| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Shamrock
26 Posts |
 Posted - 03/20/2012 : 13:17:00
|
So I had a recurrence of back pain 2 weeks ago that's still sticking with me (Last time was 3 years ago and it went away eventually with TMS work).
I dug back into the Unlearn Your Pain book a week ago, and am finishing week 1 tonight. The pain has shifted (location and intensity). I'm also getting depression and anxiety. I thought it would be easy to knock it out quickly this time, but it's challenging.
The week before the pain hit, I was very anxious and having a few panic attacks because of some relationship issues with my girlfriend. Those issues are now resolved. I thought this would help the pain, but maybe it's too early to tell.
Last week I did have a hopeful experience while doing the Unlearn You Pain exercises. During a free writing exercise, the pain went from hot to cold and then vanished in a matter of minutes. I stood up pretty shocked, saying out loud, "this works!" I felt pretty good the next day. The day after that, the pain crept back.
I'm trying to stay hopeful and am working hard at the program. It's just hard when the fear comes back. |
|
|
balto
839 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 15:26:54
|
quote:
Originally posted by Shamrock
It's just hard when the fear comes back.
If you notice, the pain always come back when the fear is back. If you can get rid of that fearful feeling for good, the pain will cease. It has no reason to be there anymore. No fear, no stress chemicals, no pain. |
 |
|
|
Shamrock
26 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2012 : 14:36:01
|
Thanks, balto.
That seems to be the $1 million-dollar question with TMS: How to get rid of the fear? For the past several days, the fear has been getting worse (and the pain, too, at times.)
I've read extensively on the forum about banishing the fear, but I guess I'm still not getting it. My symptoms seem pretty constant, and physical activity doesn't make them worse. So I don't think hitting the gym hard would overcome my fear.
I think one thing driving the fear is that I supposed to fly to Europe with my GF in May. So I have this looming thought of "What if I'm not better by then... 10 hour plane ride... Ouch."
I've also given up an addiction recently, and there's fear that I've replaced pain for the addiction and that it will stay around. The pain has come when I've tried to kick the addiction in the past, so I think I'm linking it to that.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
- S |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
My story so far...
