| Author |
 Topic  |
|
eautmb
France
23 Posts |
 Posted - 09/28/2011 : 09:48:19
|
I’m very confused and stressed at the moment. I’ve just moved to France and while it was a very welcome move I’m in crisis.
I’ve never been big on pain but my problems have been mostly digestive as well as weird symptoms everywhere in my body.
I was diagnosed with IBS many years ago and every time there’s trouble in my life I have IBS. My main IBS symptom some years ago was nausea. When I just was happy for the nausea to be there, the nausea turned into indigestion. When I “beat” indigestion by removing gluten from my diet, gas made an appearance.
I’m inclined to think that my anxiety generated by the move is causing my digestive problems, mostly gas, burping and some gut discomfort. It seems to me that every time I focus on a symptom, it gets worse. If I read something on the internet about my IBS symptom I seem to adopt it and add it to the symptom and so the problem keeps growing. So for instance I started having some gas and so I got obsessed with it and read on it and then I decided it might be too much acid so yesterday I got this kind of burning feeling in the abdomen as well. This happens a lot with other symptoms too.
Oh, I’ve also noticed that most of the time my TMS symptoms revolve around illnesses I have heard about or illnesses people I know have suffered. I have extremely good memory for symptoms and medical stuff. Once I’ve heard of something nasty I can never forget it. Also every time I develop something, even a cold, I think it could be something sinister because I once read that such and such... and so on.
I journal about my feelings but after a while it gets boring because it’s basically the same stuff. I’m in a lovely place where I really wanted to be for a long time, I don’t have to go to work (this is probably causing me anger surprisingly), everything seems ok but I’m not happy. I guess I hate change and moving is a big change in one’s life. So I know that but it doesn’t help my symptoms.
The question is, when I’m in the middle of it, how do I break the cycle? How can I stop focusing on my symptoms? |
|
|
Javizy
United Kingdom
76 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2011 : 09:59:18
|
quote:
Originally posted by eautmb
I’m inclined to think that my anxiety generated by the move is causing my digestive problems, mostly gas, burping and some gut discomfort.
It is. Without a doubt. Stress is enough to cause digestive problems by itself, and you don't need to go all "Freudian" to explain it; it's a scientific fact. How do you expect your digestive system to function when you continually cut of its blood supply, crush it with abdominal muscle tension, and ruin its biochemistry with stress hormones?
Start becoming aware of your thought processes and how they affect your body. How does it feel when you worry and become anxious? Do you respond to stress in a calm, logical manor or react to it through habit? Are the things you're thinking always true? Do you have to think them, or even pay attention to the thoughts? The idea that you could choose to respond differently if you made a conscious effort to try, as simple as it is, is foreign to most people.
All you need to believe is that stress is practically poison for your body, and only exists if you allow it to. We can't avoid stressors, but our brains are plastic and allow us to change habits, thought patterns, beliefs etc if we decide to. |
 |
|
|
eautmb
France
23 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 01:43:55
|
Thank you for your reply. You seem to be aware of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I’ve been reading Get out of your mind and into your life and The happiness trap. I probably just need to apply the concepts. I find it very difficult not to listen to my thoughts though even if they’re just that, thoughts.
I have worked out why I get into a state of anxiety which triggers symptoms but I seem to be unable to stop the thinking right at the start. It’s like my mind likes to worry. It looks like it doesn’t know any better. Out of habit perhaps like you suggest.
Thinking rationally doesn’t work. It works initially but soon I’ll get a different worry, then I’ll have to fight that.
ACT may work though. Just give up the struggle and go along with it, invite the feelings or symptoms to be, just observe them and discard your internal dialogue as a bunch of thoughts, ideas, etc which may or may not have anything to do with reality.
I can see how it could work because I’ve had some success with panic/anxiety attacks after applying Claire Weekes method which is a bit like ACT in some ways. Float with the anxiety, be with it, observe it, stop being afraid of it, it’s just a feeling.
The problem is that when my anxiety radar is high it is difficult to give up the struggle and discard my thoughts as thoughts, particularly with new symptoms and it just happens that when I get used to a new symptom and I’m cool with it, it gets replaced by a new one.
|
|
|
|
Javizy
United Kingdom
76 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 03:14:38
|
If worrying is what you've done over a long period of time, then your mind does like to worry. Your brain learns to do what you ask if it very efficiently, even if it happens to destroy your health. If you put in long-term effort to change your thought patterns, your brain will begin optimising itself to maintain them, just like it does when you learn to speak a new language or play an instrument. You don't need to beat yourself up for continuing to worry, you just need to keep trying to improve! Taking control of your mind is a skill and the most important thing in acquiring any skill is consistent practice.
I found the book Rewire Your Brain by John B. Arden PhD, a neuroscientist, a really interesting take on this subject. Do you wonder why you place so much emotional significance on certain thoughts or events, why you have fears, why you do/think things even though you know they're bad for you? He explains many of these things based on current brain research, and offers advice on how to improve them. If you have any interest in the brain I really recommend it, but you might also find it really helps complement ACT.
If you want to educate yourself on your digestive system, Digestive Wellness (4th Edition) by Elizabeth Lipski is absolutely fantastic. It'll confirm the role of stress in your problems (there's even a chapter on stress reduction). There's so much information in there that I think it's a must-read for everyone, whether they have a bowel disorder or not, since your bowels can cause you problems all over your body. If you find stress reduction isn't enough to cure you, you should find the answer in the book. Things like dysbiosis and pH imbalance can require some special attention, but it's usually just a case of some dietary changes and maybe a bit of exercise! |
|
|
|
eautmb
France
23 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 03:50:59
|
I'll check out the books you recommend. Thanks.
Years ago I started to run and doing yoga as well as meditating as a way to manage my anxiety. I still run most days and do yoga and try to meditate at least 15 minutes every day. My diet is pretty good too with no caffeine or alcohol, lots of fruits and veggies, fish, meat, etc. The main problem is that I don't seem to be able to manage my daily worries very well. It depends on how calm I'm feeling generally. Sometimes I get trapped by my thoughts instantly and once that's happened I find it nearly impossible to get out.
I'm a perfectionist and I was under a lot of stress at work for over a year managing a large project and very few resources and support. It turned out very well but I think that my stress levels went through the roof then and they've kind of stayed there. That's usually how it happens. Something external worries me for a period of time, usually stuff out of my control like work, and then after a while the stress starts to generate symptoms and then I start focusing on those symptoms.
Also I guess I didn't realise at the time how stressful moving to another country and not working was going to be. Maybe I need to be more compassionate towards myself and maybe find myself a job. |
|
|
|
balto
839 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 04:25:00
|
From what you've said I think you're living a very lonely life. Alone in a foreign country. Avoiding people. Your life style is very conducive to stress symptoms. We human need meaningful and positive interaction with other humans to keep our mind healthy. If you notice, usually our symptoms lessen or disappear while we're in a deep conversation with someone. Our symptom will leave when our mind is not focus on our body or our symptoms. Even harden, tough criminals, when they were held in isolation in prison they will soon go crazy. Because when we're alone for too long, our mind automaticly focus on our body and our problems. Unless you are a buddhist monk who gave up everything in life and go in a cave to meditate, no amount of positive self talk, no amount of meditation will be able to turn our thinking from negative to positive. You spent your day feeling sorry for yourself, searching the web for your symptoms, your treatment. You are in a loop of fear - symptoms -fear...
I think you should force yourself to go out and meet up with people more. Choose positive, energetic people to hang out with, and ACT if you are positive and energetic too. Over time, your actions, your new positive life style will force your brain to rewire itself and be more positive.
Stress symptoms are what we normally feel when under stress. It happened naturally, automaticly. Just like we feel hot when the temp is high and cold when the temp is low. How can you talk yourself into not feeling hot when it is 100F out there? We need external help. We need to get ourself in a place with A/C. Under stress, being alone, we need help. We need to be with people, positive people.
Just my thought. Goodluck. |
Edited by - balto on 09/29/2011 04:28:25 |
|
|
|
art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 06:02:56
|
"Thinking rationally doesn’t work. It works initially but soon I’ll get a different worry, then I’ll have to fight that. "
For worriers, thinking rarely works. Even positive thoughts are like little Trojan horses in which negative thoughts hide until they're safely behind your mental gates. Then they pounce.
If I think, "This is ridiculous. Th chances of XYZ terrible thing happening are very small;
two seconds later I'm thinking "Ah, but XYZ terrible thing happens every day to other people. Why not to me?"
If I think, "I"m strong and healthy and worrying about XYZ disease is a waste of time:"
two seconds later I'm thinking "Ah, but everybody's strong and healthy right up until they're not."
"This pain can't hurt me," becomes "oh yes it can."
"Everything's going to be ok" becomes "Oh not it's not."
At a certain point journaling's a waste of time in my opinion. This is a fear based illness and recovery depends on finding ways to reduce that fear.
Instead of worrying, breathe, exercise, make friends, find a purpose. Understand that worry and stress are the root causes of your symptoms and dedicate yourself to finding ways to replace those destructive emotions with healthier ones...
No one size fits all. We're all sick differently, we all recover differently although the basics are generally the same/
|
Edited by - art on 09/29/2011 07:16:06 |
|
|
|
eautmb
France
23 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 07:05:16
|
| balto, I'm not totally alone, I've moved with my husband and children but I spend most of the day by myself, so yes, I would say I feel lonely right now. I know that being on my own most of the time is part of the problem. I know that I need to get out and make friends or at least acquaintances. And I plan to do that though I'm not a very social person so that is another source of stress for me. |
|
|
|
eautmb
France
23 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 07:12:28
|
art, you're right too.
I know that fear is what fuels my worries and keeps me worried. Fear at many levels not only about health issues.
I probably need to open up to people a bit more, stop fearing rejection for instance. Rejection won't kill me I guess, though it may kill my ego...
|
|
|
|
art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 07:23:18
|
My personal belief is that TMS and in fact all anxiety and stress related illness benefits greatly from spiritual work. This obviously is different for everyone. I think it must be very difficult for women who don't have careers and whose children are growing up, or harder still grown, to find meaning in their lives...
I do believe though that a true and lasting recovery depends on it. Were you happier when you were working? IS there something you'd like to be doing that you're not doing now? You just have to ask yourself the right questions, then take whatever action is appropriate. |
|
|
|
Javizy
United Kingdom
76 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 07:38:52
|
Hobbies are another great way to fill time in a meaningful way. Some of them can lead to great achievements or even jobs if that's what you want.
Are you studying the French language? Some people find languages a pain, but they can be a lot of fun and very rewarding with the right approach, and language exchange is a great way to make friends. It's also an effective form of brain training! |
|
|
|
Back2-It
USA
438 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 07:41:38
|
I agree with all on here, but balto's message about people being alone holds a lot of truth. Maybe the most truth. Most of us are not monks.
"Bridges Freeze Before Roads" |
|
|
|
art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 08:00:08
|
quote:
Originally posted by Back2-It
I agree with all on here, but balto's message about people being alone holds a lot of truth. Maybe the most truth. Most of us are not monks.
"Bridges Freeze Before Roads"
This caught my attention. Where do you see anything that would indicate anything to do with being a monk? I see nothing but practical advice. "Finding meaning" need not, and usually does not having anything to do with asceticism, or even finding God. Hobbies, career, friends, charity work, even getting a pet is all a good start. Spirituality need not involve anything greater than finding other things to worry about besides our selves.. |
Edited by - art on 09/29/2011 08:03:28 |
|
|
|
eautmb
France
23 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 09:09:50
|
art
I work in IT and I've always worked and enjoyed working though after many years I was kind of looking forward to relax for a while.
It's not my first time in Paris, I speak French and I thought it would be a nice change. I didn't count on how hard change can be. I didn't expect anxiety to hit me that quickly either.
I have a long list of things I want to do, hobbies, etc and I've been doing some of it. What tends to happens though is that when I go through an anxiety/TMS patch I put everything on hold until it goes away and I'm "ready".
One of my priorities is meeting people and I will do that. |
|
|
|
Javizy
United Kingdom
76 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 09:26:41
|
quote:
Originally posted by art
quote:
Originally posted by Back2-It
I agree with all on here, but balto's message about people being alone holds a lot of truth. Maybe the most truth. Most of us are not monks.
This caught my attention. Where do you see anything that would indicate anything to do with being a monk? I see nothing but practical advice. "Finding meaning" need not, and usually does not having anything to do with asceticism, or even finding God. Hobbies, career, friends, charity work, even getting a pet is all a good start. Spirituality need not involve anything greater than finding other things to worry about besides our selves..
Didn't he mean that since we're not monks we struggle with solitude? |
|
|
|
tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 09:34:37
|
quote:
Originally posted by eautmb
...I’m inclined to think that my anxiety generated by the move is causing my digestive problems, mostly gas, burping and some gut discomfort.
...So for instance I started having some gas and so I got obsessed with it and read on it and then I decided it might be too much acid so yesterday I got this kind of burning feeling in the abdomen as well.
...The question is, when I’m in the middle of it, how do I break the cycle? How can I stop focusing on my symptoms?
This is a no brainer TMS classic. If you go to the Rahe-Holmes list in my sig below you will find the direct life stressing situations that are causing it--there's your science.
Women are so hung-up about FARTING! They've made a disease out of something that is as natural to our bodies as breathing. You can look at FARTING as an internal spiritual breath, that you contribute to the collective planet's Bio-Breath. Every woman I know is absolutely mortified when she accidentally cuts loose with some gas. I recall while having sex with a lady friend and she cut a tiny girl fart and she started waving her arms about to dissipate the vapors. My girlfriend will occasionally let one rip in her sleep. She eats a strict vegan (BORING!) diet and I'm convinced this is because she is so afraid she might cut loose with some gas while working on a client.
My yoga teacher was invited to Hong Kong to be a guest teacher by a
group of ladies and while there they took him to one of the city's finest dining clubs atop a skyscraper. After a sumptuous meal they all proceeded to fart away to show their complements to the chef.
You are lucky to be in a cultured civilized place like Paris, where they have a culture that lives the good life. There they eat all kinds of good stuff like, sweatbreads (Jackie Kennedy's favorite), tripe and HORSE. I'm sure that once you get away from the tourists and new-age wannabee's and mingle with the true Parisians, you will find farting is a common high-caste custom since the days of Marie Antoinette.
I don't understand why women are so different from men in regards to the FART? Men (except for metro's) enjoy and try to outdo each other in volume and length. They often go on trips alone or in groups using the ruse that they are hunting or fishing just so they can let 'em rip and enjoy!
Howard Stern, a Sarno Success Story, has an English bloke who comes on his show dressed in a super-hero costume by the name of Mr. Methane:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMl_jo5aX90
He can fart in tune to Rolling Stones hits. It's HILARIOUS and my g.f. runs out of the house whenever he's on--WHOOPEE!
Your problem is not a problem at all, but part of a very natural digestive process. So, eat some cheese and pate', go out to the Bois de Boulogne and contribute to the collective gluten. You will help the ozone layer and prevent global warming.
=====================================================================
TAKE THE HOLMES-RAHE STRESS TEST
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale
|
Edited by - tennis tom on 09/30/2011 01:24:54 |
|
|
|
Back2-It
USA
438 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 10:05:14
|
quote:
Originally posted by art
quote:
Originally posted by Back2-It
I agree with all on here, but balto's message about people being alone holds a lot of truth. Maybe the most truth. Most of us are not monks.
"Bridges Freeze Before Roads"
This caught my attention. Where do you see anything that would indicate anything to do with being a monk? I see nothing but practical advice. "Finding meaning" need not, and usually does not having anything to do with asceticism, or even finding God. Hobbies, career, friends, charity work, even getting a pet is all a good start. Spirituality need not involve anything greater than finding other things to worry about besides our selves..
Art, not sure what you're getting at here. I was simply referring to balto's previous post about being a monk in regards to solitude. Also agreeing that the solitary position many find themselves in contributes to too much introspection, body sensitivity, etc.. It was my reaction to balto's post, nothing more and nothing less. Sheesh!
"Bridges Freeze Before Roads" |
|
|
|
eautmb
France
23 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 13:42:42
|
LOL, loved the video and the stories.
So far I haven't heard any French farting but I'll be listening.
By the way, gas is sometimes painful. |
|
|
|
tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 15:54:01
|
quote:
Originally posted by eautmb
LOL, loved the video and the stories.
So far I haven't heard any French farting but I'll be listening.
By the way, gas is sometimes painful.
Thank you Eautmb, I wasn't sure how that was going to be taken or if I was going to lay a big bomb with it  .
On a more serious note, is it painful when you hold it in or let it out, if you know what I mean?
"Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional." Author Unknown
|
|
|
|
art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2011 : 18:32:55
|
quote:
Originally posted by Javizy
quote:
Originally posted by art
quote:
Originally posted by Back2-It
I agree with all on here, but balto's message about people being alone holds a lot of truth. Maybe the most truth. Most of us are not monks.
This caught my attention. Where do you see anything that would indicate anything to do with being a monk? I see nothing but practical advice. "Finding meaning" need not, and usually does not having anything to do with asceticism, or even finding God. Hobbies, career, friends, charity work, even getting a pet is all a good start. Spirituality need not involve anything greater than finding other things to worry about besides our selves..
Didn't he mean that since we're not monks we struggle with solitude?
Ah. Makes much more sense. Thank you. |
|
|
|
eautmb
France
23 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2011 : 00:13:15
|
quote:
Originally posted by tennis tom
quote:
Originally posted by eautmb
LOL, loved the video and the stories.
So far I haven't heard any French farting but I'll be listening.
By the way, gas is sometimes painful.
On a more serious note, is it painful when you hold it in or let it out, if you know what I mean?
"Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional." Author Unknown
Gas can get trapped sometimes and in some people it can be painful, particularly if you have IBS. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
How do I break the TMS cycle?
