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Jeff
USA
68 Posts |
 Posted - 05/19/2008 : 06:57:10
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All -- I'm interested in any thoughts you would be willing to share with me about my current issues.
In the past I have suffered through various TMS symptoms, but have managed to overcome them. Most recently, I experienced lower leg and ankle pain for quite some time, but with the help of therapy the pain is gone.
I now face what I think is my next TMS symptom -- the symptom imperative at work. I have had HBP for many years, and am now just beginning to realize that it may be TMS at work. I know Sarno has written that HBP may be a TMS symptom, but it is not a classic TMS symptom because HBP does not always have physical manifestations (hence, it cannot be a distraction in those cases) and in some cases HBP can be shown to have real physical causes. Still, I think Sarno agrees that in some cases HBP can be a TMS equivalent, as I think it may be in my case. I have physical symptoms every time my blood pressure gets high (chest soreness, back pain, etc.). I've also discovered that at least part of my high blood pressure is my anxiety about having high blood pressure. If I take my blood pressure on a home monitor several times in a row, the first reading is always higher, sometimes much higher, than the second and third readings -- a sign that part of the problem is my anxiety about what the reading will be.
Lately the trigger for a sudden increase in my blood pressure seems to be consuming alcohol. For years I have worried that alcohol may be causing harm, and I think I may have transformed it into the type of "trigger" that Sarno describes in his books.
The problem with HBP, unfortunately, is that unlike other TMS symptoms I've had, which really were not harmful to me, this one certainly can be. HBP can have a host of bad consequences. In my case, medications for HBP have helped some, but lately I've had several episodes of blood pressure spikes which the meds have not been able to address. In each case, drinking some alcohol is what triggered the BP reaction.
So what do I do? If I see my internist, he'll adjust the medications, presumably making them stronger. I could completely eliminate alcohol from my diet, but would that solve anything -- wouldn't I just be engaging in an avoidance mechanism that doesn't get to the heart of what the problem is? I could see a therapist again but it is expensive. I tried journaling and things like that in the past, but they never worked very well for me.
Thanks for listening, and I appreciate your thoughts. My initial thought is to stay away from all alcohol for a while, but I'm not sure that is a long-term solution here.
Jeff
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mizlorinj
USA
490 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2008 : 09:53:25
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How about being open to Journaling working for you this time. If you believe it will help, it will.
I'd start with writing about my HBP fears. |
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1yehmon2
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2008 : 11:22:54
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| Why not buy a home BP monitor and monitor your BP everyday for a month. Especially after you have had a few drinks. Record your blood pressure everyday at different times. Just my humble opinion, but I think perhaps that you have told your mind that everytime you have a drink that your blood pressure goes up, so it does! Try telling yourself that it is going to go down. I also think that it is unlikely to be TMS, more likely to be stress or anxiety. High blood pressure usually has no definitive symptoms, so you would more than likely not be aware of it, so it would not fit the criteria of distracting you from your repressed emotions. That's why it is called the "silent killer". Most people are not aware they have it. My husband has high blood pressure, but it is controlled on meds, but even on meds, sometimes he will have a high spike, then right back to normal. Doc says to only worry if it stays high for a long period of time and doesn't come down. Hope this helps some. |
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mcone
114 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2008 : 11:31:14
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Here is some more "physical thinking" heresy on the TMS forum:
See this book about HBP:
http://www.amazon.com/High-Blood-Pressure-Solution-Scientifically/dp/0892819758/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211214526&sr=1-1
I have some BP spiking when anxious - even though my BP when calm is relatively normal - but I did experience generally lowering BP and perhaps less spiking during months that I followed the advice in this book - and I'm recently getting focused on this again.
The main cause of HBP for most people (according to this convincing book) is a "modern" diet with 3 to 5 gram of sodium per day and at best, the same amount of potassium, a 1:1 ratio - which disturbs the sodium/potassium balance - a healthier ratio might be 3:1 (let's say 4.5 grams of potassium and 1.5 grams of sodium).
This book suggests that stress/anxiety allows HBP to spike when this balance is upset OR that stress/anxiety rapidly depletes other control minerals (especially MAGNESIUM) that cause BP spiking and even heart arryhthmias. His other two MOST important factors are keeping weight normal and exercise.
The solution isn't complicated but it requires some regular discipline. Keep sodium intake as low as possible and emphasize high potassium foods - eat those bananas and potatoes - Also, a *high quality* magnesium supplement may be just as critical (see here:
http://www.amazon.com/Magnesium-Solution-High-Blood-Pressure/dp/0757002552/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211217834&sr=1-3
I've also read that some people have long standing magnesium deficiency (due to stress, etc.) and that very high amounts of magnesium - or perhaps other strategies may be needed to help restore magnesium. http://www.mgwater.com/inmgdef.shtml Also, excessive sugar is known to deplete magnesium.
Is it any wonder that MG deficiency is implicated in all kinds of stress and anxiety issues, and heart issues and that MG is used to treat fibromyalgia amoung other things?
Summary
Low Sodium AND High Potassium (the near-universal dietary advice of fruits and vegetables applies)
Stay away from sugar (many, many reasons for this)
Supplement with High Quality Magnesium
Keep weight Stable
Exercise |
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1yehmon2
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2008 : 11:39:18
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| Sorry, I didn't catch that you already had a bp monitor. I would think that if your bp was not under control that you would not be able to take three readings in a row, and have the first one high and the second two normal. I would think that this HAS to be stress over worrying about your high blood pressure! Don't monitor it more than twice a week, stop obsessing over it. Your on meds!! Your drinks aren't marguerita's are they? Salt can raise blood pressure. Your under a doctors care, your on meds. STOP WORRYING!!!! I have never heard of a few drinks causing high blood pressure, but continuous daily overindulgence would be bad. Worrying and stressing over your blood pressure can definately raise it, but just for the minutes your obsessing. It will NOT stay up, unless that's all you think about when your awake. When you start to worry about your blood pressure immediately think of something in your life that is calming, like fishing or something. Have this mental picture ready to go in your head at a moments notice. When the blood pressure anxiety comes up, put your hand up mentally and say stop!!! Immediately think of your calming place, and keep doing it till it's automatic. You will be fine!!! |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2008 : 13:12:51
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Most high blood pressure is probably not related to TMS. However, around 20% probably is. I highly recommend reading up on the work of Dr. Samuel Mann on neurogenic hypertension. He actually contributed a chapter in The Divided Mind (Dr. Sarno's most recent book) and wrote a terrific book himself on the subject entitled Healing Hypertension.
That being said, hypertension is not something one should take lightly and medications are still likely to be part of your treatment regimen, at least until (or even after) you are able to get it under control with other work. Given your history of TMS, you may be more likely to have neurogenic hypertension, but this is something you should explore in conjunction with a physician. I'd start by reading what I've mentioned above and see if it resonates with you. You can then take it from there. Good luck!
Best,
MK |
Edited by - mk6283 on 05/19/2008 13:17:01 |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2008 : 13:52:05
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quote:
The main cause of HBP for most people (according to this convincing book) is a "modern" diet with 3 to 5 gram of sodium per day and at best, the same amount of potassium, a 1:1 ratio - which disturbs the sodium/potassium balance - a healthier ratio might be 3:1 (let's say 4.5 grams of potassium and 1.5 grams of sodium).
I'm don't know enough about BP to actually say much about this advice in particular, but the thing about a "modern" diet rings a bell for me, in that it reminds me of the whole "We aren't designed to sit at a computer" theory. Diet is a pretty hinky area of medical and pseudomedical advice, with a lot of the stuff that's recommended a one time not being recommended a few years later. See: high-carb, low-carb, low-fat, not low-fat. It's not an area where that much is firmly agreed on.
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It's not 100% belief that's required, but 100% commitment. |
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ralphyde
USA
307 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2008 : 20:47:10
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I'm 70 years old, and I have also had HBP for the last 20 years or so. I've read Dr. Samuel J. Mann's book, Healing Hypertension, and his chapter in The Divided Mind, and feel he is on to the underlying causes, i.e., repressed emotions. I haven't taken meds for it, because I feel that meds screw up your natural healing system in other ways.
What has worked for me is pure water fasting, as recommended by Dr. Joel Fuhrmann, in his book, Fasting and Eating for Health: A Medical Doctor's Program for Conquering Disease. You can read the intro on Amazon.
I'm retired, so I have the time to do a 10 day fast every year or two, and the BP will stay low (120 60) for months, until some stressful event causes it to spike again. There are side benefits, too, in the detoxification of cells and organs of the body. When I had a colonoscopy at about 67, a year after a 10 day fast, my doctor told me afterwards that I had the colon of a 30 year old, the best he'd ever seen in a man my age. I attribute that to the pure water fast cleaning out the lifetime accumulation of toxins and junk. Other organs are similarly rejuvenated.
Recently, I got an Omron Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor (mod HEM-670IT), which is convenient, and which can upload records to the computer, drawing graphs, and keeping records. I find that my BP is higher in the mornings (140 85 for example), but lower later after exercise (115 60 this evening). I run in the morning, and I bike in the evening regularly (and hang glide when I can ;)
And there's the thing called "white coat syndrome" which is when your BP is normally lower, but spikes in the the Doctor's office because of your anxiety about it. I am subject to this as well.
Best,
Ralph |
Edited by - ralphyde on 05/19/2008 20:50:44 |
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High Blood Pressure as TMS Symptom
