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DebbieG
USA
4 Posts |
 Posted - 08/08/2005 : 21:10:16
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Hi,
Has anyone looked into the "The Mind-Body Workbook" by Dr. David Schechter regarding TMS? What do you think about the workbook and it's exercises? I am interested in buying it. I have done a lot of inner 'home' work already and I am not sure if I would benefit from it. Does it have some real basic stuff in it or does it get into some deep issues? Can you tell me a bit about it's contents? What kind of results did you get from it? I checked out amazon.com and someone wrote that it was too simple and he sent it back. I am just trying to get a feel for what level it is at. Thanks for the feedback. Deb  |
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n/a
374 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2005 : 00:24:23
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Hi, Deb
I did Dr Schecther's workbook around a year and a half ago. I liked it quite a lot - one or two reservations I seem to remember. I'm off to work now, but I'll look it out later and I'll be able to tell you more about it then.
I'd probably describe it as a useful addition to my recovery, rather than a key component.
Best wishes
Anne
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Fox
USA
496 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2005 : 09:16:07
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| It's very worthwhile. Helps pull up psychological issues that may be contributing to TMS pain. And if you get into a slump, you can refer to your journaled thoughts. Buy it. |
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Suz
559 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2005 : 09:18:22
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| I did it.Sarno was not that happy when I told him. He said that it is too confining in it's thought process. It controls one too much. He feels it is much better to write free style - focusing on anything that comes to mind. I think I agree with him - although I find that the psychologist I see prompts me in the right direction instead. |
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Laura
USA
655 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2005 : 18:39:57
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I used it and I found it very helpful but maybe a little too regimented. I felt forced to sit and write a certain amount of time. I think I almost tend to agree with Dr. Sarno that you should just sort of write free style and let your thoughts flow. As Anne said, it was useful but not necessarily a key element in healing.
Laura
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Carolyn
184 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2005 : 18:49:37
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I used it when I first started teh TMS work and I liked it because it gave me a place to start journaling everynight then I would just let my thought stake me where they would. It is very simplistic- just questions about why you think TMS could apply to you and then some about what issues might be bothering you. For me it was worthwhile but if you are already journaling regularly, I'm not sure it will have much to offer you.
Carolyn |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2005 : 19:18:32
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| I've been feeling a little guilty because I've never done any of that stuff. To this point I've been lucky in that just sort of allowing myself to recognize that a relationship exists between my emotions and my physical symptoms has been enough to get pretty substantial relief. |
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Suz
559 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2005 : 19:42:26
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Art,
Don't feel guilty - it is fantastic that this has happened to you. It means that you can be a happier person and more present in your life for yourself and the people close to you. What a great gift!
Some of us have not had such a simple journey. I have had TMS pain for 12 years - with IBS, acne (mild, OCD in addition, so I think that my thinking takes some time to change. My unconscious is very very slow to listen. I have had many fears to deal with when it comes to exercise, food etc. - these are long patterns to break. However I am changing as this technique really works.
Art - did you have the pain for a long time? I would love to know your story a little |
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n/a
374 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2005 : 02:17:39
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I looked out the workbook, Deb and had quite an eye-opening time reading what I wrote in there two years ago. It was a timely reminder of how far I have come since then.
The workbook is a thirty day course, I guess you'd call it. It starts with a kind of self-assessment as to whether it is likely to be TMS at the root of your physical problems and how willing you are to accept that.
Over the next four weeks, you get the chance to write about your emotions and also what physical activities you are doing. You are encouraged to get going again - which you will find useful if TMS has made you frightened to undertake those activities.
I think it may depend how far along you are in recovery, Deb, as to whether it is worth buying Dr Schecter's workbook or not. If you are bothered with relapses (as most of us who post here have been), I think it could be useful.
It doesn't go into particularly deep issues and if you are journalling already, you might think that repeating yourself is a waste of time. Reading mine, I recall that while I used it, I did not journal freely as well.
What it did do was help me take note of little improvements that were happening - being aware that I was having success in 'de-conditioning' the negative and destructive thought processes that dominated my life at that time. That probably was its most helpful aspect for me - you don't necessarily get that when you just write down everything that comes into your head.
However, If you want to look deeper into mind/body conditions - you won't find that in the workbook. If that is what you are after, I've got a few book suggestions you might like to read. If you post in more detail - how TMS manifests itself in you, how far along you are in recovery - that sort of thing; people here will have suggestions of books and other material we have used that have been helpful.
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Edited by - n/a on 08/11/2005 09:54:24 |
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Suz
559 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2005 : 09:59:40
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Anne,
I think I might be ready for more books that emphasize the mind body connection. Where would you start first?
S |
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Jim1999
USA
210 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2005 : 20:53:17
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Deb - Welcome to the group! Are you the DebbieG from efibro.com?
Suz - What specifically are you looking for from a mindbody book? Something to help uncover repressed emotions, to help you overcome fear of exercise/food, or something else?
Jim |
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n/a
374 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2005 : 02:18:42
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The latest book I read, Suz, was an in-depth, fairly scholarly history of psychosomatic illness, called 'From Paralysis to Fatigue' by Edward Shorter.
Although it does not offer any treatments, I found it fascinating and really put my problems into a much wider context. It's probably one to consider for when you are further along in your recovery.
Most of the books that I found helpful, apart from Dr Sarno's and Dr Shechter's work, were those that gave ideas of how to deal with the anxiety that was fuelling my TMS - Claire Weekes, Rick Carson, John Bradshaw and Jon Kabut-Zinn.
It might be worth researching books that deal specifically with what you are facing and what is fuelling your TMS - from your posts it comes across that you put the needs of others before your own, to the extent that it is making you ill - John Bradshaw's 'Homecoming' might be somewhere to start, although it does not deal with mind/body conditions specifically (very few do) it might be a good place to start.
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altherunner
Canada
511 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2005 : 08:06:44
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| I did the mindbody workbook, I didn't think I would journal any other way, without being asked specific questions. Upon reviewing my notes, I found one person I dealt with at work was "pushing my buttons", or was always present before a tms relapse. This person still bugs me, but I no longer get relapses. I also listened to Dr.Schecter's audio cds, and enjoyed them. The last one, with Dr.Don Dubin, was very helpful.After listening to it a few times, I felt like I knew Dr. Dubin a little, and had 4 sessions of therapy over the phone. He was able to get out the last issues that were underlying my pain, in a short time. They were specific family issues, not covered in the workbook. I would reccomend the workbook, if you are like me and reluctant to write on your own. |
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Anyone done "The Mindbody Workbook"?
