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lobstershack
Australia
250 Posts |
 Posted - 02/02/2005 : 17:56:22
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Hi!
Why is it that many times the literature published on TMS suggests a "cure" in a relatively short period of time, say, six to eight weeks? I myself have learned from being a member of this board that it does in fact take much longer.
Also, I must say that today has been the first day in about a week where my TMS mantra seems to be faltering a bit. I know that doubt is part of the process, and I am trying to work through it, but I just wanted to let everyone know.
Lastly, can anyone relate to feeling that they are the only one in the world experiencing their particular manifestation of TMS --be it headache, backache, leg pain, etc. There is no way that my chronic headache and knee "irritation"--plus other trivial things like twitching and upper back/jaw tension--can be anything else but TMS. Any even though chronic headaches are mentioned explicitly in Sarno, Schechter, and Sopher, part of me wants to think that no one gets this manifestation and I'm the only one, and because of that it will not get better. (It's amazing what a "bad" day can do; reading what I just wrote and comparing it to my recent posts is like night and day) I suppose this feeling is perfectly normal?
(My therapist is on vacation so please don't mind me doing an excessive amount of ranting and venting over the next two weeks.)
Seth |
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n/a
374 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2005 : 02:47:00
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Feeling like the manifestations you experience are unique and that no-one else has anything like it is really understandable, Seth. One the one hand you probably are surrounded by people who don't accept what you experience is linked to emotions and may well try to persuade you otherwise, you have very likely been given physical diagnoses of your symptoms by doctors and other professionals. Newspapers, magazines, television programmes and advertisements bombard all of us with so-called pain conditions and their so-called cures.
On the other hand you have Dr Sarno's books and other books relating to TMS and a board where you can correspond with people who experience mind/body conditions. People who are far away and you never get to meet.
If family, friends, professionals, television etc re-inforced that what we suffer from is TMS and we could meet regularly as a group to chat face to face, I think that many of us would not take the time we do to recover.
Best wishes
Anne |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2005 : 07:51:50
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quote:
Why is it that many times the literature published on TMS suggests a "cure" in a relatively short period of time, say, six to eight weeks? I myself have learned from being a member of this board that it does in fact take much longer.
If you were writing a book about your theories, I'm sure you would present them in the most positive light possible.
Dr. Sarno's books are very convincing -- they need to be if they are going to have the desired effect on people. But at the same time you have to take some of it with a grain of salt.
quote:
Also, I must say that today has been the first day in about a week where my TMS mantra seems to be faltering a bit.
You need to stop monitoring your day-to-day progress and take a long-term view. Accept that ups and downs is a normal part of the process. If you get frustrated or lose faith every time you have a setback, you will never make any progress.
quote:
Lastly, can anyone relate to feeling that they are the only one in the world experiencing their particular manifestation of TMS --be it headache, backache, leg pain, etc.
This is doubt creeping in. The fact is, everyone experiences a slightly different manifestation. TMS is highly personal. The symptoms are tailored for each individual in such a way that it succeeds at its goal of distraction. So many people get wrapped up in the symptoms, and that is not the correct approach.
One must realize that obsessive thoughts about TMS are a TMS equivalent. Instead of spending all that energy wondering if your symptoms are TMS, or worrying that the pain is returning, or concerned that you might not get better ... spend your energy on getting in touch with your feelings. That's the root of it all. |
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Albert
USA
210 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2005 : 09:44:11
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I know of several people who have had fast results. That doesn't mean that everybody is going to have fast results. Everybody is different. Some people work harder at it. Some people are more willing to look at the issues that get in the way. Some people have more issues than other people. Some people have more rigid psychological conditioning to overcome. Some people might already be touch in with their feelings. Perhaps even before finding out about TMS they were doing things such as journaling and were already open to the idea of the mind body connection.
I don't believe that the fact that some people take long time to get well refutes the fact that some people get well quickly. Once again, it is just that people are different. On this board you are more likely to find out about people who take longer than a few weeks. People who need only a few weeks are less likely to visit this board. |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2005 : 10:12:25
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Hi Seth,
AnneG, Albert and Dave gave some very good answers to your question. I concur whole-heartedly. The TMS "cure" should be looked at as less of a cure than the lifting of a dark veil between our minds and our bodies. I think of the TMS "cure" as more of a philosophy or a belief system. It perhaps, took your mind a lifetime, to develop the thought patterns that created "dis-ease" through the repression of internal rage--it may take a while to change those thought patterns. |
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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2005 : 20:34:12
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Remember too Seth that those patients have had the opportunity to meet sarno and get their diagnosis straight from the horse's mouth. I'd imagine that is pretty powerful. If someone very believable like him tells you you have tms then spends time explainimg it to you and then after that you go to his lectures, have follow up visits, talks on the phone etc. there is a high probability that your recovery would be quicker.
You would doubt less and believe more which is the key to quick recovery in tms. And also, I wonder about the definition of recover. Different people would have different perceptions about their recovery. There may be people with tms who still have some degree of pain and discomfort yet perceive themselves as being recovered compared to the way they were before.
Good Luck & Good Health
Mala |
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lobstershack
Australia
250 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2005 : 21:44:41
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Thank you all for the positive words. I do agree that one must not focus on day-to-day progress, but alas, this is quite hard sometimes. How did you guys and gals deal with this issue? Also, Mala, you're words got me worried for a moment. From what I surmised through this board and all the literature, is that a recovery in the sense that you are pain-free tends to be the rule rather than the exception; although I do admit everybody is different. I just hope that it goes away entirely for me (I'm pretty sure it will). Thanks again, your words mean a lot to me. Goodnight.
Seth |
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Oh dear, Seth is starting yet another thread!
