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jaycee327
3 Posts |
 Posted - 08/22/2008 : 17:10:40
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| I posted a message last week about my symptoms and it was pointed out to me very clearly that I spend a lot of time worrying about my symptoms. And it is so true! I took the responses to heart and really paid attention to how much time and effort I spend worrying about every little ache and pain. I am giving far to much attention to it. I am still new to this stuff and I need to reprogram my brain by teaching it not to respond to new pain by magnifying it to full-out catastrophe. This is proving to be very difficult but now I am definitely noticing that when one pain goes away another one crops up in a different spot just to throw me. Well that is simply proving that this is TMS. How do some of you retrain your brain to react differently? Is it simply a matter of reconditioning? |
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Paul
134 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2008 : 17:46:27
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What works for me thus far...(and this happened this past week)...
**When the pain is bad, I make a mental note of the times when it is NOT that bad, and remember that. It is easy when the pain is bad to start thinking, "God, this is ALWAYS bad" or "This is NEVER going to go away", etc. Simply remember that it acting up will pass, then move on.
**Become mindful. Mindfulness has been my key to getting on the right track with my depression and anxiety as well. Worry is always FUTURE based. Eliminate the future (and the past) thoughts and you eliminate worry. It really is that simple. Seriously, right now as you read this, are you ok? Is there really worry? My guess...no. Work on cultivating that and stay present...become mindful.
**Learn acceptance. Picture your pain as a fire. The more you worry, fear it, resist it...the more wood you give it...the longer it goes. So simply take note of the fire and look at it. Feel it. Then don't feed it with anymore mental "logs" so to speak. Yes it hurts, and it will probably hurt more that you are not giving it attention, but stay the course. If you fight it, you cause anxiety and stress inside.
**Step out of the war. By this I mean, if you are in a lot of worrying about your symptoms, step back out of the mental war or thoughts that are going on and view them. Observe them. You will see they are all based on FEAR and the FUTURE. Once again, get back to center and be mindful. Reassure yourself that you have had times the pain is not near as bad once again, and keep that in mind...then get on with your life.
These are the things I'm doing...so far so good. Lastly, pay close attention to how you "baby" or "support" your symptoms. Do you avoid things? Do you sit differently? What are YOUR crutches for your TMS? Discover them, and do the opposite...even if just baby steps.
Hope that helps :) |
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penguins
39 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2008 : 17:51:47
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| Paul gives great advice. To go along with what he is saying about being mindful and staying in the now versus living in the past or future, check out Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now. Wonderful book that I found most helpful. Take care! |
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joli
USA
51 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2008 : 18:27:32
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Paul , I really like your advice.
I know it makes a difference.
I think therefore I am. |
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winnieboo
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2008 : 21:00:09
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As my psychotherapist repeatedly reminded me when I was new to my TMS diagnosis: Go to your emotions, not to the pain!
Put your attention not necessarily on your thoughts (which can lead you RIGHT BACK to the pain b/c that's all we think about), but on how you are feeling. Journal about it or talk to someone or silently process it.
I would come to sessions and immediately start whining about every ache and pain and she would shake her head (which would completely infuriate me) and she would say, 'what went on in your life this week?' And I would start talking, because she was FORCING me (or so I thought) b/c I would think, what could be more important that this agonizing physical pain???? But, by the end of the hour, I would shock myself at how much concern or anger or fear or conflict was pouring out.
Driving home, I'd notice my physical pain would diminish. Relief! But that process had to repeat over and over before it sunk in... So yes, it's reconditioning, and it will happen with time and patience. |
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jaycee327
3 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2008 : 14:15:58
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| Thanks, the replies have a lot of encouraging advice. I am learning to remind myself that there have been times when the pain went away. If it went away before it can go away again. I am starting up with a therapist in September and I think I can get to the emotional stuff. |
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Capn Spanky
112 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2008 : 12:04:08
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I'm starting to think that the biggest factor in overcoming TMS is overcoming the "cycle of fear". At least for me it is. The constant worry about my health (in one form or another) is what feeds my TMS.
Journaling is very important and so is understanding the emotions and stressors that contribute to our TMS. But sometimes I think there is too much emphasis on deep psycho-analysis and understanding the unconscious mind. All this worrying that “I’m just not getting it” or “I must be missing something” can actually make things worse by causing us to worry even more. IMO, stopping the cycle of anxiety and fear about our health may be the most important factor in getting better.
So how do you stop worrying about your health, injuring yourself, and obsessing about your pain? I dunno. I guess you just kind of do. At some point, a light bulb will go off and you'll quit fighting it. You'll just let it go. Over time with practice you'll get better and better at it.
I know it's not easy to break this habit. I've been worrying about my health since I was a little kid and I'm 53 now. I still fall back into it sometimes, but now I know how to stop. I just quit worrying.
Simple eh?  |
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Wavy Soul
USA
779 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2008 : 06:51:58
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Yarrr!
quote - IMO, stopping the cycle of anxiety and fear about our health may be the most important factor in getting better - unquote
Yarr, Cap'n, I'm with you on this. I have always known what I'm feeling and processed my emotions, but the REALization that the so-called problem isn't REAL has been the big key for me.
Also: getting the humor of it - the symptoms kind of lose their thunder when giggled at gently
and: when I feel something physical, I may check in to the so-called psychological, but only even route to Being Here Now aware of the life force in my body in present time
And although I know all this stuff works very well for the specific type of ailments we call TMS, I would also apply it to any "unhealth" in the body. Realizing that illness isn't real is a long-proven technique used by, for example, Christian Scientists with dramatic effect back when that scene was flourishing.
Now we have a sort-of-scientific backing for not believing in illness, but for me, it needs to extend beyond the "permitted" categories of TMS.
xx
Love is the answer, whatever the question |
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Letting go of worry
