality is that we have to be conscious and in control of our thoughts first in order to employ this and other techniques. If you Google it you will find some basic stuff out there.
Funny that Sarno does not mention Frankl's work at all, to my knowledge, yet he clearly states that one of Frankl's fundamental tenants is at the heart of anxiety/phobia/TMS recovery without affirmation.
Thanks! Your both right I get very scared. When I think of the pain and how scared I get its way out of portion. Its just a very annoying type of pain. By the way I did read "in search of meaning" about twenty years ago. It might be worth a re-read.
Pep talk
Posted - 07/17/2006 : 15:09:15
