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AnnieA
13 Posts |
 Posted - 09/09/2012 : 19:48:49
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| During the past year or so, I've read two of Dr Sarno's books, SteveOs book (Thanks SteveO - it's great!) and Dr. Schubiner's book. (though I couldn't get myself to finish the exercises). I was rereading Sarno's book last week when I realized that although I intellectually understood TMS, I didn't believe it 100 %. So on the way to work I told myself "It really is psychological - It really is psychosomatic". I suddenly 'got it' on a deeper level. I got to work and experienced 2 hours of no pain. The surprising thing is that although my main problem is RSI and some foot pain, I also often have discomfort in my back. I never thought of it as TMS - just discomfort. This went away too. The RSI is back, but I'm much more confident now. I'm watching how I think and telling myself often that it really is psychological. The pain is going up and down. Hopefully I'll be a success story soon. |
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SteveO
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2012 : 22:22:25
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Great job Annie, If you can go two hours you can go forever. That's exactly how I healed, in little increments until it withered away. I simply outlasted the intention of my brain.
It's very important to note that understanding TMS at an intellectual level does very little. It must be accepted by the deeper brain at the most elemental level. That means, the fear must be overcome by a deep calm within the brain the body really is ok. Nothing to worry about, nothing to focus on, nothing to hold in tension.
Your brain couldn't quite let go so the RSI returned. But that's how I healed; moments of pain free. then sporadic and random bursts of peace, followed once again by pain. Then sudden anxiety for a very short time followed by pain and ultimate freedom.
That's why I've stated here on several occasion that people are making a mistake by reading the books and then saying, "hey I read all the books and I still have pain." TMS must be integrated deeply and with full belief. RSI is certainly TMS and your brain is holding that area in pain right now, but you can release it, right now.
I have a few tips for the end process if you would like them.
Also, don't push the end of healing by trying, simply let it all go. You don't need your pain any more, it's all ok. You are fine.
Steve |
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catmac
United Kingdom
57 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2012 : 09:56:15
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quote:
Originally posted by SteveO
I have a few tips for the end process if you would like them.
Also, don't push the end of healing by trying, simply let it all go. You don't need your pain any more, it's all ok. You are fine.
Steve
Hi Steve,
Can you post your few tips for the end process? I'm almost there as I now have pain free times...........exercising, meditation, reading and understanding, etc have cured me but I'm sure my last hurdle is my fear of the pain returning!!, but I'm working on it.
Annie, well done, your tms is on the move, just a matter of time now. |
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AnnieA
13 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2012 : 20:08:33
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Thank you for your reply, Steve.
I really did not 'get' that the knowledge had to be 'integrated deeply'. I thought I 'knew' but Dr. Sarno's message wasn't sinking in. I really thought I was open to the idea, but somehow I realized the other day that I wasn't 100% accepting it - I was only partially accepting it. It really helped me to keep reading - your book - and Dr. Sarno's. That 'deeper knowing' has a very distinct feeling. It felt so good to feel the pain lift. I felt 20 years younger instantly.
Please do post your tips for the end process.
catmac - that's great that you are experiencing pain free times too!! |
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SteveO
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2012 : 20:22:01
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Toward the end of my healing I wanted to drive the final nail home. I had advanced so far from being near death that I knew I could win, but when? I had gotten so tired of the pain lingering and returning when it looked like I was past it. So I stepped up a few things; increasing my lessening of trying to heal. These things worked for me. They have worked for other people I worked with, but as always it all depends on unconscious resistance to change (motivation for staying in pain), amount of anxiety, confidence in TMS, and effort.
Try this:
1) Increase your daily relaxation to one more time per day. If you do the Jacobson technique (the recommended one) then do it one more time each day, either first thing, or nighttime. The SNS is locking and unlocking, "flighting" unnecessarily. Slow your thoughts down much more than you imagine. As Ace may say, "unrev" your brain even more.
2) I don't know where your pain is, but it doesn't matter. If your feet hurt use guided imagery to see yourself running. My pain stopped every time I imagined myself ready to take off and run. It's as though the brain can't do both, ready for its activity and hold your attention with pain. But you have to really feel that you are going to take off running and do it in your mind, see it, actually get ready to go in your mind and see yourself running freely. Of course if your pain is in your hands you have to guide yourself through some type of difficult hand movement. The idea is to engage your brain to "survive." I explained the discharge of the freeze response months ago in a post.
3) Think of the area in pain, and concentrate hard while thinking, "the pain is not there, it's not there, it's not there..." Repeatedly believe this and feel it. I felt that the pain my pain had been there so long that my brain was creating it even though it had no physical purpose in survival. So you can think of the pain as a "thumbprint" of what once was there, much like phantom limb pain. Tell yourself that it's no longer there, eventually your brain acquiesces to your thoughts.
4) Whenever you do anything, force your mind's eye on another body area that feels good, hold all your attention particles on the feel-good area. Never allow your brain to fall back into its comfort zone of pain. Deny it safe haven.
5)Close your eyes in quiet, and notice that your pain is no longer there, your brain will release the area in tension right then, right now. This is close to #3 but slightly different. You can, any one can, release your pain with your mind in a split second because you created it in your mind. You also can release it...right...now...
Good luck, be happy first and you don't have to do any of these. The pain is there due to conflict, a deep anger/fear that cannot be let go. If you just decide to let go of desires and cravings, and goals, the conflict will fade, eventually. Then you become more appreciative for what you have. If you have a job be happy that you can work. If you can stand up be happy that you have legs. I was married to a paraplegic so I saw the daily struggles. If you can see, or breath, or talk, or sit, then be very happy, even if you have unmet desires.
Reduce all the snags of things you feel you must do to be a good person, things you were once guilted or shamed into feeling, or doing. You're already ok, and a good person, you don't need to hurt yourself for praise or to feel self worth.
As always, it's not about getting rid of pain, it's about taking the reason for its existence away. If a bully attacks you, you can fight, which TMSers rarely do, or you can flee, which they aren't normally able to do, or you can take the stick away from the bully.
Happiness...
Steve
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glowgirl
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2012 : 11:21:43
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| i am copying this list to my Word and saving it - thanks! Already i have started the habit of just saying, "the pain isn't real"... okay you can argue it is on some level but i mean to say, it's in my brain or somewhere but not physical. i just say that many times a day to program myself differently. i like the thought of adding in good habits to replace bad ones. Nature abhors a vacuum. |
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SteveO
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2012 : 13:23:16
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There's a fine line between the pain isn't real and "it's gone," or "it's not there anymore."
Think of the pain as having once been there and real, but now is gone. Your brain is just reproducing the effect out of habit because you're engendering the same impulses of information and energy every day, iow, nothing has changed as far as your brain is concerned, it's still unhappy.
So the pain should be viewed as a repeating memory. You can stop it right now if you close your eyes and think with deep concentration, ..."it's gone...it's gone...it's gone..." The entire time you should be relaxing that area in pain with your brain. While you're repeating the mantra, breathe, and relax the area in pain. Let go, gently let go and relax. Your brain will release your pain, but as I said in the previous post it all hinges on the magnitudes of certain things. That's why I said this was an "end-process" drill, because the levels need to be down.
Steve |
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glowgirl
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2012 : 13:59:03
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excellent distinction, thank you.
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2 hours of no pain!
