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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
 Posted - 02/25/2010 : 18:01:05
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I have been thinking & have a question.
The unconscious mind gives us pain so that we can focus on it rather that what is going on in our lives.The pain usually come at a time when it perceives that the reservoir of rage is full. Sarno says that it does so to protect us from these feelings. OK I get that.
Now according to Sarno we should therefore not think about the physiscal but focus on the psychological by asking questions like what is bothering me or by journaling. When we focus on the psychological & start delving into the past & thinking about what is bothering us doesn’t that make the unconscious want to increase the pain levels even more so that we focus even more on the physical? Isn't that the strategy in the first plsce?
So by delving into the past or trying to focus on what is bothering me in life am I not actually making the pain worse ?
Any thoughts?
Good Luck & Good Health
Mala |
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marsha
252 Posts |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 18:49:24
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Mala,
Maybe it is more important to focus on why we repress our emotions . The reasons why we repress may be caused by our past experiences , the way we have learned to survive and deal with life. And, yes , our subconscious may want to rebel and cause us more pain .
In another post I believe you asked for more concrete answers as to how some have worked to overcome pain. For me not focusing on the pain has been an important step for my recovery.No more fighting the pain. I feel real pain but I do not discuss it or focus on it. I think about why the pain is there and usually I can identify a stress that is causing the pain. Those stresses come from my past. All of us have different reasons for our pain.
My survival depended on my repressing my emotions. To feel emotion is a greater risk for me than it is to feel physical pain. This may not make sense to you but for me it was crucial to understand that.
My recovery began when I allowed myself to feel not react and not to fight the pain. Yes, there are days that I think that life isn't worth living with this physical pain but there are less of them now.
I realized that experiencing emotional pain was too much for me when my daughter was in the middle of a devastating experience in her life. She lives 3,000 miles away from me so I flew out to give her some moral support. I stayed with he for a few weeks and then I had to return home. I must say that I am not fond of flying but on my return home I had no fear of flying. My thoughts upon boarding the plane were that if the plane crashed it would be OK with me. Facing the emotion upheaval in our lives was so difficult to deal with I thought that if I died it would be easier than facing all the painful emotions.
I hate the physical pain but it is the emotional stuff I fear.
The journey for me has been long and difficult. I am better. You will be also.
Check out Monte's post . They were very helpful .
Marsha |
Edited by - marsha on 02/25/2010 20:31:51 |
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catspine
USA
239 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2010 : 00:39:39
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quote:
So by delving into the past or trying to focus on what is bothering me in life am I not actually making the pain worse ?
Yes it may do that for a while but if this is the case it will also confirm the disproportionate influence your mind has on your physical condition which will of course reinforce the TMS diagnosis and that's a good news because you will know which way to go without hesitating.
The other good news is that if you are on the right track the pain won't last . |
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winnieboo
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2010 : 07:09:17
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Mala,
I think Marsha is spot on. It's as much about conditioning as it is about the past. Our style of coping was necessary for survival in the past, but in the present, that coping style is dysfunctional. For some of us, past pain and trauma was so great, repressing it was the only way to contain it.
I'm currently still sorting through what looming "thing" conjures the pain, and I'm noticing that it's usually something in the present. The reaction is what is linked to the past. It's a dysfuntional and disproportionate reaction that was learned during trauma or without a teacher (or with a lacking one). That's where this "feel the feelings" and hit the pillow business comes in. It's about learning to have a "normal" reaction to life, today.
Sarno's psychotherapy recommendation is designed for those whose reactions are locked in unhealthy patterns. His idea is that by understanding what happened as a child, one will be able to let go of it and move forward. This is psychodynamic theory. But, I think you have to take it further and learn new conditioning, or unlearn the old.
Finally, I wanted to mention that throughout my journey I've noticed that when I DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING, I get pain. It could be as simple as agreeing to go to a restaurant that hubby likes but I don't. I will say, "Sure!" and then find myself with a stiff neck for the next two hours. Better reaction: "Sorry honey, that's not my favorite place; let's go somewhere else." What's so hard about that? (I'm hearing my Mom and Dad say that I'm disagreeable, a pain, a drama queen, picky, etc...just not the reality 40 years later.) It's resistance. We are putting up resistance to the feelings which manifest as pain and then we put up more resistance to the physical pain. Complicated! Stay focused on the feelings and the reactions. Simpler!
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Edited by - winnieboo on 02/28/2010 07:31:20 |
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jerica
USA
94 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2010 : 10:10:48
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quote:
Originally posted by winnieboo
What's so hard about that? (I'm hearing my Mom and Dad say that I'm disagreeable, a pain, a drama queen, picky, etc...just not the reality 40 years later.) It's resistance. We are putting up resistance to the feelings which manifest as pain and then we put up more resistance to the physical pain.
My old doc used to tell me I was "protesting." God I wish I could see him again but he's in another state. He helped me through a lot.
I get that thing where you "hear" your mom or dad etc. all those people in your head and what they had to say. It's like you're being a people pleaser and no one is ever satisfied, anyway. |
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windy
USA
84 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2010 : 07:45:10
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Mala,
Per yoga, we are given the pain by the unconscious mind specifically so we DO delve into a psychological issue that is crying to be heard.
For me the combo of TMS theory and yoga practice + philosophy has been a winning one that has helped me stave off other tms symptomology before it can truly gain a toehold. For me, yoga is the soothe part of the soothe/rage ratio. And anyone can do yoga, regardless of physical issues (real or imagined) because even doing slow abdominial breathing and re-assuring yourself that "everything is perfect just the way it is/you are perfect just the way you are" is also yoga. |
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A question for all
