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spiritcloud
USA
12 Posts |
 Posted - 06/02/2007 : 02:30:16
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Does anyone else worry that gaining more capabilty to understand and "fix" physical problems with the body, makes one more capable of causing more problems?
For example, my wife mentioned that she is afraid she is experiencing all kinds of new pain because we have been discussing Sarno's ideas about it. She has thought things(and possibly caused painful physical symptoms) that she never would have had she remained ignorant of the concept.
And before anyone gets defensive--!!!!!--I am not saying one teensy tiny bit that a single person on earth would be better off not knowing about TMS. I'm simply bringing it up for discussion. Does anyone here feel they have unintentionally caused themself an adverse affect because they know what the mind can do to the body?
(Again, I hope this isn't taken wrong. I'm a deep thinker, and I like to discuss hard issues. If this isn't the place for this kind of discussion, please let me know.) |
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Healing111
Canada
5 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2007 : 05:11:32
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I absolutely know what you are talking about and I have wondered about this myself. It seems like our thinking (incorrect thinking) about life, ourselves and others is what has landed a lot of us in this TMS situation to begin with. With the powerful effect of this thinking, it's not far-fetched to believe that hearing about new problems or issues or "diseases" could "take root" in a person and cause problems. Kind of like a "negative placebo effect".
I found that when I read Nancy Selfridge's book recently (and nothing against the book in any way), it brought to my attention other "dysfunctions" that I had never considered and I started EXPERIENCING them. I actually felt worse as I went along.
It's almost like some things can provide ready made "symptom imperative" options!
I don't know how pervasive this problem is.... I'm sure there are people who wouldn't be effected at all. But at the same time, I don't want to "risk it" and do something like read "The Big Book Of Rare Diseases" or something!
Just my thoughts.
Interesting post Spiritcloud. |
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MikeySama
Netherlands
55 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2007 : 05:56:57
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I believe Sarno made some comments on this as well. It was about current illnesses that are going around today, being used by the mind to create the symptoms.
For example in the IT world the most common physical ailments you hear about are Carpal Tunnel and RSI. The chances are then much higher of you getting one of those TMS equivalents. But many years ago when such things weren't going around no one even had any of those ailments.
I try not to pay much attention to that anymore, but yeah you do start wondering if every little thing you have or hear about is a possible TMS equivalent. |
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shawnsmith
Czech Republic
2048 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2007 : 08:30:24
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quote:
Originally posted by spiritcloud
Does anyone else worry that gaining more capabilty to understand and "fix" physical problems with the body, makes one more capable of causing more problems?
For example, my wife mentioned that she is afraid she is experiencing all kinds of new pain because we have been discussing Sarno's ideas about it.
Yes, that is why I wish people would cease discussing symptoms on this board as that is exactlty what is happening. In goining into minute details about their various pains they inadverdantly are spreading pain.
*******
Sarno-ize it!
Do you have a pain-prone personality?
http://www.bradyinstitute.com/aboutBook/painProne.asp |
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ndb
209 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2007 : 08:34:40
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Maybe all should focus more on the fact that the pain is harmless.
Best,
ndb |
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sensei adam rostocki
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2007 : 09:49:47
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This is an excellent point and one that I have made several times on the forum. Many TMS patients have a tendency of wallowing in the pain and fearing recurrences even after they are cured. It is so important to use the knowledge for a positive purpose, but not allow it to permeate into your souls and make you concerned that every pain in your life will turn out to be a major TMS related syndrome. Think of this knowledge like the force in STAR WARS. It has a good side and a dark side. You have to be a JEDI. You must see the light side and live by it. You can acknowledge the dark side exists, but can not be concerned with it and definitely not ruled by it. Sorry for the cheesy STAR WARS reference, but it just makes sense to people that way. - Sensei
CURE-BACK-PAIN(dot)ORG |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2007 : 07:04:49
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I like the Star Wars view.
Pain sometimes worsens in early phases of TMS recovery, but in the end phase it all goes away, because of the power of your mind. If the unconscious mind learns about new possible symptoms during the phase when it is trying desperately to distract you from the new thoughts, then yes, you can get new symptoms -- or even if you don't recall learning about anything. I had some shoulder pain during that period that I never had before or since. I laughed at it and continued exploring new thoughts and feelings and believing the pain was harmless. (I mean really. Shoulder pain that I'd never had before?!) After you fully believe in the diagnosis and have defeated the unconscious mind and conditioning, there is no reason to believe you will cause worse symptoms.
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Wherever you go, there you are. |
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spiritcloud
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2007 : 03:25:57
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The problem is, we are Padawan learners, if that, playing with full Jedi powers. Doesn't that make it easier to find the dark side?
I agree that constantly reading about and discussing symptoms can be dangerous.
I am seeing hypochondriacs in a whole new light. Placebos, too. I'm always reading the small print of my medication info(I know, I lead an exciting life) and seeing what percentage of people on a placebo(vs the real drug) improve. Isn't a placebo that helps a person technically just a subconscious key to tricking the mind into fixing a TMS-type problem? Tell me if I'm wrong. :)
I, for one, will henceforth try to keep my discussion of actual symptoms to a minimum here on the board. I'm more interested in discussing the concepts anyway. One thing I have learned about my mind and my capability of fixing symptoms, is that I need to know how something works from overall down to a microscopic level. |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2007 : 11:25:13
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quote:
Isn't a placebo that helps a person technically just a subconscious key to tricking the mind into fixing a TMS-type problem?
I, for one, will henceforth try to keep my discussion of actual symptoms to a minimum here on the board.
Good for you on the latter!
On the former, the placebo effect is a mind-body effect, but not on TMS necessarily. The mind can also have an effect on real injuries or diseases. For example, somewhere Sarno mentions soldiers being treated for injuries that would be making a layperson scream, but they're so glad to be off the battlefield that they're flying high and doing fine with no pain medication. The mind can modulate real pain as well as TMS pain. It's also been studied that positive visualization and positive attitude are factors in disease survival. The mind and body are one thing and affect eatch other in general, not just in TMS.
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Wherever you go, there you are. |
Edited by - armchairlinguist on 06/05/2007 11:25:50 |
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stanfr
USA
268 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2007 : 16:55:20
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| I personally think the placebo effect and TMS are related in some way (not sure how), but also believe that the effect can influence the body in a real way, unlike the traditional/skeptical view of placebo which states that placebo only affects subjective things like the feeling of pain or other subjective symptoms. It's mindbody, i believe. IMHO it is a mistake for Sarno to dismiss placebo and talk about the distinction as "blind faith" vs an "understanding". Strong belief, and auto-suggestion can influence the body! When i researched all the various 'alternative' Cancer 'cures' a few years back, it struck me that the common theme of all the survivors who were promoting (what i see to be) placebo cures all shared the common trait of empowering themselves and thinking positively. I am not saying the TMS cure is placebo, just that it is also mindbody. I think you can be fully aware of a placebo being a placebo (NOT blind faith), and still use it to your advantage (similarly to the guided-imagery technique) because it is mindbody. |
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The Double-Edged Sword of Knowledge?
