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lobstershack
Australia
250 Posts |
 Posted - 01/18/2005 : 12:26:13
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Hi board,
So today I'm experiencing a bad day. My headache is worse than usual, but I am trying to stay strong and constantly recite the principles when I begin to focus in on the pain. I got to thinking, what exactly is going on in my life that could possibly bring this on, and guess what, I started school again today after a month-long winter break. I'm sure that is enough to exacerbate symptoms. Like, I just mentioned, whenever I start to focus on my headache--which is quite often on a bad day--I tell myself it's merely psychological, harmless, etc. But is this enough? In other words, when we say "think psychologically" must I try and think about particular psychological "events" that would be bothering me, or a recitation of TMS tenets enough?
Also, I was journaling the other night and came up with a few interesting points that I would like to share. It seems to me that a majority of my psychological issues stem from the need to have absolute control over my life--enter TMS pain and OCD. There is something inside of me that is trying to prevent me from fully letting go, living in the moment, and just plain old having fun. Although you would be hard pressed to think such thoughts after meeting me--oh the irony! It sounds simplistic--almost trite--but I have a feeling that such a premise might be quite relevant in others' experiences. Am I correct in saying this? Furthermore, I am trying hard to determine where my deep-seated feelings of inadequacy stem from, to no avail thus far. Is this ok? Because the perfectionist part of my says, "You must find out the exact reason why you feel so inadequate!" But I do remember a post specifically saying you need not try and look so hard for that "nugget" so to speak. I think I am done for now. Just wanted to vent a bit. Hope everyone is doing well; it's FREEZING here in Westchester (New York for all those unfamiliar).
Seth |
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Tunza
New Zealand
198 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2005 : 12:48:43
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Hi Seth,
As far as how "deep" you need to try and get to get the pain to go away I think it actually varies from person to person. There is a range from people who read the book(s) and get better just from the knowledge and others who can see that they definately fit the profile but need to do more work. Baseball65 and AnneG are two people who spring to mind who have been successful in the latter category (there are many others too). I am finding myself in the latter catgeory.
I have just bought "The Journey" book and CD by Brandon Bays in which she teaches you a process involving going down through the layers of your emotions to see what in your past causes the emotional patterns in your life. For eg I have a huge fear of abandonment that makes me "clingy" with my partner, always wanting reassurance that he loves me. The therapist I used to see tried to get me to change my thought patterns (cognitive behavioural therapy) and this only worked to a certain extent (and didn't affect pain levels at all). The Journey work involves feeling this fear (without wallowing in it)instead of repressing it by trying to change it cognitively and then "dropping down through it to see what's underneath". Apparently there is a lot more underneath that can be accessed. While I realise this doesn't go along exactly with what Sarno says (he says we can't know what is truly underneath) I think I need to give it a go. I'll let you know how it goes.
An update on me: I have had great success with some pains but others keep popping up (right now I'm dealing with achilles/foot pains that came on when I started running again after stopping due to knee pain. I also have shoulder, wrist, elbow pains of varying intensity).
Kat
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Baseball65
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2005 : 13:04:48
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I was talking to Albert this weekend,and I answered that question the same....it varies.I think it's a combination of that persons previous experiences,their current life/living situation,and their speculations on the future...school,career,family etc.
When my pain got my attention,I didn't just say"oh..this is all psychological"...I would with great force,try to visualize bashing in the head of a guy who had ripped me off in a music business deal.
I had the good fortune to be ripped off by someone I THOUGHT to be a friend,right as I began to read the book.
So,obviously anger at one guy was NOT what caused my symptoms,but forcefully and consciously running an in-house film of me beating him with a bat,was enough to retrain my brain that I was plenty aware of it's trick,and capapble of handling it without a symptom.
I also suffer(ed) from OCD,but I turned it into my favor by obsessing on how profoundly angry I was at this guy whom I had worked in a trusting relationship with for months.
I was so overwhelmed by the simplicity of it,I had a hard time with impatience.....I understood it sooooo quick,but the results took longer than my impatient little self could stand.
I was back at work in 5 weeks,but it was 6 months before the drivehome-sciatica went away,and about 18 months for the 'first day of a new job' sciatica to go away.....I have 10-20 jobs a year,so it wasn't a conditioning thing I could address everyday like say....running or twisting or bending.
If I had to know the EXACT reason,I might still be in pain....who could ever say,even if you've discovered a little truth that you have EXACTLY comprehended everything that goes on down there.It's a like a mutual exclusivity principle in science....occams razor they call it in physics...because it is the not fully understood,and lies beyond our ability to understand,we can only speculate past a certain point.
peace....
Baseball65 |
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Random Ramblings...
