| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Paul
134 Posts |
 Posted - 10/19/2008 : 20:13:49
|
The last few days my pain has been horrible...actually, this whole week. I've been journaling as well. I've also been reviewing things on this site, and old TMS info that I have printed and put in a book. So basically...I've been focusing a LOT of attention on TMS, and doing a TON of thinking on it. Now, I'm not sure if it is that focus that is making the pain so bad, or if it is being a bratty kid and throwing a tantrum because I'm looking into TMS.
My question is this...
I'm mentally tired from all this research and going over it in my mind, also trying to dig up what is bothering me, etc. Seems like the last several days have been nothing but that.
How do you not let the self-analysis drive you crazy? Obviously, it is needed to focus on the emotions, etc. but how much time do you dedicate to it daily? Constantly or only, say, for maybe 30 minutes a day?
I think maybe I'm over analyzing everything...probably because I'm afraid, especially when the pain is this bad. I have the "physical cause" versus the "TMS cause" going on in my mind. It is like a battle because both are not related.
Thanks! |
|
|
Webdan65
USA
182 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2008 : 20:43:20
|
Paul:
This over analysis has been a big challenge for me as well. For a while I would spend a couple hours a day journaling and digging really deep on all the negatives that might be causing the TMS pain.
I got to know myself a bit better.
I identified a number of things I was repressing.
I did all the "right things" as far as Sarno was concerned and yet I didn't get complete relief.
I think we need to do two things:
Ride out the pain knowing it will pass.
Pay the pain as little attention as possible. (much easier said than done)
Personally, all the journaling and focus on my negative crap started leaving me depressed and even more angry.
I truly believe what we focus on magnifies or grows.
When I focused on all the negatives, I became more of a negative person. That's why I stopped the journaling and really decided to try my mental reprogramming that I desribed in this post:
http://tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5176
Hang in their Paul. You're on the right track. TMS does rear it's ugly head during the "work" phase of uncovering the little bugger. And yes, it can get worse. I try to laugh when that happens.
The mind believes what it hears repeatedly. Even if you aren't 100% sure that this is all TMS and nothing physical, you've got to keep drilling it into your head that it IS TMS and that your body is fine. Eventually the subconscious will start to listen and let go of the pain process.
It may take some time and lots of repitition....but this is the only thing that got me out of a pretty chronic situation to where I can function fairly normally now.
Keep going....
Dan
|
 |
|
|
tamo
United Kingdom
5 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2008 : 14:36:14
|
Hi . Among other books i'd recomend wayne dyer the power of intention.
You are absolutely right ,what you focus on expands .
This TMS is new to me and I hope it sheds some light on my own symptoms.
I await the arrival of Sarnos books from amazon .
I wish you well in your recovery Paul .
I hope I dont get ino trouble for mentioning wayne dyers book or amazon
Thanks
Tom
when you change the way you think about things the things you think about change |
|
|
|
Paul
134 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2008 : 14:59:02
|
Dan,
I agree with you 100%. All this journaling is just depressing. I think my "problems" are that I'm too self-critical, worry about what others think, and all that. So when I journal, that seems to come up a lot and it just makes me feel lacking or bad, etc. Nothing is really positive when we journal in TMS it seems, it is like putting the focus on the negative.
I guess that is what is tough...getting stuff out, yet at the same time, not hurting one's self esteem and mood in the process. It can be a real drag.
Yes, Power of Intention is great. I read that book and the Tao. All very good. |
|
|
|
positivevibes
204 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2008 : 22:50:02
|
I actually have a hard time with the journaling, which is weird because I'm a writer. Frankly, taking some time to think about my emotions/problems every day works better for me than writing it down. I find myself spewing all sort of crap when I try to write in a journal. Sometimes I wonder if I'm missing something, because people have said how important it is to keep a TMS journal.
I agree that focusing on the negative can be depressing. I think we have to remind ourselves to only think about that stuff when it's "TMS journal thought time" and not do it 24/7. Because like any thoughts, focusing on the negative all the time isn't healthy.
And anyway, it doesn't have to be all negative. Personally, sometimes I just find it confusing, or even perhaps scary. When I find myself resisting going down a particular path, I ask myself why. I've always been fairly good at self-analysis and lately have been much more willing to face some very tough emotions.
Recently I faced a huge problem that I'd been skirting for years and it was scary as hell. So it bowled me over at first, and it was all I could think about for several days, because it was "coming out," just sad emotion oozing out of my soul. But having squarely faced it, written about it here on this message board, and finally talked to my therapist about it, I feel a lot better today and have had one of the most pain-free days in weeks.
I've found that focusing on all the negative stuff constantly makes it really hard to function (to do my work, take care of my kids, etc). I think there has to be a balance, but not the sort of balance that represses the emotions -- the sort of balance that makes time to deal with those emotions while still being able to function in the world.
Also...I've found that if you do a lot of self-analysis and are getting nowhere, then either you are missing something, or are just not ready to face something.
Just my 2cents. |
Edited by - positivevibes on 10/20/2008 22:53:41 |
|
|
|
Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2008 : 10:23:48
|
Journaling should not be about focusing on the negative. It should not be about intellectualizing or analyzing. It should be a free-flowing process by which you write down whatever comes to mind without overthinking or censorship. If you find yourself thinking before you write a sentence, or going back and editing or deleting content, then I do not believe this kind of journaling is effective.
IMO journaling provides another channel by which to let your emotions out. By channeling through the pen (or computer) we access different pathways in our brain. Thus, writing about certain feelings might be more effective than thinking about them.
If you find that you are focusing on depressing thoughts then you may simply be accessing the top layer of emotion rather than digging deeper to find the reasons why the TMS symptoms exist in the first place. Try to focus on what makes the child inside you angry rather than the conscious anger. Try to focus on the "forbidden" feelings, the ones that you do not want to admit, the ones that are painful or just plain wrong. Try to explore the emotions that you are avoiding, not the ones you are consciously experiencing. |
|
|
|
johnaccardi
USA
182 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2008 : 10:35:38
|
Stop coming to this site so often.
I used to come here a few times day and post a new thread very often. Then I realized all I'm doing by coming here is giving the distraction more attention and monitoring my progress or lack of progress way too much. So now I only visit about once a week to see what some of the new threads are about. I have to admit, I feel better.
I believe this site is fine for asking a good question once in a while, but this site shouldn't be something you constantly look to to feel good. The site is an obsession in itself and is hard to get away from. Once you don't come on for about a week though, you just won't care that much about this forum anymore. It's a good feeling. |
|
|
|
mizlorinj
USA
490 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2008 : 12:26:33
|
Thinking about your feelings is very different than FEELING your feelings. Someone mentioned spewing emotions when you write--that's the whole point. You are getting the negative emotions out. Spewing is a good thing.
When I journaled I always found a morsel of good in every situation I wrote about. Even if it was: I am ready to heal this and move on now. And no journaling left me angry or sad when I was finished. It left me relieved. I learned the method of journaling at thepathway . org which has been mentioned on here before.
Anyway the original question--time spent--it is recommended that no more than an hour be spent.
|
Edited by - mizlorinj on 10/21/2008 12:29:13 |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
How much time do you dedicate to TMS daily?
