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n/a
36 Posts |
 Posted - 04/22/2005 : 16:44:26
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| Dr. Sarno says those who keep a perosnal journal tend to get better faster. I have been keeping one for quite some time. I concentrate on three areas: 1) childhood experiences, 2) Personality traits, and 3) Life Stresses. In the past 25 days I have written 127 pages and have not even scratched the surface of what I need to write. I have no doubt that I have at least 1000 pages to write about myself abd even then I think that would be a mere introduction. It is good for all TMS sufferers to begin this process if they have not done so already. Trust me, when you begin writing you will not be able to stop. I wrote 25 pages just today. |
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Baseball65
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2005 : 21:53:53
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Hi Shawn.
Pre-massive TMS,I used to be a part of a spiritual group that encouraged writing.Not so much journaling ,but lists of Anger,fear and sex problems,how they made us angry,where we might have been at fault,and where the anger was ridiculous.
Many of the pages were self anger e.g. being mad at yourself for NOT doing things,not acting correctly etc.
A regular journal was also encouraged.I stopped doing this writing about 6 months before the incident that took me out,so to speak.
MBP hadn't been written yet,but after reading HBP it seemed logical to start writing again.
I never counted pages,but I wrote reems of folders on all the anger that I hadn't kept up on....I recovered from the majority of my symptoms in about 3 weeks.
I still do this anger/journaling,but use microsoft word and only save it long enough to read to someone else,usually my wife,or my best friend.It's quite cathartic to read it aloud and discuss it with a confidant if possible...it even further illuminates the ridiculousness of some of our angers and fears,and shows the unconscious how very silly and childish it really is.
write on! Right on!
peace
Baseball65 |
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n/a
374 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2005 : 02:50:08
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Something I did a couple of weeks ago - I read the journal that I had kept when I was pretty bad physically and emotionally around two and a half years ago.
I had put it under a pile of BBC 'History' magazines in the bottom drawer of a cupboard - probably put it there because I knew that nobody would look under there - I'm the only one who likes that magazine.
I hadn't looked at it since I filled the journal. It was very strange reading what I wrote. Some of it I could hardly believe came from my brain. Was I really that angry and frightened? As Baseball65 says - it illuminated the ridiculousness of some of my angers and fears. My unconscious was indeed silly and childish.
I'm glad I read it, though. It reminded me how far I have come and how differently I look at people and events today.
Store away one of the journals you are keeping, Shawn, it will do you no end of good to re-read it a couple of years from now.
Best wishes
Anne
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Edited by - n/a on 04/23/2005 02:51:36 |
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verdammt
Canada
97 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2005 : 09:25:48
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I can't keep a soul-baring journal. I'm afraid it would fall into the wrong hands some day, with devastating results.
That in itself speaks volumes about my life. |
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smth416
USA
43 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2005 : 23:24:05
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Shawn,
If the journal helps you then without a doubt continue it.
For me, I've had trouble with it. I actually have never written or typed down my thoughts in a journal.
Even though Sarno and my TMS doctor recomend it, I view reading and posting on this forum my therapy. I find twenty minutes a day of thinking about what is causing me rage or anxiety is enough. I think any more time spent on thinking about my TMS would be counter-productive to my recovery. Good Luck, Al |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2005 : 07:46:34
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quote:
Originally posted by verdammt
I can't keep a soul-baring journal. I'm afraid it would fall into the wrong hands some day, with devastating results.
That in itself speaks volumes about my life.
Get yourself some encryption software (PGP is available for free personal use at http://www.pgpi.org/). Encrypt your journal, and stop worrying about other people reading it. This is no reason not to keep a journal, which is a very valuable tool in treating TMS.
Sometimes, thoughts are not enough. Writing it down forces your brain to interpret things using different pathways. Reading/writing might offer a more direct path to your unconscious, especially since we have spent a lifetime developing defenses to keep the rage out of our conscious thoughts. |
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Laura
USA
655 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2005 : 10:27:40
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Dave,
What is "encryption?" I never heard of it before but since I hate writing in a journal (my hand and fingers cramp up) I'd be interested in this. Also, like Verdammt, I'm always afraid my journal will fall into the wrong hands as well. I don't fully express all of my thoughts because I'm dreading what will happen if one of my children or my husband reads it. There are certain things (child molestation being one of them) that I do not want my kids knowing about.
Laura
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kenny V
USA
268 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2005 : 11:09:38
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Just like to share in how effective Jounaling is and also what it did for me in the recovery process
Thanks
Kenny V
FYI I had done a search on the board using the word “ journal”
Here is a few on the archive hat may be helpful to refer back to
A Couple of topics that was discussed about the effectiveness of Journaling and recovery
Same Posts...Where is the Success
http://tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=503&SearchTerms=journal,kenny
Here was an oldie on the old forum when I first made the connection that helped along with recovery.
Journalling and the recovery process
Posted by kenny V 5/5/2004 9:11 am EST
http://tmshelp.com/bin/tmsboard.pl?action=view&id=10494&page=2
HLH
Kenny V
Always Hope For Recovery
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verdammt
Canada
97 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2005 : 13:02:35
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Thanks for the tips and advice, kenny and dave.
I've done some thinking and decided to go ahead and write the journal. Who cares if anyone reads it? Let them. Why be afraid of hurting the ones who have caused me such pain?
In case they outlive me, it'll be my way of p*ssing on their graves. |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2005 : 18:47:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Laura
What is "encryption?"
This is applicable if you use your computer to journal.
Basically, encryption software scrambles computer files so that they are unreadable to anyone but yourself. The file can only be opened using your "key" which is protected by a password. Even if someone steals your computer, they cannot read encrypted files without knowing your password. |
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Stryder
686 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2005 : 23:00:46
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quote:
Originally posted by Dave
quote:
Originally posted by Laura
What is "encryption?"
This is applicable if you use your computer to journal.
Basically, encryption software scrambles computer files so that they are unreadable to anyone but yourself. The file can only be opened using your "key" which is protected by a password. Even if someone steals your computer, they cannot read encrypted files without knowing your password.
Another option on a shared computer at home is to keep your journal file on a floppy disc, remove it after you "save" your entry, and store the disc in a safe place. One way around having to deal with a password and other software. Don't save on the hard disc (C:\ drive). Use an obscure file name, like "recipe.txt", not "LaurasJournal.txt". Hope this helps, -Stryder |
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Keeping a personal journal
