| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
 Posted - 03/31/2007 : 09:46:40
|
Hi All,
I was wondering how much of a role others here feel that fear plays in increasing symptoms..I believe for me it is a huge factor..The last thing on the planet I want is to lose more time to the TMS pain...So when I get any twinges, right away there is a sense of minor panic that I might have hurt myself again, (for real) or that the TMS is going to grab hold of me and wreak havoc with my life again..
For me, it is borderline hypochondriasis and takes many forms..I suffer from mostly neck, knee, back TMS..but lately it has attacked my chest and stomach as well..It is amazing to me the lengths that our subconscious will go to in order to protect us from feeling what is really 'down there.' I am such an active person and not being able to play tennis yet, for example, is very upsetting..That alone contributes to more rage and it's a never ending cycle..
I have sort of been pushing through and doing my life while living with pain of various degrees on a daily basis..While I have made great improvements in the past using Sarno's techniques, I feel as if I have hit a wall in my healing from this..It could be because of all the current life stressors and pressures, I don't know...But I do know that the fear adds great anxiety to the mix...Any thoughts are welcome...Hope you all have a wonderful weekend..
God bless,
Karen |
|
|
altherunner
Canada
511 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2007 : 10:54:32
|
Hi Karen - an earlier post on fear :"The Origin of Fear", a quote from the Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle says that fear is all based on the ego's fear of death. Ego thrives on fear, anger, and being in opposition to someone, or something. Observing the ego in action in others is a bit easier than observing your own. Ego could be called a "false" self, a creation of your thoughts, and other peoples' thoughts about your life situation. Your life history, your "story", that you tell to others, and to yourself in your head, over and over.
Observing these thoughts, letting them go, or replacing them, may help to allow inner peace and quiet. Ego's constant complaining must generate stress, pain, drama, etc. consciously, and even more so unconsciously. By not feeding the ego, it may die a peaceful death. |
 |
|
|
Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2007 : 10:58:33
|
Hi Altherunner!
Thank you for this! I read his book "The Power Of Now.." Great book! I should probably re-read it! Thanks for the reminder..Interestingly, I was thinking about opening up a discussion about the fear of death..I talk about that fairly often with friends...But I was afraid to bring up such a morbid subject that many people do not like to even think about, let alone have a discussion on...That is my ultimate fear, even with my strong faith in God..
Hugs and blessings,
Karen |
|
|
|
altherunner
Canada
511 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2007 : 11:08:01
|
| Death is the opposite of birth, not life. Life is eternal. |
|
|
|
Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2007 : 11:14:46
|
Thanx Al,
That is so profound and well put...Why can't I sum things up so well like that..I get sooo wordy and detailed! That quality works well for me when I am painting but when talking or writing, it can be annoying..I was going to open up a new thread on guilt as well, but I decided to just talk about it here..
I don't want to discuss anything about that other long thread I started wherein a war of sorts ensued..But I do feel guilty and embarassed still about my part in the whole drama..I am sure there are deeper issues from childhood and my past, even present that I am masking with my preoccupation with what happened..But I just feel unresolved inside about it and what is happening is that instead of feeling excited about all the fun festivities of the day (today is Pet A Palooza, a big dog event in Vegas), I am feeling depressed and anxious..
I just had some chest pains and have been dealing with those for a couple of months..I already had a stress test and EKG w/ a cardiologist who told me my heart was fine..And i keep telling myself that Dr. Sarno said in his videotapes that TMS pain can be anywhere from "The top of our heads to the tips of our toes!" That does help me to think that the chest pain is probably also TMS stress...
I believe I even get a placebo effect when i chew up an aspirin during these episodes and the pain goes away! I just mentioned how I get too wordy and here i go again..lol..I just feel soo much welling up inside me and I don't want more of it to turn into additional aches and pains...
God bless and hugs,
Karen |
|
|
|
art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2007 : 11:17:43
|
quote:
Originally posted by altherunner
Death is the opposite of birth, not life. Life is eternal.
My opinion? Death is the opposite of anything good. Death bad. Life Good....But I don't find death all that worrisome anyway..Think of it this way...We've already had plenty of practice in the billions of years before we were born...Two unimaginably long periods of darkness separated by the briefest season of life..
That said, I like your ideas about ego Al...also the importance of narrative...A great writer whose name escapes me for the moment put it this way..."We tell ourselves stories in order to live.."
|
Edited by - art on 03/31/2007 11:27:57 |
|
|
|
altherunner
Canada
511 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2007 : 12:54:17
|
| You're right Art, life is good! And if death was staring me in the face right now, it would be bad! Good point. Ever notice how tms does pile up a big life story, about your pain, or past events? Or, does the big life story bring about the tms? Either way, ditching the story seems like a good idea. Start a new story today, Pet a Palooza day. |
|
|
|
Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2007 : 13:28:36
|
thanx Al! You are very kind! I have an ice pack on my back as we speak..The back is one of the last places the gremlin hits..It's usually neck, knee, chest..etc..I Refuse to let this TMS monster Ego stop me from taking my doggies w/ my friends to this fun event..I am leaving now..:))
I appreciate your support very much!
Hugs,
K |
|
|
|
art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2007 : 14:57:40
|
quote:
Originally posted by altherunner
You're right Art, life is good! And if death was staring me in the face right now, it would be bad! Good point. Ever notice how tms does pile up a big life story, about your pain, or past events? Or, does the big life story bring about the tms? Either way, ditching the story seems like a good idea. Start a new story today, Pet a Palooza day.
That's actually a terrifying idea when you think about it...Who am I without some sort of narrative to swim around in, like some warm and comforting ocean?
My name is not Art...I was not born in Boston Massachusetts in 1951. I never had a dog name Frank. I'm not Jewish. I never went to college. I did not become an alcoholic....That a big one for me. Where would I be without that story, my own personal tale of pain and loss, of overcoming and redemption, the thing that's shaped my idea of myself for the last twenty years or so?
I think I'll go sit in a chair now and have a panic attack... |
Edited by - art on 03/31/2007 14:59:53 |
|
|
|
Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2007 : 18:59:18
|
Hi Al,
Just returned from Pet A Palooza, it was amazing! I took a million pics! We donated to wonderful rescue causes, we pet miniature horses, saw tons of fellow basset hounds, it was just a blast! The dogs are so tired, lol..but they had a great time too! Hope everyone's weekend is going good!
As for one's story, i can relate..We all seem to want to hold onto our stories..Sometimes the pain parts are almost even more alluring in a sort of warped way..I would like to live even more in the Now and look forward to better days ahead..When i think of it, it's more 'dying' that scares me then death itself..My faith in God/Jesus makes me less afraid of where I will go after I die..And I have so many loved ones on the other side, we will surely have a huge party..Although, I actually put in a request to be accepted into Dog Heaven!! :))
Take care,
Karen |
|
|
|
art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2007 : 06:38:43
|
quote:
When i think of it, it's more 'dying' that scares me then death itself..My faith in God/Jesus makes me less afraid of where I will go after I die..And I have so many loved ones on the other side, we will surely have a huge party.
I've read that 84 percent of the American people believe in survival of the soul after death...82 percent believe in heaven...
69 percent believe in hell and 68 percent believe in the devil...
52 percent believe in ghosts..
Why do I find that utterly depressing?
Is it possible to ask that question without pissing people off? And if one does get pissed off, what might be the underlying reason? Seems to me that a belief is simply a belief, existing outside the realm of ego and emotion...It just is...Or just should be, should it not?
|
Edited by - art on 04/01/2007 06:53:57 |
|
|
|
Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2007 : 08:18:08
|
Hi Art,
We seem to still be a little mad at each other because we aren't addressing each other directly...:) I can handle that and it's sure a step up from the awful arguing previously..Although I was very defensive, I honestly still believe that I had some good reasons to feel what I did...But please let's not go there again..I am only saying this to try to stop yet another potential long winded debate about a topic unrelated to TMS...My original post on here, just like the other one, did have TMS as a big part of it's content and I want to keep it that way...Please don't divert it into something else..
I think that you know you could be potentially opening yet another can of worms here by your last reply..Alexis even added, in a recent thread about Scott Brady, a link to a previous thread with a religious debate to forstall another one, and waste valuable forum time...
You know that you and I couldn't be more at the opposite end of the spectrum in regards to the topic of God, Heaven, etc...So why even go here and bait everyone to chime in? There are Christians and there are non-Christians on here, there is even a half Jewish person (namely me) who believes in Jesus as Savior...In other words, there is soooo much diversity that opening up such a discussion could get ugly and you must know that...I am trying to learn from my mistake of talking about unrelated topics on here and not respond to your question...I hope you do the same..
Take care,
Karen |
|
|
|
art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2007 : 08:52:39
|
I'm asking this not in terms of religion per se, or to challenge anyone's particular beliefs, but to discuss belief in general..That is, faith in things without supporting evidence.
Personally, I rank the belief in the devil on precisely the same level as believing in ghosts, so again, this is not about religion, or at least only about religion...
My other question was, for those who feel themselves taking umbrage, directed at the source of that anger...Where does it come from?
That said, you're probably right...I could go back and delete the message, but that strikes me as cowardly...If people want to respond, they should have the opportunity...
I just get depressed by the whole "belief" thing..it actually frightens me a bit...How much of the worlds troubles are "faith-based?" The are millions of people around the world who believe that Jews are behind the 9/11 attacks for example....Thse beliefs are not susceptible to change, because they exist in a realm that has nothing to do with evidence..
George Bush believes he has God on his side...So do the terrorists...As far as I'm concerned, there's not all that much distance between the two..
|
Edited by - art on 04/01/2007 10:30:30 |
|
|
|
tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2007 : 10:13:43
|
quote:
Originally posted by art
Is it possible to ask that question without pissing people off? And if one does get pissed off, what might be the underlying reason? Seems to me that a belief is simply a belief, existing outside the realm of ego and emotion...It just is...Or just should be, should it not?
Hi Karen, I read Art's post and didn't feel it was directed at you or anyone else. He was just tossing a thought out there. Don't take it personally!
My thought on the subject is that there are no atheists in the foxholes. Regarding TMS and belief, faith, spirituality or however one wishes (or not wishes) to refer to a life-force outside of themselves, Dr. Sarno mentions a doctor with back-pain that journied into the jungle, seeking out a voo-doo doctor for a "cure". In an all night ceremony culminating with the head of a chicken being cut off, the doctor was "cured" of his back-pain. This was obviouly a placebo cure and his TMS may return, but "what-ever works". Our species was given a spot in our mindbody, some may dare call it our souls, to dwell on such thoughts and feelings and I for one do not have the hubris to challenge it.
In corollary to Art's question, is it possible to answer that question without pissing someone off?
some of my favorite excerpts from 'TDM' : http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
|
|
|
|
Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2007 : 11:22:46
|
Hi Tom and Art,
I just came from Palm Sunday Mass and it was beautiful and inspiring...I feel peaceful today and that doesn't happen alot these days...I have my unique views on religion, politics and the like...but I am avoiding talking about this subject because I still think that it could trigger a war of sorts and, quite frankly, I am still recovering from the other one...
My dear mom, God rest her soul, always told me never to discuss religion or politics..(I might add, especially on TMS forums, lol)...Trust me, I am not your typical Christian by any stretch...I am very open and I have no problem accepting others whose viewpoints are completely opposite of mine...I have just as many atheists, Buddists, agnostics, etc..as friends as I do believers...Bush, in my humble opinion, gives Christianity a bad name, I did not vote for him, needless to say...(I probably shouldn't have even said that..i don't want to offend anyone who did..)
Can we talk about what I originally intended with this post?? The role of fear in TMS? I am really struggling with that...
I hope you both have a wonderful Sunday..
Karen |
|
|
|
art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2007 : 11:31:01
|
quote:
My dear mom, God rest her soul, always told me never to discuss religion or politics
But Karen, How dull....I'd amend that to, never discuss religion with anger in your heart, or politics with a closed mind... |
|
|
|
Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2007 : 11:55:51
|
| Oops..I left a big part of it out...She said not to discuss these potentially heated topics on first dates.. And I agree with your amendment...:) |
|
|
|
art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2007 : 14:47:45
|
Oh but Karen, that's the best time, the beginning of a relationship, when evryone's still pretending to be this absurdly wonderful, patient, understanding person...."Oh my yes, that's so clever of you. I've never thought about things quite like that."
Later on, when all bets are off... that's the time to clam up.. |
|
|
|
Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2007 : 18:30:06
|
I hear ya, Art..So what do you think about the topic of fear and TMS? Sometimes I anticipate pain b4 even doing the most remedial tasks..just based on past experience..It is a visous cycle and now I feel like I have made my neck muscles weaker from being too careful...Not only that, but in general..I was wondering if anyone else on here ever battles with Hypochondriasis and if that is a TMS issue as well...
Thanx for listening,
Karen |
|
|
|
wrldtrv
666 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2007 : 23:11:07
|
As for religion, I think we're on the same wavelength, Art. That's all I want to say about it now.
Karen, I've wondered the same thing about hychondriasis, whether there is a TMS connection. I don't think Sarno mentions it. I certainly have it. |
|
|
|
tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2007 : 23:56:01
|
quote:
Originally posted by Singer_Artist
...and now I feel like I have made my neck muscles weaker from being too careful...Karen
Karen, if your neck can still hold your head up, it has not gotten too weak. Hang in there.
some of my favorite excerpts from 'TDM' : http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
|
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
the fear factor
