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Webdan65
USA
182 Posts |
 Posted - 10/18/2008 : 14:00:30
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When you feel like you know what is going on, yet the pain persists - it can be pretty frustrating. Especially when you read about these "book cures". There are plenty of people who read the book and the pain simply goes away. Fast.
"Why not me?" we ask ourselves.
I've read Sarno's, Brady's, Sophers and Amir's books so much I can practically recite them to friends and family. I've watched the videos. I've done the journaling work so much that my focus on what I was repressing started to depress me.
Overal Sarno's work has helped a lot, but I never could quite get to 100%.
I've recently turned a corner and I want to share what I've discovered.
For me, it's all been about expectations and fear. The more I fear the pain and the more I expect it - the more it's there. Without fail.
On the other hand, the more I tell myself I'm Ok and that I'm not going to hurt, the better I feel. Amazing.
The challenge is figuring out how to actually stop being afraid of the pain. As someone who's been stuck on the floor for 14 hours straight, not being able to get up... it's really easy to be afraid.
So, as a result of reading a book on mental programming, I decided to try something new for my own pain.
The book is "What to say when you talk to yourself" by Chad Helmstetter. The concept is "Self Talk" which Sarno tells us to do. Sarno says to "Talk to your Brain".
In this book, Dr. Helmstetter explains that everything we do and experience in life is as a result of the programming in our subconscious. If you have learned as a child that the rich are evil, you'll have a tough time becoming financially rich. If you believe you are a procrastinator, you will always struggle to get important things done.
And translated to back pain: If you believe you have a "bad back" and that you will experience pain anytime you do anything physical, you WILL.
Here's my take on how chronic pain happens.
Most of us started having pain in one of two ways.
1. Trauma - a real injury that we have convinced ourselves "has never quite healed."
2. Gradual onset - pain that somehow just starts and progressively gets worse.
In this quick fix society - we hurt, we go to a doctor. We want someone to "fix us".
So, we start going to mainstream doctors, chiropractors, surgeons, phisical therapists. We start reading mainstream medical literature and websites. All of this input causes us over time to become programmed to believe that we are broken, frail and destined to a life of pain. MRI, XRay and Cat Scan Imaging studies just magnify the fear and programming.
Without even being aware of it, a mild episode that may have gone away on it's own in 15-30 days now becomes a crippling event.
My sister-in-law went from a mild episode to being "diagnosed" with fibromyalgia in 6 months all due to being programmed that she was "broken".
I struggle with this feeling of being "broken" myself. So, I decided to test this Self Talk theory and consciously change my "program".
My test: I literally created a recording of myself speaking affirmations of my well being, my healthy and pain free back, etc. I did it with uplifting music in the background and saved it in a format that I can load to my iPod. I put it into a playlist and basically listen to it in Loop mode as I go to sleep each night. Basically it keeps playing over and over until I shut it off.
I play it in the background during the day as well.
I took the time to write it out - focusing on framing my affirmations in positive statements of being able to do things comfortably, easily and pain free. Then I simply mustered up all the confidence in my voice and read it with emotion into a microphone onto my computer.
Proactively, I am now "reformatting the hard drive" of my subconscious brain and my thoughts.
My results so far? I'm a lot better now than before I began testing out this process. What is cool is that within DAYS of starting this mental reprogramming, I started to feel way better. I'm still not completely done, but the quick results were a powerful confirmation of the concept of how our "programs" run our lives.
Call it affirmations, talking to your brain, autosuggestion or whatever. In the end, if your program is filled with "pain messages" that's what you'll experience despite logically understanding Sarno's theories.
You need to do the work to convince your subconscious that you're fine. Unfortunately that takes repetition and some time. And if you are trying to convince yourself that you are fine throughout the day as you fight your fear and actually feel pain - it is difficult for the logical to prevail over the fear and the pain.
In the end, the stronger "program" will ALWAYS win. If the fear and expectation of pain is stronger than your affirmation that you are fine, the pain will always win.
So, for me, the quickest way of handling the repetition and allow the "I'm fine" program to grow stronger than the fear was to "automate" it. Again, the recording of my own voice saying over and over how healthy and pain free and unafraid I am was the trick for me.
I have actually gotten better results with this approach than I did with the focus on the negative emotions and journaling.
Has anyone else tried this? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Dan |
Edited by - Webdan65 on 10/19/2008 21:00:20 |
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pandamonium
United Kingdom
202 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2008 : 15:23:39
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Wow Dan what a brilliant idea, and one I am going to try.
I do believe in positive thinking, visualising the (pain free) future and I do repeat certain phrases throughout the day and during meditation which I believe will help change my mindset.
For me the 2 big things I need to work on are fear and conditioning and this could help with the fear. I must admit that I have wondered about my mind being "programmed": I had a massive spinal fusion when I was 16 and so wonder if I have always seen myself as broken.
Thanks for sharing,
Panda |
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winnieboo
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2008 : 16:50:33
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quote:
My test: I literally created a recording of myself speaking affirmations of my well being, my healthy and pain free back, etc. I did it with uplifting music in the background and saved it in a format that I can load to my iPod. I put it into a playlist and basically listen to it in Loop mode as I go to sleep each night. Basically it keeps playing over and over until I shut it off.
This is a really excellent idea. I especially like the idea of taping your own voice, so you can assure your moods don't interfere with the program!
Getting well can be a long journey (has been for me), but I've recently come to the idea that staying well has to do with changing our thoughts. I'm not suggesting that we strive for a new personality, but revamping our story lines and the content of our internal dialogue is key. Like you, I've been bewildered and depressed about the "big dig" to uncover repressed emotions. But I'm getting to something else, some other definition of repression, too. I think getting well is also, if not more dependent on, addressing the 24/7 kind of repression that goes on when you don't know how to feel. This too can be repaired by a change of thought or, as you so aptly call it, a reformat of ones 'hard drive.'
This idea about reprogramming your thoughts is at the crux of psychotherapy, hypnosis, meditation, religion and every self-help book out there. The thinking is that to be comfortable in our bodies, we need to be at home in our minds, and how can we do so, if the messages are fearful, negative and self-defeating?
Thank you for this post!
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Paul
134 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2008 : 16:55:37
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Great idea, especially with your OWN voice...it would resonate so much better in our psyche since it is our own voice, not someone we don't know, etc.
Thanks for the post :) |
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Wavy Soul
USA
779 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2008 : 18:11:48
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I have done this with affirmations over the years (but not recently) and have been amazed at how useful my OWN voice has been to reassure me. After all, who really needs to love me? Me!
I have a recorded reading of a piece by Joel Goldsmith that is incredibly soothing to my control freak self, read in my own voice. Although I've had sleeping problems, I can honestly say I think I have never heard the end of it, when I play it at bedtime.
Great idea Webdan, thanks for the reminder. Perhaps I will compose something to read myself.
xx
Love is the answer, whatever the question |
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HellNY
130 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2008 : 20:58:18
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This is essentially what I have been trying to explain to Skizzik. Its that way I see what keeps people in chronic pain.
If you are depressed about the pain it WILL REMAIN.
If you worry that it will continue it WILL REMAIN.
If you are frustrated and upset about it, it WILL REMAIN.
In short, when you engage your emotions into it, it remains. Because the brain will continue to process and represent anything we give emotional significance to.
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Peg
USA
284 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2008 : 07:54:49
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Dan,
Thanks very much for posting your success with this approach. From the reading I've done, it's make sense that it would be effective. The repetition is important to reprogram us and the time just before sleep is our most impressionable.
Now, if I can just figure out how to do it with my new computer (with music in the background no less) I'll be golden.
Thanks
Peg
In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei |
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Paul
134 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2008 : 08:05:42
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| I bet if you record your voice with a mic on your computer and save the sound file, you could then jump on a site like Elance.com and have an audio person put it to background music, etc. for relatively cheap. Just a thought. |
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seimon_23
United Kingdom
17 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2008 : 11:45:37
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| Thank you, Dan for this informative and very helpful post. Your insights and advice are certainly something I'm going to try myself. Your story of improvement through applying Sarno's techniques but never quite getting 100% better sounds like the carbon copy of my own experience. And reading about how you've managed to re-program your subconscious is nothing short of an inspiration to me. Thank you so much! |
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hambone
USA
41 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2008 : 14:54:02
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Everyone please read again what hellNY said in his entry. This may just be me but I think his short answer is the key to banishing the syndrome. Sarno always says don't think physical but hellNY's three part caution is more specific and powerful. In other words do not give the pain credence, respect or importance. Sarno told me once to treat the pain "with an attitude of disdain." Intense mind control is required.
Others please help flesh this out. Steve
STEVEN T HAMBLIN |
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Webdan65
USA
182 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2008 : 16:25:48
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Wow, thank you everyone for your kind words. I'm glad this idea resonates with you.
quote:
Originally posted by HellNY
In short, when you engage your emotions into it, it remains. Because the brain will continue to process and represent anything we give emotional significance to.
HellNY - here's another way to rephrase your comment.
"Whatever you focus on - magnifies."
If you focus on the pain - it will grow. Choose your thoughts wisely.
Let me know if you give this a shot and what your results are. I would love to hear from you. Thanks again for your kind words.
Dan |
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Webdan65
USA
182 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2008 : 16:50:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Peg
Now, if I can just figure out how to do it with my new computer (with music in the background no less) I'll be golden.
First of all, having music in the background was just a touch I added since I'm pretty handy with a computer. Music is absolutely NOT required for this process to work. A solo voice will still accomplish the same thing.
Anyway, for anyone who wants to try creating their own recording - and without getting too technical, here are some suggestions.
Here's what to do:
Find some type of microphone to plug into your computer microphone input. Buy a cheap one at a computer store or Radio Shack if necessary. Plug it in. Many webcams come with a plug in microphone.
Here are some tool/software suggestions for either Mac or PC.
PC: Every PC with Windows comes with a program called Sound Recorder. It's usually under "Accessories". Open it up and play around with it a bit. Hit record and talk into the microphone. Hit stop then play to listen back. Do some testing before you read your entire script. That way you'll have the quality right before you waste too much time. You may have to tweak the volume levels to get it to work without distorting. Once you have a recording, save the file to your desktop and to listen to it, just double click on the file.
Mac: I use a program called Garage Band. You can simply record a new "real instrument track" (your voice) in Garage band. You can also edit it pretty easily too if you make mistakes. Once you have your voice recorded, you can drag a song from iTunes into garage band. With a little playing around with volume levels, you can really come up with a professional sounding recording. There's a share menu item that allows you to send your new recording to iTunes for use on an iPod.
If you want music and don't want to mess with mixing it together in software, simply play some music through any speakers in the background loud enough so the microphone pics it up. With a little trial and error, you'll figure out how loud to talk and how loud to play the music so you can hear your voice clearly and still have nice backing music. The quality won't be perfect, but that's not important.
And since you aren't selling or distributing this recording, you can use whatever song you like without worrying about copyright laws. Personally I used music with just instrumental music. A song with vocals might confuse you if you are trying to listen to your own affirmations and block out a songs vocals. Classical or jazz makes a nice choice.
Once you have your recording, listen to it as often as you can.
Need help, ask a teenager. They'll be able to figure it out.
Hope this helps. Give it a shot.
Dan
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Paul
134 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2008 : 18:06:18
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Dan,
Do you do it in third or first person? Like, do you talk like someone is talking to you, or to yourself?
Examples:
"I am good enough, nothing is wrong with me, etc."
vs.
"Dan, you are good enough, nothing is wrong with you, etc." |
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positivevibes
204 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2008 : 18:26:02
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Yes, I would also like an example of some of the affirmations you use, Dan. I realize that many of them will be personal to you, but if you could give us a little idea of what you say, that would be helpful.
I've read about saying affirmations to yourself, or reading them several times daily, but taping them and listening to yourself say them would work really well, IMO. I've done this in the past to help myself memorize things (lines for a play, for example). Somehow, hearing yourself say stuff over and over again just makes it sink into your brain easier. Auditory memory or something....
Oh, BTW on my PC, the Sound Recorder was found in Accessories > Entertainment |
Edited by - positivevibes on 10/19/2008 18:27:27 |
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Webdan65
USA
182 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2008 : 20:08:28
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quote:
Originally posted by positivevibes
Yes, I would also like an example of some of the affirmations you use, Dan. I realize that many of them will be personal to you, but if you could give us a little idea of what you say, that would be helpful.
FYI: Here is a slightly modified version of my "script" or new program. As a result of my past pain, I have developed some muscle imbalances which is why you'll see my comments on being "crooked".
There's a lot of repetition, but for me, that was what felt right.
Hope this helps...
I am Healthy and Strong!
I Fear NO Activity
I am Free from Pain.
I expect to feel great and I DO.
My Body is relaxed and comfortable at ALL times..
I move confidently and fearlessly.
My Back is getting more straight, strong and flexible every day
I sleep comfortably.
Lying on my back is comfortable.
I no longer think about things that have hurt me before with fear and expectation.
Any time I think about a physical movement with fear or bad anticipation, I tell myself, I'm Good.
I replace these negative thoughts with confident and positive self talk.
This positive self talk is the key to turning my life around. It has already begun...
I look at each new activity as a way to prove my freedom from this fear and pain.
I enjoy Stretching.
Stretching will balance my body.
It is totally amazing how FAST I can reprogram my mind using these techniques.
Every Day in every way, I am feeling better and better.
I am aligned and enjoy perfect health.
I have a great back.
I move fearlessly with purpose.
I push my body each day.
This proves that I am strong and capable.
I provide my body nutrients it needs for optimum health.
I exercise daily to restore maximum health and fitness.
I ignore and laugh at setbacks.
I know I am making progress and getting better each day.
My back is healthy, structurally sound and strong.
If I feel Pain, I laugh at it and think about my stressors.
There is no physical reason for pain.
Repressed emotions caused my past pain.
What I focus on magnifies.
I choose to focus on relaxation, tension free and painless motion.
My stress and anger flows through me and leaves my body alone.
Every Day I reprogram my mind for optimal health and pain free living.
I lead a care free and painless life.
I focus on feeling GREAT!
I am fearless and know I will not hurt myself.
My subconscious is being programmed for maximum health and painless movement.
I have a great strong back that is free from damage.
I treat my body with respect and kindness.
I am responsible for my body.
I am responsible for my thoughts.
Any time I feel fear creeping in, I swiftly kick it aside.
I am aligned and balanced.
My back is straight and feels GREAT!
Exercising and stretching rejuvenate me.
I choose to be happy and positive.
Stress rolls off of me and without causing pain.
I don’t sweat the small stuff and Most of it IS small stuff.
I can run, golf and bike painlessly.
My muscle imbalances are painless.
I stretch and exercise daily and it makes me feel great.
I am not afraid of stretching.
I expect to feel looser and straighter after doing my stretches.
I have a good strong back.
I am fearless knowing I will not hurt myself.
I can run without pain. I can run without fear.
I enjoy healthy low fat foods.
Things that have hurt me in the past no longer hurt me.
I easily shed unwanted pounds.
My body is sound and capable of all activity.
Fear no longer has control of my mind. I choose to think confidently.
I drink 2 liters of water per day.
I smile effortlessly.
I laugh easily.
I avoid negative people and negative influences.
I surround myself with positive people and positive influence.
I never complain about my back - even when asked.
When asked about my back, my answer is... “It’s feeling Great.”
I have programmed my family and friends to stop asking about my back.
I am stronger than this challenge.
I can beat this TMS emotional pain.
Sudden bumps and mis-steps bounce off of me without causing pain.
I am well aware of my emotions.
I think psychologically, not physically.
Being crooked is NOT painful.
I control my thoughts.
I quickly replace fearful expectations with declarations of feeling great and capable.
I run, golf and bike frequently and do it without fear or pain.
I push through setbacks with confidence.
I am programmed to feel great.
I am tough and strong. I act fearlessly.
Just before I move - I think to myself - “I’m good”
I do this until I no longer even think about pain.
I expect to feel great.
And I do feel amazing.
I choose to be healthy, fit and strong.
I choose to feel great.
I am low stress.
I feel Awesome! |
Edited by - Webdan65 on 10/19/2008 20:11:53 |
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Webdan65
USA
182 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2008 : 20:24:23
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quote:
Originally posted by pandamonium
I do believe in positive thinking, visualising the (pain free) future and I do repeat certain phrases throughout the day and during meditation which I believe will help change my mindset.
Panda, I wanted to point out that this really isn't positive thinking. It's a very proactive way to forcefully change what's been drilled into our subconscious mind over and over for months or perhaps years or decades.
The media tells us the "right" ways to sit, lift, bend, etc.
Your doctors told you how messed up you were that you needed injections, medicine, surgery.
Chiropractors goal is to scare you enough that you'll pay them thousands of dollars to "crack" your back.
Physical therapists have you convinced that we need their exercises to "fix" muscle imbalances. (I don't believe imbalances cause pain. Pain causes imbalances IMHO - at least in my case.)
Unfortunately, you have heard others and often ourselves say how bad our backs are. And we've heard this or told it to ourselves thousands and thousands of times until we believe it completely.
Logically accepting Sarno's theories just hasn't been enough for me to erase the years of negative programming. So I've tried this approach and so far it's helped.
But I really don't want this confused with positive thinking. It really is a way to erase what's been drilled into our skulls and consciously replace all that negative crap with a better belief system. A better "program" if you will.
This is what makes sense to me. Anyone else agree? Disagree?
Dan |
Edited by - Webdan65 on 10/19/2008 20:25:41 |
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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2008 : 04:06:09
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The subconscious gives us pain so that we can focus on it rather than on the emotions that we ought to. Sarno says that it is doing us a favour. By focusing on the physical we will ignore the emotional. Once we realise its ploy we have to convince ourselves that we are physically OK and move on to matters emotional. Make a list, think about what’s bothering you etc, etc.
Problem is that by the time most of us have realised this we have already seen a host of doctors, physios chiros, neuros other practioners who have succeeded painting the gloomiest of pictures telling us a whole bunch of nonsense about how weak our spines are, how bad our posture is, degeneration, curved spine, blah blah blah blah, yada yada yada.
The stuff they tell us is powerful-really powerful and we immediately fall for it. So much so that we are conditioned almost instantly. We are impressionable. It only takes a few minutes but information like that sinks straight into the subconscious and getting it out of there is hard, really difficult. We are in awe of these all knowing professionals, we think they know, they have got Xrays, Mris, hard evidence. It is so hard to imagine that these people could be wrong. So unbelievable. Yet that is exactly what we need to realise if we are to get better.
We have to completely and utterly recondition the way we think. It is not easy. Webdan ‘s suggestion to record our own voice and listen to affirmations is an excellent one. That is exactly what our subconscious needs to hear. May I suggest that we include in our recording powerful reinforcements from the various texts that we have read by Sarno, Sopher, Schecter, Schubiner. For eg. In MBP Dr Sarno says that medical literature rarely supports the observation that structural abnormalities are the cause of pain. Dr Sopher says that the overwhelming majority of back pain does not have a physical cause. We are not that fragile. We have evolved to be able to handle gravity, walk upright, run, carry lift, bend, sit, recline stand and just about any other activity except fly. Recording sentences like that along with some affirmations will help greatly to recondition our minds.
Good Luck & Good Health
Mala |
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skizzik
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2008 : 04:37:06
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Webdan- Awesome! Hellny- Awesome! Mala- Awesome!
Web, how about some details of your life pre and post affirmating. |
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pandamonium
United Kingdom
202 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2008 : 05:11:03
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Mala, that's a good point about reading some lines from the books.
Webdan, thank you for clarifying about positive thinking. Sadly in my case I did need surgery at the time because the curve of my spine was so severe that my internal organs were starting to get squashed and I was told they would start malfunctioning and failing. But these days I've just got "regular" back pain so if they told me I needed injections, medicine or surgery I'd run a mile!
Panda |
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Webdan65
USA
182 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2008 : 07:53:44
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quote:
Originally posted by skizzik
Webdan- Awesome! Hellny- Awesome! Mala- Awesome!
Web, how about some details of your life pre and post affirmating.
I've been fighting this TMS bugger for about 10 years on and off with varying degrees of success. I thought I had beat it about 7 years ago, but 18 months ago it came back with a vengeance.
In the past, any time I had an episode it would last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. I would tilt to the left I guess to compensate for the pain. In July of 2007 I had an episode that was so bad I was stuck laying on a hardwood floor unable to move for 14 hours. I spent another few days in bed after that too.
Through Sarno techniques of journaling I was able to get myself 80% through it, but always seemed to have discomfort and some days pretty bad pain.
One day my wife said to me - "You're crooked. Do you hurt?"
Only I didn't at the time. I told her I was comfortable. Well after taking a good look in the mirror I WAS very crooked.
Since I knew TMS was the cause of pain, I figured there would be no harm in getting checked out just to be sure nothing "serious" was going on. XRays came out fine. My general practitioner suggested either Physical therapy or Chiropractic care.
I had been down the Chiropractor road before so I figured I'd start working with a physical therapist. I was convinced that TMS caused the pain and that compensating for the pain caused some muscle imbalances.
I convinced myself that I could keep myself free of pain with the TMS approach and just focus on the PT to straighten out my crookedness.
I was wrong on all counts. Silly me.
Despite 10 years of experience with TMS, my subconscious ate it up when the PT told me over and over and over. An hour each session, 3 times a week for 6 weeks - how out of balance my body was. In other words, they convinced me that I was all messed up.
And guess what? My body believed them. Not only didn't I get my body any more straight, my pain escalated beyond anything I had ever felt before.
I had NEVER EVER felt worse with more CHRONIC (all the time) Pain in my life. As I said, my past patterns were to have a spasm and have pain for a few weeks. Using Sarno's techniques, I could get past it and get back to mostly normal activities. I could golf, ride bikes, run on a treadmill. All pretty good.
Not this time around. After 6 weeks of physical therapy and the negative programming - I couldn't walk fast, sit down, stand up, wipe my ass, get in or out of the car, reach for my wallet while sitting down without sending off a wave of pain. I couldn't roll over in bed. Could barely be intimate with my wife. On vacation this summer my wife, son and sons friend did all the "fun" stuff while I strugged to get in and out of the beach chairs. If I bumped into a wall while walking, my back would "grab". I couldn't sneeze or cough without pain. For the most part, pretty much any movement I took sent off a wave of pain.
On vacation, I missed dinner one night because I couldn't even get in the small taxi. I journaled, self analyzed, went through the normal routine and got so depressed on vacation I cried like a baby in my hotel room as my family went to dinner without me.
Fear and depression over my pain was overwhelming.
Fortunately I had a friend tell me about some books. All at the same time, I started reading:
1. Think and Grow rich - where Napolean Hill talks about Autosuggestion.
2. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind - T. Harv Eker - where the entire book is about our mental blueprint (mostly around finances, but it covers the concept of a mental blueprint very well.)
3. What to Say when you Talk to Yourself - This is the one I mention in the first post of this thread. This book talks about creating new self talk to reprogram your mind. He also mentions how he created recordings that allowed him to lose 25 lbs listening to his own recordings while shaving in the morning. Essentially this concept can be applied to anything, not just pain.
Finally the light bulb turned on and I became totally convinced that my downward spiral was due to the negative program I accepted from the physical therapists, my wife and even myself as I looked at my crooked self in the mirror over and over again.
At the same time - I have always had trouble doing autosuggestions. The books tell you to look in the mirror and repeat these positive affirmations over and over again. Speak in the present tense as if you've already accomplished what you are trying to change.
For me, I could never get past two things:
1. The bull**** meter. As I would say these things - my mind would be laughing at me saying. "Bull**** - Yeah right you're fine."
2. I couldn't get passed the embarrassment of feeling dorky. My wife or son would be around and I couldn't bring myself to do this consistently enough for fear of their ridicule.
So, knowing a bit about music, recording audio and now understanding the "Self Talk" concept - I figured I'd record myself and try that. And what I wanted to tell myself was very specific so there were no pre-recorded CD's I could buy to accomplish what I was about to test out.
One subtle but important point brought up by T. Harv Eker - the author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind. He talks about that "bull**** meter too" when you affirm things as if they have already occurred.
His suggestion: Make declarations instead of speaking as if things are already done. Statements like: I commit to... I believe... I will do...
skizzik, you asked about how I am now.
Post Affirmations:
I can sit, stand up, roll around in bed, I can sneeze, cough without pain. Getting in and out of the car doesn't send off waves of pain. My fear level has dropped considerably.
I'm not 100% out of the woods, but I am MUCH better. I haven't gotten back on a bike yet or done a full out run. But I am walking fast on the treadmill and got up to a slow jog on it the other day.
Intimacy with my wife is much easier now. After a night together, she asked me how I was feeling since I seemed to be "moving better". LOL I guess that means I'm getting some of my mojo back. LOL
I'm not going to claim a miracle cure where I can now go water skiing or jump out of airplanes. I DO still have fear and I still have more work to do with this.
But just to get past that chronic (all the time) pain and fear is a huge step for me considering where I was a few weeks ago.
Before: I couldn't make any movement without thinking about what kind of pain I'll experience. And when I expected the pain - it was there waiting for me.
Now: I actually find myself having done things for an hour or so and then realizing that I wasn't completely focused on my body.
It's a nice feeling.
Will this self talk recording technique work for you? Who knows.
But for me, it seems to be that missing element in my previous TMS treatment efforts.
Dan |
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mizlorinj
USA
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Posted - 10/20/2008 : 08:49:45
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Affirmations do positively work, as has been discussed recently on this board in other posts.
It is important to craft them using the POSITIVE words only
e.g. I wouldn't use the words pain or fear in my affirmations. Your brain hears those words.
See Louise Hay's books for ideas on affirmations--even for specific ailments.
Repeated statements or thoughts become beliefs. You get what you focus on. (this is the theme of many books discussed on this forum frequently--The Secret, etc.)
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Edited by - mizlorinj on 10/20/2008 08:57:07 |
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Subconscious programming - what worked for me.
