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Logan
USA
203 Posts |
 Posted - 08/20/2008 : 08:29:26
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So, I'm at work yesterday and one of the admin assistants stops me in the hall. She's holding her wrist and rubbing it. And she says, "I just talked to a friend of mine on the phone who is recovering from carpal tunnel surgery. The doctor says she can't back to work for at least two weeks because he's afraid if she does she'll damage the nerves in her hand beyond repair. And now MY hand hurts. Isn't that weird?"
I kind of smiled and said, "The power of suggestion! It's powerful stuff."
To myself I silently thought "Mmm, carpal tunnel... isn't that one of those once trendy RSI things that had been sufficiently debunked by the traditional medicos and that no one really suffered from it anymore? Don't people now get plantar fascitis or rotator cuff spurs or TMJ instead?
I really like this woman who's our admin. And her job can be super stressful. I hope she doesn't start convincing herself she's got carpal tunnel too! I don't like preaching the TMS gospel to people; I've learned through many repeated attempts at trying to help people, especially at work, that you can't "lead a horse to water" unless that horse has been dying of thirst/pain for years and is truly desperate...but if she starts suffering I know I'll be tempted to leave The Mindbody Prescription on her desk. |
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winnieboo
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2008 : 11:35:41
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Suggestibility goes with TMS, and yes it is powerful. I unwittingly get myself all worked about symptoms I might read on the internet or hear someone else talking about.
I was very interested in your last paragraph about preaching TMS gospel. I have two friends I'd like to enlighten but intuitively, I always stop myself. I wish there was a way to help people without insulting them. In the past when I've talked about Sarno, I find people have already heard about him, some have read the books, and they'll then insist that their problems or "real" or that they wish they could "just think their pain away." |
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winnieboo
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2008 : 11:38:01
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Suggestibility goes with TMS, and yes it is powerful. I unwittingly get myself all worked about symptoms I might read on the internet or hear someone else talking about.
I was very interested in your last paragraph about preaching TMS gospel. I have two friends I'd like to enlighten but intuitively, I always stop myself. I wish there was a way to help people without insulting them. In the past when I've talked about Sarno, I find people have already heard about him, some have read the books, and they'll then insist that their problems or "real" or that they wish they could "just think their pain away." |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2008 : 13:22:13
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My approach on "preaching" is to give them the book or the name of the book and tell them it worked for me after 3 years of RSI and I have been pain-free and able to do anything I want for over 2 years. I don't tell them anything else unless the person is very close to me (and at this point, most people who know me well know my story so this rarely happens).
The most common reaction is exactly what Logan said. I find it helps to work on not being invested in the outcome -- understanding that people make the decisions they make at the time based on what they can handle. Thinking back to decisions that I delayed in the past helps me remember that people can only be where they are, and make decisions from that place. If that's not a place where they can reach understanding about TMS, then there's nothing you can do about that. Maybe someday they will and then they may thank you. I know that I would like to thank the person who originally recommended Sarno to me, even though I ignored it (am not even sure I registered it at the time).
I know at least three people with recurring problems with RSI who have completely ignored my recommendations. Oh well! I guesss it's like church people who want me to be 'saved' -- they keep praying for it to happen 'someday'. Maybe we are equally well-intentioned and equally misguided in hoping these people 'find TMS'... ;)
--
What were you expecting? |
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Baseball65
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2008 : 18:34:00
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Hi Logan.
You know that's one of my favorite topics. I have been victimized by the 'Nocebo' sooooo many times.
Nowadays when someone tells me about some NEW deal (wrist,allergies,fingers..whatever) I have to remember to tell myself OUT loud the next time I am alone
"I do NOT have (blank) and will not come down with (blank)" or else I will usually see the early symptoms the very next time I am having a personal crisis. |
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winnieboo
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2008 : 19:07:30
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| Yeah, I had a particularly bad day today (total stress) and I was wrestling with all my suddenly resurfacing aches and pains and at dinner my husband said, 'oh, I hope you don't get that ELBOW pain back again!!' Talk about uneducated, I mean, I thought he was with the program! The elbow pain was the worst! It persisted for a YEAR, but it's been gone for a month and OUT OF MY MIND for a month. Did I need to be reminded? Okay, so what Zen book will I consult tonight, after I get off this forum and read the Sarno book again!???!!! I can't stand how impressionable I am, but I can only work with with I got, you know? |
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ChrisSC
25 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2008 : 22:12:32
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| The worst is how it seems like 1 out of every 2-3 commercials on TV is for a drug to treat some problem or for some crazy thing to relieve back/knee/shoulder pain. We (America at least)are bombarded with things telling us how fragile our bodies are or how easily we get sick/get some disease (lies of course) which certainly hinders our progress. |
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ChrisSC
25 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2008 : 22:14:32
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| The worst is how it seems like 1 out of every 2-3 commercials on TV is for a drug to treat some problem or for some crazy thing to relieve back/knee/shoulder pain. We (America at least)are bombarded with things telling us how fragile our bodies are or how easily we get sick/get some disease (lies of course) which certainly hinders our progress. |
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mizlorinj
USA
490 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2008 : 07:21:37
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Ugh, I hate that "but my pain is real" -- stated or implied -- response. I've learned to smile after saying "so was mine". I realize everyone thinks their situation is different.
Bottom line is there is a readiness factor--some will be ready to hear it and accept that their mind plays a role, and some won't. My family saw me go from a cripple to up and ready in weeks and still don't get that their knee pains, IBS, etc. can be helped w/o medical intervention. Sad, but I've accepted that I can't make them see it.
I've adopted the "whatever works for you" attitude. I would love to shout mind/body stuff from the rooftops, but most people just aren't ready. Or I suppose willing to do the work to be rid of emotional trash.
At this point, I am so very grateful to have learned about the mind/body connection and have truly benefited.
-L
PS Admin here had carpal tunnel SURGERY on both wrists in the past month.
OH and one way to counter such thoughts RE: things people are experiencing and fear taking you over is: THAT MAY BE TRUE FOR YOU, BUT IT IS NOT FOR ME. (per Louise Hay) (not to the person of course, unless you're feeling really bold! ) |
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the power of suggestion
