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avik
128 Posts |
 Posted - 10/11/2010 : 18:49:24
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I know there is another thread that indirectly addresses this; wanted to get a sense for what most people think about this topic.
I understand that the TMS "purists" all think that the "Analyst" approach is most effective as it helps you uncover repressed emotions and essentially dig up things from the past that may contributing to the repression process.
However, I am hearing (and reading) more and more that CBT actually is proven to be more effective for treating pain syndromes/psycho-somatic disorders.
Id like to hear what peoples experiences have been and why they think one may be as/more effective than the other. |
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Hillbilly
USA
385 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2010 : 08:10:37
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Avik,
You will have to make your own determination about this. I think what we believe about our symptoms is the foundation. If you are of the belief that the explanation for your symptoms given by the books written by Dr. Sarno is correct, you will probably have some conflict about veering from the prescribed path of treatment. To me, that conflict is unnecessary and unfortunate, but it is an example of a larger debate between Freudians and behaviorists that goes back long before TMS theory came about.
When I sought help, I realized that what I was attempting to do was to change my way of thinking about my symptoms in a way that my reasoning rejected outright. This just caused more turmoil, more stress and led to more symptoms. I didn't believe the explanation of unknown factors in my unconscious wrecking havoc to distract me or that my brain was doing me a favor. I settled on the explanation given mainly by Dr. Claire Weekes and supported by Dr. Abraham Low that my problems were the direct effect of brooding, mostly about how to cope with job stress and the changes in lifestyle brought about by having two little ones at home and virtually no "me time."
Round and round the thoughts of how to escape the strain went daily, and once I got symptoms, the round and round began anew, only this time it was an additional, more immediate threat to my health and well-being. The other brooding pattern did not resolve, and in my quiet moments when my symptoms were reposing after another stressful day, the job search cycle of inertia would take over, and so it went with my body and mind never, ever relaxing and keeping my nerves upset and in a state of constant arousal. Again, the plausibility test will be your own to administer.
What my CBT-trained coach/therapist was able to get me to do was to courageously go about changing the things that I could. My most immediate steps were to accept that the symptoms I was having were totally, utterly benign, and so to behave that way. This got me off the couch and back into the world. I started making business calls again and laid the foundation for going into business for myself and managing my time better. My free time was spent thinking about how little free time I had instead of doing things I wanted to do with what I had. That needed changing. It is referred to as "stewing without doing."
I think that with regard to symptoms, whichever explanation one buys, the important part to keep in mind is that they are benign. Then, the question is which type of therapy is best suited to changing your behaviors right now to reflect your real beliefs and make the best of your time despite the fact that you have symptoms. For some, that step will never be reached because they don't believe their symptoms are benign and get stuck in the cycle of analyzing their symptoms versus yesterday or last month, get something new and run back to the doctor for more tests, etc.
There is ample evidence of all this on this and other forums. But be careful. There may be those who have a personal interest in espousing one mode of treatment versus another, be it emotional, economic or otherwise. In the end, you are the arbiter of your life, so act that way. Gather your information objectively and step forward with courage. It doesn't really matter what others think, myself included.
I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.
Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2010 : 10:45:59
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CBT and psychoanalysis are two completely different forms of treatment. CBT is more "in vogue" and many who practice it completely dismiss Freudian based psychoanalysis. This is unfortunate, but typical of medical science and of humans in general.
Recovery from TMS is a highly personal journey. There is no magic bullet, no quick fix, no sure fire way of gaining relief.
Although it is overly simplistic, there are two basic elements to TMS treatment:
1. Change your attitude, thoughts, and behavior towards the symptoms to undo the conditioning.
2. Explore the root psychological causes that led to the symptoms in the first place.
Some dismiss #2 entirely, but for many people, it may be essential to truly understanding one's personality traits and how they developed, in order to be more successful at #1.
Although Dr. Sarno does not prescribe CBT, I believe it may be helpful in goal #1. IMO, anything that can help you to accept the benign nature of the symptoms and learn to ignore them is worth exploring.
However, if there are emotional conflicts that one is not fully realizing or facing up to, psychoanalysis may be helpful to learn more about oneself and understand the root cause of the symptoms. |
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Hillbilly
USA
385 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2010 : 12:22:21
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quote:
CBT is more "in vogue" and many who practice it completely dismiss Freudian based psychoanalysis. This is unfortunate, but typical of medical science and of humans in general.
The same is true in reverse, no?
I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.
Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Fox
USA
496 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2010 : 07:27:41
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| Hillbilly - thanks for your explanation as to why CBT was helpful for you. I must say that it was very helpful to me to read your post and it explains your point of view quite elegantly...I do want to state that I believe that Freudian psychoanalysis is not in vogue nowadays. Try finding a psychoanalyst. They seem to be close to extinct...Some of that may be some current day thinking that the Freudian system is sexist (I just skimmed a book regarding that). Also it is prolonged. In addition, the therapist is not directive...Maybe a short try at a briefer, more directive therapy like CBT would be useful, but if you didn't obtain a successful outcome quickly, you could then go the Freudian route and see if a significant part of your reservoir of rage was attributable to unconscious, childhood-related material. |
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Fox
USA
496 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2010 : 09:09:39
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| Oh - and I want to second your endorsement of Claire Weekes. I refer to one of her books frequently (can't remember the name of it right now). It has been tremendously helpful to me when I get into spells of rumination over what I could have done differently regarding this or that event in my life (perfectionism) - as she says: face, accept, float, and let time pass. |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2010 : 11:21:30
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I did some sessions with Dr. Donald Dubin who unfortunately passed away. I did several in person in conjunction with seeing Dr. Schechter and some by phone after returning home. I recall on a TMS cassette series by Dr. Schechter, where Dr. Dubin is featured, he mentioned the most sessions he had to do was about a dozen to get the TMS message across.
I would recommend not trying to reinvent the wheel by teaching therapists unfamiliar with TMS about it. Find a TMS specific therapist listed on several of the TMS practitioner lists. They can be found here, at the TMS Wiki or at the TarpitYoga site.
I think phone sessions can be as beneficial as going to a therapist's office or even better. Due to the very nature of psychosomatic disorders being a "mental health" issue, which is taboo in our society, the whole therapist office visit is creepy, at least I found it so. The experience is more demeaning then having to stand in line at the un-employment office in the good ol' days, to pick up your check, praying you don't run in to anyone you know.
DR. SARNO'S 12 DAILY REMINDERS:
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6415
TAKE THE HOLMES-RAHE STRESS TEST
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale
Some of my favorite excerpts from _THE DIVIDED MIND_ :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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Edited by - tennis tom on 10/13/2010 23:14:05 |
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Psychoanalysis vs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
