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Busted
73 Posts |
 Posted - 11/04/2008 : 10:38:08
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For years, I haven't been able to find a comfortable sleeping position, and when I wake up my back feels like it's been twisted in an uncomfortable position all night. It's not the same pain as I would describe my TMS, just discomfort. I've tried every kind of pillow (and no pillow at all). I just cannot find a comfortable position.
I'm wondering if this is part of TMS? Has anyone else had this problem and then once their TMS is gone were you suddenly comfortable sleeping again? Or is it possible this has nothing to do with TMS and I need to get one of those expsensive dial-a-beds?
I haven't read anything about uncomfortable sleeping positions in Sarno's books so I'm wondering.
Thanks! |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2008 : 11:34:30
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This could be an example of conditioning. You have come to believe that your sleeping position is somehow connected with your physical discomfort. The unconscious mind wants you to believe this.
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mizlorinj
USA
490 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2008 : 11:34:31
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One of the clips from Dr. Sarno recently showed him saying "it's not the bed you're sleeping in or the car you're driving". He mentioned how that must've come about--conditioned thinking about beds causing sleeplessness--he said the person with the aching back was asked if they had a soft mattress and said "no, hard" and the doc said "well you must need a soft mattress." LOL funny and I may have switched the adjectives since I don't remember, but I remember it being funny. So unless you truly believe you'd benefit from a super-duper dial-a-# mattress, you'd have to see if spending the $ is worth it. I sleep great on my Sealy posturpedic firm mattress, and equally well when I put the fluffy featherbed on top of the mattress.
I did wake up in pain during my bad TMS episode, but I didn't believe it was the mattress. And the pain went away w/o a change in bedding.
Is it that you're uncomfortable or aren't sleeping well or both? |
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pandamonium
United Kingdom
202 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2008 : 14:05:35
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I used to sleep fine on our mattress until after the kids were born 6 yrs ago, after that I had all sorts of trouble, this was also when my TMS really took hold. Tried new expensive mattresses (ended up giving them away as they made my pain worse), more pillows, tempur pillows, thin pillows, pillows under my knees, between my knees, you name it. I even used to sleep sitting up at times because the pain was so bad.
Since Feb 08 which is when I discovered Sarno I gave up all of that because they are props and I believe they contribute to my conditioning.
Since July 08 I have noticed the night time pain decrease more and more to the point where in the last few weeks I seldom wake in pain.
So, yes, I believe it is part of TMS and is to be treated the same way.
Panda |
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Busted
73 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2008 : 15:58:29
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quote:
Is it that you're uncomfortable or aren't sleeping well or both?[/font=Century Gothic][/purple]
Both. I've had insomnia since I was in college...which has been somewhat relieved by my not drinking caffeine after 1pm. But this discomfort sleeping started a couple of years ago. I guess I should try to think of exactly WHEN this started and what was going on in my life at that time, but I'm not sure I'll remember. No matter what position I sleep in, my neck and back feel strained. I guess I should just assume it's part of the TMS and hope it goes away when I get rid of my other symptoms. |
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winnieboo
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2008 : 18:40:15
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| My therapist has pointed out to me that we can build up a lot of tension while sleeping. Sarno says this, too. Our subconscious awakens during sleep and offers its contents to us (in pieces, of course) in the form of dreams. My recent "assignment" is to write down any dream I have. I thought I wasn't dreaming at all until this assignment came upon me. Now when I awaken with soreness and stiffness, which is often, I usually have some kind of dream to connect the physical tension to, and it's another window into self-knowledge and feelings. |
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Busted
73 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2008 : 18:43:08
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quote:
Originally posted by winnieboo
My therapist has pointed out to me that we can build up a lot of tension while sleeping. Sarno says this, too. Our subconscious awakens during sleep and offers its contents to us (in pieces, of course) in the form of dreams. My recent "assignment" is to write down any dream I have. I thought I wasn't dreaming at all until this assignment came upon me. Now when I awaken with soreness and stiffness, which is often, I usually have some kind of dream to connect the physical tension to, and it's another window into self-knowledge and feelings.
Hmmmm...I think I was dreaming when I woke up this morning uncomfortable and stiff. I can't remember about what though. I'll try to pay attention. |
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mizlorinj
USA
490 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2008 : 09:10:52
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Candace Pert recommends keeping a journal by our bed to record dreams.
I think you may want to work on deconditioning. See if programming yourself that you WILL sleep well works. It would probably take a week or two, but talking to our brain does work.
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winnieboo
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2008 : 11:15:45
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Just want to chime in regarding deconditioning: Check out the recent thread by WebDan.
He takes the affirmation tape to the next level: you record yourself saying positive things. His discussion offers a script and instructions for recording and downloading onto your IPod. The script includes lines like "I sleep well, I'm comfortable sleeping on my back." Of course you can add whatever applies to your situation that's helpful. |
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pandamonium
United Kingdom
202 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2008 : 03:20:48
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MizLori makes a good point.
I did say to myself every night before sleep, I will sleep well tonight, with no pain and I am sure it helped.
I also keep a dream diary, it's amazing: you can dream night after night about all sorts of things that don't make sense on their own but when you read back over the week or 10 days you can see themes emerging, it's very insightful.
Panda |
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celloLWF
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2008 : 11:28:32
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Hey yall
Yes, sleeping is a problem cause I'm full of tension. Dreams! SO IMPORTANT.
I flip around all night sometimes, feel stiff in the morning, and it's because my unconscious is coming out and my logical side is subdued...
and when I wake up, the repression is activated and I hate everything until I have coffee. :)
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Redsandro
Netherlands
217 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2008 : 08:31:26
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This sounds so familiar. I don't want to be blamed if you've actually got physical issues so don't take my facts for your facts, but not getting an unconfortable sleeping position was definitely a big issue for me during my TMS years.
Sometimes it was ok, but in bad months I turned and turned. Felt like my arms were always blood deprived. My shoulders just didn't 'lay' good, my neck was always in pain the next morning and the minute I layed down my lower back hurt like hell. (I was an RSI sufferer with severe lower back pain symptom imperatives).
My physiotherapist told me not to lay on my back or front with my head pointed sideways because that's armageddon for the spine - and showed me a skeleton model twisting the neck. From that day, sleeping sucked even more.
Long time later, when I cured my TMS, there is not a single problem anymore. I can lay however I want. I can fall asleep on the coutch in a real bad position. I have my neck in that forbidden angle if I want to. The worst thing that can happen is that my neck hurts for one day at the most. But usually I'm more pain free than my EMO brother. 
The skeleton is strong. So is your back.
After a stressed day, when I lay down, I still feel tremendous pain in my lower back. I know it's TMS now. If it hurts really bad, it makes me laugh (not sadism but automaticly). I identify all the stress. It's actually kind of nice. And it always subsides after maybe 15 minutes.
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TMS is the hidden language of the soul. |
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Redsandro
Netherlands
217 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2008 : 08:49:01
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Double post.  |
Edited by - Redsandro on 11/11/2008 11:34:36 |
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Busted
73 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2008 : 17:36:44
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| Thanks Redsandro! That's very inspiring. I hope to be where you are someday soon. And since posting this last week, I've gone back to using a regular pillow, got rid of the "orthopedic pillow". I'm still uncomfortable but since there's nothing physically wrong with me I should be able to use a normal pillow like everyone else on this planet! |
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winnieboo
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2008 : 17:40:52
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| Great post, Redsandro. Very helpful. |
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fred
Ireland
8 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2011 : 01:54:14
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Hi,
the very same thing is happening to me at times. I sleep ok for a few weeks then all of a sudden the bed becomes a battlefield: tossing and turning, bad circulation, sore neck etc...
I associate this with the subconscious mind trying to disturb my sleep to prevent dreams or memories from the past to emerge (this happens occasionally, I dream quite often).
I have also noticed I need to wake up once or twice every night to go to the toilet for an old pee!! I think the same mechanism of diversion is at work here. |
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Topic |
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Can't find comfortable sleeping position
