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LuvtoSew
USA
327 Posts |
 Posted - 05/17/2007 : 14:10:33
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from the library today. Glanced through most of it. Really the same as Sarno's, just calls the condition by a different name- ASO. Stess, repressed emotions cause muscle tension , which leads to pain.
I kinda like that he was in chronic pain and I can relate to that.
I also have a couple other books from Amazon coming. It is really my only answer since I will never go under the knife for my back, as I am almost postitive I would be one to have the failed back sx since I would worry about it too much.
A older woman I know had back sx a couple years ago and again a few months ago, the poor lady and the stress and pain she has undergone having these two surgeries.
He does have a minor spiritual belief system mentioned in his book but that is fine with me as I have gone through bible study this winter and I say my prayers at night and talk to the Good Lord often- the main thing that keeps me sane. But I would not disregard this book is your not spiritual as theres not that much emphasis on it.
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skizzik
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2007 : 18:46:19
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I just got it from the library too. I'm halfway thru it. So far the major difference is Brady seems to emphasize that the physical symptoms are from a "dangerous overflow" of repressed stress/anger etc... that manifest as symptoms unless you pull them out mentally and neutralize them.
Sarno seems to go more w/ the "distraction" route. That the body thinks it's doing you a favor so you don't have to deal w/ the repressed emotions.
Either way it's mind/body...great read so far. |
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Healing111
Canada
5 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2007 : 21:06:18
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I recently read Pain Free For Life also. I thought it was excellent. I've read all of Dr. Sarno's books as well as Freedom From Fibromyalgia.
It was interesting to me that I started feeling better (I've had severe Fibro/CFS for 13 years and have just about every symptom you could imagine!) by just reading Pain Free for Life. While I was reading it, I felt more hopeful and slightly better physically than I have in a long time.
Then.... right after that, I ordered and read Freedom From Fibromyalgia and I started feeling WORSE just from reading it (I haven't done any of the exercises in either book yet). Nothing against Dr. Selfridge, but I felt her book was kind of "scattered" and actually "scary" in places. I felt WORSE about my chances of getting better after reading that book than I did before. There are too many references to things like "Dr. Sarno says that Fibro is hard to treat" and "Dr. Sarno says most of his Fibro patients need to seek psychotherapy" and "Fibro is like TMS with every single symptom at the same time" and "Fibro treatment often takes much longer to treat than regular pain syndromes". (These are not direct quotes, I don't mean to mis-quote Ms. Selfridge..... they are paraphrased.... but that is the defiinite feeling I got from the book).
Anyway, my vote is for Pain Free For Life. My favorite of the mind/body books that I've read by FAR! It does have a "spiritual aspect" to it, but it's easy to ignore those parts and still really benefit from the book. I have a long history of reading/studying Eckhart Tolle and A Course In Miracles, so the spiritual aspect was fine with me.
Has anyone tried Dr. Schechter's "Workbook"? Is it worth trying?
I've been reading this forum for quite awhile, and I've gotten a lot out of it, but this is my first post.... so "Hi Everyone". (smile) |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2007 : 22:44:36
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Thanks for the reviews kids, very interesting! Brady's book is next up on my TMS book list, after I finish Dr. Sopher's book. Interesting that Dr. Selfridge makes the TMS "cure" sound more difficult than the Good Doctor.
Dr. Sarno has stated that only a minority will need psycho-therapy. Interesting that Selfridge misstates that. That's probably where that misconception arises from on this board. May have to do with fibro/TMS being a more extreme version.
Having gone through a significant depression, that could have as well been dx'ed as fibro or cfs, I feel they can be conquered quickly once TMS "penicilin" knowledge is injected. One just needs to take that first step of returning to normal activity and building one's confidence back.
Some of my favorite excerpts from " THE DIVIDED MIND " :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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LuvtoSew
USA
327 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 05:26:12
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Healing 111
I was going to get the fibro book too, but decided against it. Welcome aboard, I'm new here too.
Dr. Brady's book has a lot about journaling in it which I find helpful. I am going to start journaling as I have a lot of pent
up feelings. In his book I kinda realized I fit the pattern of
the good little christian (catholic girl) turn the other cheek type.
He also tells you to talk to your mind, outloud is fine.
Really I think the fear of moving is one of my biggest problems.
I did find someone in my area that has like a movement class which I plan on checking into in a few months. I have quit wearing my back brace now that I realize its impeding my circulation to the back even more and its a brace, a reminder to me that my back hurts. I also quit my baclofen (ms drug for muscle spasms) as they made my legs so weak, and I think made me walk more funny. Oh just all the little things.
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shawnsmith
Czech Republic
2048 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 06:55:30
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Actually, Dr. Selfridge is reluctant to recommend pyscho-therapy at all.
*************
Sarno-ize it!
************* |
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Healing111
Canada
5 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 14:54:24
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LuvtoSew,
I wanted to clarify (for you and anyone else). I sure didn't mean to "trash" Dr. Selfridge's book! I'm sure her intentions are great and she's helped a lot of people. And the two books (Pain Free for Life and Freedom from Fibromyalgia) cover basically the same ground (they both talk about journaling and talking back to your mind/subconscious, etc.). I just thought that the "tone" of Pain Free was so much more positive and, at least for me, it was so much clearer and easier to read than Freedom was.
I was actually EXPECTING Freedom From Fibromyalgia to be a better book for me (because I have WAY more of those types of symptoms than the classic back pain ones), but I realized (as others here have said) that it's sometimes not helpful to worry about the "name" of what you are dealing with. So, since the material is so similar, I just thought I might as well follow the program of the one that made me feel so much more hopeful and positive.
And Shawnsmith is right. I didn't mean to imply that Dr. Selfridge recommends psychotherapy. She very RARELY does. I was just referring to the references she made to some things Dr. Sarno had said. Believe me, I think Dr. Sarno is a genius and I thank God every day for him, but I have to say that I've found it very hard to read his books without feeling less hopeful about a person's prognosis using his ideas if they have Fibro or CFS instead of back pain. But maybe that is just me.
I've also started journaling and it's AMAZING how much stuff comes pouring out. For me, so far, I haven't found it difficult to get at the emotions!! I start out with something fairly "light" and in a few minutes I'm either incredibly angry or sad or crying or something! It's been very enlightening to me so far.
Sounds like you are taking some big steps to me LuvtoSew.... not little things at all. Good for you! I wish you all the luck in the world! |
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LuvtoSew
USA
327 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 06:47:57
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Healing111,
Oh I didn't think your were trashing Freedom From Fibromyalgia , I just didn't get it as I don't think I have fibro and I didn't want to get confused with reading too many different books.
I also like Freedom from Pain better.
I have begun journaling this am, and wrote 3 pages , like you said it is amazing how much stuff comes out and things that you really don't want to admit too but it comes out, I started with my past- growning up years and high school and that. Some of the stuff I wrote I would never tell anyone or do I think I've ever really admitted it to myself how much anger and resentment I have towards some people that I do love but still. It does help to write it down, although I plan to really hide my journal.
I have done what he suggested in the Pain free for Life Book, divided all my journaling up into different sections and will write everyday.
I told my husband about all this last night, and he is just the opposite of me, he doesn't worry and and is a type D person, if there is that type, whereas I'm a type A- wired, and his pains never last for more than a few weeks. I went throught my personality traits and he said yep thats you and he agrees I worry way too much. |
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Curiosity18
USA
141 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 15:18:12
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Healing111 and LuvtoSew,
I also want to chime in about book comparisons. I think out of the whole lot of them, Brady, Sopher and Sarno's (TDM) are the most helpful. I also found Selfridge's book, especially the exercises hard to follow (I thought it was just me)! Makes me wonder how someone with severe "fibrofog" is able to wade through it. I think she does a good job, however at "normalizing" fibromyalgia as a mind-body issue. As far as Schecter's workbook, I think that if you're having some success with Brady's book, Schecter's workbook isn't necessary because it's more basic. I also spoken to Sopher and found him to be very encouraging, positive and down-to-earth.
All the best,
Curiosity
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ralphyde
USA
307 Posts |
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shawnsmith
Czech Republic
2048 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2007 : 19:56:52
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I disagree with Dr. Brady that the unconscious emotions become conscious. Not so.....Furthermore, too much religion in his practice. Not all of us are Christians, nor do I ever plan on becoming one no matter how much pain I have. He recommends surgery for spinal stenosis as opposed to Dr. Sarno who says its TMS.
*******
Sarno-ize it!
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Edited by - shawnsmith on 05/20/2007 20:08:39 |
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weatherman
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2007 : 21:04:01
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I think the merits of the different books just depend on which ones resonate with how you already think about things. Nothing wrong with that, everyone has their own style.
I've read most of them (except the Selfridge book) and found them all worthwhile, but a few connect with me more than others. And, lots of it has to do with which TMS thing you're dealing with - some books focus on back issues way more than others.
Weatherman
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momtoone
18 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2007 : 12:24:05
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| Healing111 --- I totally agree with you about Dr. Selfridge's book. I honestly lost some hope after I read the book and she talked about how difficult the fibro was to treat. I have not read Brady's book yet but I am going to get it. I had an improvement with Sarno's book initially but I got worse than before I started after a while. My TMS doc says this is o.k and the process is working. Let's hope!! |
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LuvtoSew
USA
327 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2007 : 12:46:55
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Shawsmith- I agree with you if your not a spiritual person Dr. Brady's book may not be for you, but I related well to it since I
am Catholic and fit the perfect mold of needing to be good, caring, giving, and of course the guilt complex if I'm not. Maybe I need to let my true emotions out more and go to confession more!!!!! ha ha.
ralphyde- Thanks for the link to the video, even Dr. Brady talked about the christian quilt trip. |
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Just got Pain Free for Life
