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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
 Posted - 07/20/2012 : 23:40:55
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The anxiety that I posted about is related to my stomach. I seem to have an awful awful lot of gas 24/7 which is pressing on my chest. At the same time my lower abdomen feels inflammed. I have lost about 5 pounds this last week . I don't feel like eating. Even when I drink a sip of water there is so much belching its unbelievable. All the gas is pushing up not down. Then every night while I'm sleeping I wake drenched in sweat, gut hurting, heart hammering & feeling nauseous. Its freaking me out.I'm scared to go to bed.
has anyone experienced this?
Good Luck & Good Health
Mala |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2012 : 05:13:12
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Mala,
As I think Dave pointed out, you're still focusing on symptoms. It won't help ultimately to be reassured that other members have also experienced xyz symptom because you're going to have to do the same thing over and over again, ad infinitum. It's not about your symptoms, it's about how you create them. At a certain point you need to look beyond the physical.. UNtil you do that, you'll continue to suffer. |
Edited by - art on 07/21/2012 05:27:28 |
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Bugbear
United Kingdom
152 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2012 : 10:21:00
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Hi Mala
A while back Balto posted a long, long list of symptoms that anxiety can cause. The ones you list here all scream anxiety, in particular, the heart hammering. As Art says, you may find people who have had these symptoms but so what? How's this going to help? I have come across a multitude of sciatica sufferers. Knowing others suffer from this condition hasn't reassured me one jot. I've had to look inside myself to obtain any relief.
You say you are scared to go to bed. Put the physical symptoms aside. What do you fear these days? Is there something you are trying to avoid? What do you think triggered your anxiety?
Tonight at 8pm UK time Alan Gordon, a TMS psychotherapist, will be hosting an online event where he will be speaking to several people about their TMS issues. I guess this will be during the wee hours in Hong Kong but if you happen to wake up, why not listen in or participate. Last time he invited questions from listeners and had brief chats with them. If you wanted to participate you can let forestfortrees know in advance so he can include you on the agenda. If you can't make it, be sure to listen to the recording of the event that will most likely be posted on the wiki later in the week.
Best wishes,
Bugbear
Edit: just realized that Alan himself posted some information on the above. |
Edited by - Bugbear on 07/21/2012 10:29:21 |
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balto
839 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2012 : 10:32:13
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I suffered from all those symptoms you have mention there Mala. The belching was bad, the bloating was terrible and scary. It lead to night sweating and acid reflux and all kind of crazy symptoms.
They were all anxiety symptoms in my case and slow went away when I apply mindbody medicine. No fear, no pain Mala.
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No, I don't know everything. I'm just here to share my experience. |
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TaylorJoh
USA
113 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2012 : 20:20:21
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Hi Mala,
I posted here about 6 or 7 months ago about having gastritis. It was just the bane of my existence for 2 years. I received a lot of support and a couple really good tips like taking dhl and slippery elm. The support also helped me tremendously. I think we underestimate the power of "community" sometimes.
I was in so much pain that I held a heating pad to my stomach for hours a day. I still have scarring on my stomach because of it.
For me, relaxing, especially my stomach muscles and doing some sort of meditation was pivotal to healing. I would just walk around in a completely relaxed mode, I would even allow my stomach to protrude. I used to make sure my stomach muscles were always tight so that it would appear flatter. I no longer cared if my gut looked bigger, I relaxed!
Your freaking out, as you know is only exacerbating the problem. When you go to bed, get as comfortable as possible. Close your eyes, completely relax and think of positive things, get your mind off your tummy. I know it can be difficult, but with practice, you can do it.
Unfortunately, I'm back to square one with my stomach pain, because I started "freaking out" over stuff that is going on in my life. My stomach feels as though a hot, twisting knife is being jabbed through it. So, I will be taking my own advice and trying to get better AGAIN.
Oh and try to take naps and/or meditate throughout the day. I notice, the more I sleep, the faster I heal.
Anyway, I feel your pain. Just believe 100% that nothing is wrong with you (provided you've seen a physician and they agree) and you can recover from this.
Good luck.
Taylor |
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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2012 : 04:14:35
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Art I understand what you mean but perhaps it is becoz I am not 100% sure whether my symptoms are TMS that I keep asking. I imagine there are many like me out there. Also what is frustrating is the different advice, which is on offer by different people. Some say be kind to your id or inner child. Others write about punishing it. Some say ignore the pain, others tell you that they force themselves to continue with pushing through whatever movement it is that is causing them the pain. It’s all rather confusing.
Bugbear
quote:
What do you fear these days? Is there something you are trying to avoid? What do you think triggered your anxiety?
Believe me I have asked these questions many times. I have journaled & thought about this long & hard. Its not that there are no issues. I had a father who was an alcoholic & there are few other things that have happened as I was growing up. When I was journaling it would be like I HAD to find something to write about. In the end it was an unproductive exercise. Currently there have been no triggers whatsoever. My relationships are stable, nothing has changed in my family or financially. Emotionally of course the pain is getting to me.
Balto I have always found your posts very good & I copied & pasted & printed a few of your recent responses to read. You talk about getting rid of the fear a lot. My way of doing this has always been to ignore the pain to the best of my ability (as Sarno suggests) & get on with it. I bend, squat, twist & use my back as normally as possible. Somehow this strategy has not worked. From back pain to neck pain to gut pain, it has actually gotten worse. Now I can tell you honestly the fear has increased tenfold.
Taylor. I’m really pleased that you can identify & are aware of the reason or reasons why yr pain has come back. I hope that you will be pain free again real soon. I think one of my biggest stumbling blocks is that I haven’t been able to say ‘Ah that’s it’. But then from what I remember, Sarno says you don’t need to.
Again rather confusing.
An interesting thing. I went for gynecological apt. 3 days ago. The doctor I spoke with was good. I liked him. First he says that the fibroids in my uterus are not likely causing pain & that he can’t say for a fact whether the adhesions from the previous surgery are the cause either. Then he did an internal examination. (sorry about the details  ). He said I’m going to push on yr uterus & you tell me what you feel. So he did & I screamed a couple of times. There were tears in my eyes & he was shocked & kept apologizing saying that was the only way he could find out.
After the exam, he spoke to my husband & me & said he was convinced that they were causing a lot of grief. I was in pain for nearly 3 hours after , Yes it was the same pain I have all the time.
Good Luck & Good Health
Mala |
Edited by - mala on 07/22/2012 04:26:05 |
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Bugbear
United Kingdom
152 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2012 : 05:38:45
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I agree that it can be so confusing to hear so many different approaches. Do this it worked for me. Do the opposite, it was the only thing that worked for me. In end you are left to fend for yourself and find your own way through.
Your life now compared to your childhood years reminds me of a case study written about by Dr David Clarke in his book, They Can't Find Anything Wrong. One of the women he treated had a horrendous childhood but it was only when she married a wonderful, understanding man that she started to endure painful unexplained gut problems.
In the end most of us on this forum are not doctors so we cannot advise you on your medical options. I wish you strength in making the right choices. |
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TaylorJoh
USA
113 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2012 : 08:09:27
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Mala,
My heart really goes out to you. I know what it's like to endure both pelvic and stomach pain and not be able to say "ah that's it!". Those damn fibroids really poison the well lol!
What does your doctor suggest you do, if you don't mind me asking?
*Hugs*
Taylor
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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2012 : 16:27:35
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Taylor,he suggested having a hysterectomy .
Good Luck & Good Health
Mala |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2012 : 19:34:56
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"Art I understand what you mean but perhaps it is becoz I am not 100% sure whether my symptoms are TMS that I keep asking."
Yes mala, exactly right. And we all go through it. At a certain point the pieces will likely fall into place for you. You'll begin to realize that you're suffering symptom after symptom that big picture wise, don't really add up. Hanging around the forum and asking questions and reading about other members experiences is just the right thing to be doing...
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altherunner
Canada
511 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2012 : 20:31:42
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My daughter had very similar symptoms, i told that her anxiety is causing her stomach troubles, but she dedn't believe me at all.
She went to a naturopath and eliminated things from her diet, she
is now on a vegan raw food diet. i made meals at home, and made what she wanted. Now she is working overseas, and her tummy is fine. I found out that a counsellor at her school had been verbally sexually abusive to her for a long time. i think that this might have started her anxiety cycle. She did try an herb, Ashwagandha, that helped her anxiety very much. |
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Ace1
USA
1040 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2012 : 20:42:59
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| Mala I know the advice to overcome this disease is conflicting. I think I finally understand it when I really didn't before. It is more of a physical and mental strain with a revved up mind. This this strain, we have done most of our lives. You were probaly sensitized by your alcoholic father and bc you never thought that there was anything wrong with straining or doing things intensely, you just did it. Your body forgave you for many years for this type of strain, but at some point it became accumulated and intolerable to your system and now you have symptoms to the strain that you have been doing all your life. Being in a constant rush seems to be the biggest source of tension that causes us to strain with our bodies in this society. Also if this strain is always there it may be hard for you to recognize at first bc it is a constant, but as it starts to subside you will clearly see it. As you read this you may not understand what I mean by strain but I cannot really describe it to you more, you will just have to look for what I am talking about and try to stop doing it. You may also think in the beginning being this relaxed cannot be normal. Well it is required to desensitize your mind. You will need mind power (affirmations and visualizations) to try to calm your mind down and decrease the intensity of your reactions to things that typically cause you to strain. I found to actually challenge pain just to challenge it is counterproductive as it only sensitizes your mind more. Actually it is better to take it slow, gradually increase activity and DONT strain when you do normal activity, do it in a relaxed manner. I know some people challenge it to challenge it and it works for them, but I have never seen this helpful in my patients and this type of approach has always set me back. It also wouldn't make sense in what I have describe above. Now some people are afraid to do a certain activity period no matter what, (ie bending even though their pain is gone). Now that's different, you shouldnt be afraid to do anything but if your having a flare from a strain, it may not be the best to try to specifically bend AT THAT TIME just to challenge it, let it subside first or just act normal but don't let the pain sensitize you or worry you more. I do think you are conditioned to be sensitized in certain scenarios and you will see that being around someone or doing a certain task will always be associated with more pain independent of strain. This is a conditioned response and is probably the result of being intense in thoses situations on countless occasions and now your response it automatic. You have to recondition yourself by saying I know why this is happening, I'm just going to ride through this and it's going to get better. You should use mind power at this time. With practice , time and patience what I have described above will cure you. Good luck |
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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2012 : 05:58:53
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Al,How sad that yr daughter had to endure such behavior from someone she should have been able to trust. I am so glad she is better. Is she still on that diet? Yes I have heard of ashwagandha. It has many restorative properties.
Ace1. I think I know what you are talking about - that straining to do things. I do have a tendency to react with great intensity . Like I even cook with great intensity which means cooking fast & furious, trying to do everything at once & also tidying up at the same time. I love cooking but also burn myself (small burns ) a lot too coz I'm always doing things fast. This is despite the fact I have plenty of time on my hands. I'm doing one thing & thinking 2 steps ahead all the time. When I travel I always want to go to a place & as soon as I get there I want to go to the next place. I read like that too- fast. I really admire people who take things slow & easy, focusing on what they are doing , very zen like. My husband is like that.
So you think that this kind of conditioning is counterproductive perhaps even causing TMS symptoms or do some people just thrive on being that way?
Good Luck & Good Health
Mala |
Edited by - mala on 07/23/2012 06:29:42 |
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Ace1
USA
1040 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2012 : 07:00:02
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| Yes, you got it mala, that is the reason you have TMS, this all has to change and things have to be done with less intensity and patience. You wont be able to do this without mind power techniques bc it is too hard to change these habits otherwise |
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Hillbilly
USA
385 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2012 : 09:54:45
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Ace,
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/4337/4337-h/4337-h.htm
I have posted here about this lady before, but since you have reached the conclusion independently of reading her work, I wonder what you might think of her work now. This was written more than 100 years ago, which makes her a contemporary of Bates. There are several of these small books out there for free download, and I recommend that everyone read them because of their beautiful simplicity, clarity, and usefulness for today. I'm often struck by how the world has evolved child-rearing to be nearly reversed. It seems we teach kids, knowingly or unknowingly, how to strain early on, then when they break themselves on the rocks they seek out simple wisdom.
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"Failures do what is tension relieving, while winners do what is goal achieving."
Dennis Waitley
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Edited by - Hillbilly on 07/23/2012 09:55:12 |
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Ace1
USA
1040 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2012 : 10:46:06
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| Thanks Hillbilly I will read it and tell you what I think. I wholeheartly agree with what you are saying about children. I am trying to prevent that in my own children and it really is a beautiful thing. |
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altherunner
Canada
511 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2012 : 18:41:37
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Since she has been travelling, she has had more of a varied diet, and has only got sick once. She still prefers a raw food diet.
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balto
839 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2012 : 18:44:17
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Thanks for the links Hillbilly. I love to read books, especially if it is free. The wife only give me $20 allowance each month. :)
Ace1, when you say straining, is that the same as tensing?
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No, I don't know everything. I'm just here to share my experience. |
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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2012 : 19:02:21
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Hilbilly, thx for the link. I started to print the article only to realise its an entire 80 page book.
Looks good.
Good Luck & Good Health
Mala |
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balto
839 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2012 : 19:37:57
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quote:
Originally posted by mala
You talk about getting rid of the fear a lot. My way of doing this has always been to ignore the pain to the best of my ability (as Sarno suggests) & get on with it. I bend, squat, twist & use my back as normally as possible. Somehow this strategy has not worked. From back pain to neck pain to gut pain, it has actually gotten worse. Now I can tell you honestly the fear has increased tenfold.
Mala
Mala, I too, can never successfully 'ignore' my symptoms. Too much resistance, too much stress doing that. How can we ignore something that hurt so bad and bother us so much? we Can't. Your head now is full of fear and anxiety thoughts, you have to replace those thought with something else, some neutral or positive thoughts.
I think what you have is chronic fear and anxiety. Chronic fear and anxiety are just memories that are storied in your brain (cerebellum, amygdalae, ...) those memories are recalls or triggers automaticly by many stimulus in your everyday life. It is a habit you have acquired and learned through out your life. Many experts named this kind of memories "ANT", Automatic Negative Thoughts. It in deeply recorded in your brain's memory bank.
We need to overcome those ANT's. We need to create new memories to replace and take place of those ANT's. Many people achieving this with mindfulness living. They fill their days with tasks and focus on those task. When they drink, they think about their drink, they focus on enjoying that drink. They focus on the taste, the coolness, the way in enter their mouth, the feel, the texture of the liquid... When they read a book, they remember the plot, the story. They replay the story in their head. They repeat the paragraph that they like... And if the 'ANT's' enter their thought, they just slowly and calmly tell the ANT's to leave for a while and calmly shift their focus back to the task at hand.
You can be a friend to yourself. You have to be a good friend to yourself and 'talk' to yourself. Memorize sentences to tell yourself when the ANT's appear. For example, when the backpain is so bad and your thoughts is all about the back pain. Oh my Gosh, I am going to die, paralyze. My nerve is going to be damage. Something is wrong with my body. That old surgery is causing me.... just calmly talk to yourself: 'hey Mala, you are going to be just fine. This have happened thousand of time and you're still alive. Your nerve still not damage. You still look good, no one knows... It will be fine, it's just my mind, my thoughts that creating this pain, this symptoms, it will go away when I no longer fear it....'. Then go do something, be with someone, mindfully.
You doing it often enough, long enough, it will become a belief and replace those fear and anxiety thoughts. Help yourself to believe in yourself. Remember Roger Bannister? Before he ran a mile for under 4 minutes no one thought it is humanly possible. After he ran 1 mile for under 4 minutes, 20 plus more people also broke that barrier. They believed they can do it, they visualized they can do it, they strongly think it is possible to do, and they did it.
You have to believe you can do it. You look at me and thousand of other people on this forum as proof that it is possible to cure and rid yourself of tms/anxiety. Visualize yourself healthy, believe that your body is healthy, strong, and durable. Do it every day, every wake up hours and it will become a reality. Will power, persistence, belief can move mountain, you can cure yourself Mala.
Goodluck.
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No, I don't know everything. I'm just here to share my experience. |
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Ace1
USA
1040 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2012 : 07:28:33
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| Balto, strain is hard to describe, but it is mostly mental strain that i mean, not physical, but when a symptom arises from the mental strain, lets say back pain, we tend to focus and strain more with that area, which increases the mental strain more. So in other words were kind of saying the same thing, but in different ways. Another way to say it is doing things intensly or having a revved up mind. Now the only thing is if the person doesnt worry about their symptoms as clarie weeks mentions, but still does things in an intense or strained manner (mentally mainly), that person will never get better. But symptoms, if not ignored in the way claire weeks mentions, will only result in more strain. So, one has to calm the mental strain, do things easily and comfortably, not focus on the symptoms or body and not add more bodly strain to a symptomatic region in ones body. Focus more on calming the mental strain. The way I do this is by just repeating my affirmation over and over - Im calm, relaxed, patient and confident and it works. Alot of this mental strain is conditioned to certain scenerios automatically. Some people who havent or cannot change their life situations, may have a harder time(still working at a job that somehow causes the person to be revved up, hyped up, strained, anxious or what ever you want to call it) I hope this clarifies what Im saying |
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Another symptom rears its ugly head
