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coldlizard
8 Posts |
 Posted - 10/04/2007 : 10:52:07
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Does anyone else find that telling yourself that you really want to feel your symptoms elicits some sort of beneficial effect?
I first noticed this with tinnitus (see post on Painful Hearing), and trying to listen to it like it was a beautiful concert, but I've come to notice that it works with other things: tense muscles, RSI, etc.
I guess it's really a variant on forcing yourself to believe that your body is not damaged in anyway, but I find it really quite effective. Basically, instead of thinking 'this symptom isn't bad', think 'this symptom is really good'. If I really try to imagine the nice feeling of the pain (?!) then I can feel the surrounding muscles relax, joints click, etc, and just feel better all-round. Literally within a couple of seconds :)
Anyone else get this?
Ed |
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basil
52 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2007 : 06:08:58
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I haven't posted in a while but I kind of get what you are saying. I thought instead of fearing the pain coming back or progressively getting worse why not try and imagine wanting the pain to be there. I imagined it been more of a a tickle (I know that sounds hard) but it kind of works.
Hope you have success with this technique Coldlizard. |
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Hilary
United Kingdom
191 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2007 : 15:43:37
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YES.
I think this can work very well in certain circumstances.
I also use it for depression and anxiety. It can work very well and I think fits in well with Sarno's teachings, i.e. don't resist the emotion, try to feel the feeling.
I'm reading a book called "Start where you are" by Pema Chodron which is about Buddhist meditation - but it's not what you'd think. She advocates breathing in the pain / emotion - fully experiencing what it feels like (anger, fear, humiliation, etc). What's interesting is that when I let myself feel the feeling as best I can it's less scary and overwhelming that the anticipation of feeling it - if that makes sense.
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Stryder
686 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2007 : 20:51:38
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Hey CL,
Yes, I have done this before. In fact, this is how I started my journey down the road to recovery.
Not only did I want to feel my symptoms, I demanded it! I would scream (silently) at the top of my lungs (silently) for the pain to "Hurt me, hurt me more, I'm yours, hurt me again, go ahead, hurt me! Is that all you've got? Go on hurt me harder !!!! ^%^&&&$#$#&(*GJH&*^ <curse like a sailor>...", you get the idea.
I reached this point by deciding that I was no longer going to fight the pain. I accepted it, embraced it, and wanted it (the pain) to continue. They key concept here is to stop fighting the pain. If you fight the pain your brain will fight back as a distraction. If you stop fighting the pain, you can make it your ally and you have stripped the brain of its most powerful weapon, fear.
So, do not fear the pain, stop fighting the pain.
NO FEAR! SARNO ROCKS !!
Take care, -Stryder |
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Tricking yourself to want your symptoms
