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forestfortrees
393 Posts |
 Posted - 01/08/2009 : 18:51:59
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If you could recommend one book to someone who thinks that they might have TMS -- just one -- what would it be?
My inclination would be to recommend the divided mind, because it is the newest, but I freely admit that I haven't finished it or even begun any others. Those of you who have done more reading than me, what do you say?
As you might guess, the answers that people give (as well as a link back to this forum thread) will be going into the "So You Think You Might Have TMS" page on the TMS wiki.
FFT |
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tpunk
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2009 : 19:22:27
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| The only Sarno book I read is "Mind Over Back Pain", which I believe has helped me TREMENDOUSLY! I also have countless other books, but have only partially completed reading :( |
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scd1833
USA
124 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2009 : 20:05:57
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I think "healing back pain" is the first book you should read, mind over back pain is good too, but I think HBP is the re-write of "Mind over BP". HBP also has a couple great diagrams and the daily reminder page, and a few other good techniques that are easily learned.
that said, they are all good, and they work for me. |
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Peg
USA
284 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2009 : 21:04:58
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Having read Healing Back Pain, The mind Body Prescription, and The Divided Mind, I think someone new to the idea or material would be better off starting with Healing Back Pain. It seems to be the easiest for people to understand. I may be biased because it was the first one I read, the one that ended my 10 years of pain.
I have of course recommended all of Dr. Sarno's books to anyone I think might be helped and the feedback I have received is that Healing Back Pain was easiest to grasp.
His subsequent books helped me as well and I particularly like The Divided Mind, since it is so well written and thorough. I enjoyed the chapters written by other physicians also.
Thanks
Peg
In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei |
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HilaryN
United Kingdom
879 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2009 : 11:58:09
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I think I would recommend "Healing Back Pain" - I like it because it's simpler to read than the other 2 and has a handy section in the back with "12 daily reminders". It's older than the 2 below, but the principles are basically the same.
I found "The Mindbody Prescription" a bit heavy-going, although it's the one I read and got better with.
In "The Divided Mind" I found the introduction from Sarno very heavy going but I'd already read "The Mindbody Prescription" so it didn't seem to say anything new to me. I liked all the case studies in "The Divided Mind", though.
I believe "Mind over Back Pain" is the oldest, and I haven't read it, but I'm sure it's worth reading if the others aren't available. I think it's the only one which has been translated into Spanish. I don't know about other languages. As far as I know none of the other books have been translated into another language.
When recommending a book it's worth bearing in mind the person you're recommending it to. Some people hate reading, so for them it's better to listen to the audio CD's of "Healing Back Pain" or maybe watch a DVD. (I haven't seen the DVD's.)
Others I know are never going to get through any of Sarno's books and so another favourite of mine is Dr David Clarke's book "They Can't Find Anything Wrong!"
This book is much easier to read for non-medical people - there are hardly any jargon terms in there.
As Dr. Clarke specialises in gastroenterology, many of his case studies tend to be from that area rather than back pain, but, again, the principles are the same.
Hilary N |
Edited by - HilaryN on 01/09/2009 12:02:59 |
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drziggles
USA
292 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2009 : 13:12:03
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| healing back pain, no question. unfortunately, each successive book he has written has become less readable and more convoluted, in my opinion... |
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skizzik
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2009 : 13:49:43
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quote:
Originally posted by drziggles
healing back pain, no question. unfortunately, each successive book he has written has become less readable and more convoluted, in my opinion...
total agreement here |
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Logan
USA
203 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2009 : 09:23:39
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I would recommend The Mindbody Prescription. Healing Back Pain is a good book but for me, since I was suffering more from upper body and limb pain, and a whole host of TMS equivalents before my full blown "attack," I found I could relate much more easily to the stories in TMP.
I never had the classic low back pain symptoms and so reading about those who did in HBP, I struggled with the fear that TMS was only a back thing and that I was doomed to keep suffering with my symptoms that - in the traditional medical world - could be categorized as fibromyalgia brought on by a traumatic injury.
I am SO thankful that Sarno wrote TMP and that I recognized myself in its pages. I think sometimes I forget how my life has been utterly transformed by that book and the year long process of journaling and introspection that followed.
Also, if you're looking for recommendations for books to pair with Sarno's, I would say that The Artist's Way (Cameron) was indispensable in helping me journal my way to the roots of my grief/rage. [If you are having a hard time getting started with journaling, Cameron's instructions for "Morning Pages" and her "Cup" writing prompts will help.]
And Facing the Fire (Lee) gave me specific instructions on how to express it physically so it wasn't lodged in my body anymore. His Anger Release exercises were/are the essential component missing in Sarno's instructions. As Lee explains, anger is a kinetic emotion that can't be discharged through talk/writing therapy alone. You've literally got to "get it out." |
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LuvtoSew
USA
327 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2009 : 13:10:23
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| The Mindbody Prescription |
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mizlorinj
USA
490 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2009 : 14:33:57
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MBP
but really I find all of them worthwhile
TDM has the most up-to-date findings, patient examples, etc.
I hope the BRAND NEW (ugh!) HBP I left on a Continental flight about 2 yrs ago landed (hehe) in the hands of someone who could use it! |
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HilaryN
United Kingdom
879 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2009 : 18:30:12
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Is MBP Mind Over Back Pain or The Mindbody Prescription? I always get confused!
Hilary N |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2009 : 18:55:49
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The answer really is The Mindbody Prescription. It is the TMS bible and should really be required reading in medical school because it puts so many poorly understood entities under the proper umbrella. HBP is really a book about back pain and most TMS patients deal with equivalents either in addition to or in place of their back pain. In addition, much of the theory and explanation is refined and updated in the MBP. MOBP and HBP are somewhat outdated and TDM is not as relevant to patients as a first read. MBP is always the first book I give someone who I think can benefit from the TMS approach. Hope this helps. Good luck with your project.
Best,
MAK |
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forestfortrees
393 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2009 : 20:56:29
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Wow, this has been an interesting thread. For a while, it seemed like HBP was the clear winner, but MBP clearly rallied. For myself, I'm putting down TDM for a moment and am planning on reading HBP first. I'll return to TDM later, but I'm glad to hear all of this because I was having trouble relating to TDM. (Too much talk about early 20th century Freudian psychologists for my taste.) I think that it will also be better for me to read HBP knowing that later on he extends much farther beyond back pain.
In terms of the Wiki's "So you think you might have TMS..." page, I came up with the following text:
quote:
When asked specifically about which book they would recommend reading first, several members of the TMSHelp forum suggested that Healing Back Pain was the most readable and easy to grasp. However, because Healing Back Pain focuses heavily on back pain, several members suggested The Mindbody Prescription. One member specifically said that because back pain wasn't the main factor for her, she could relate much better to the stories in The Mindbody Prescription. You can read their opinions yourself in the original thread.
You may also want to invest in a audio version of the books. Many people find that being able to listen to them over and over is exceedingly helpful.
If you have an idea for making the text better, feel free to head over and change the text. If any wiki editor who is watching the page (such as myself) doesn't like your version, they will get in touch and work something out with you that you both like.
ForestForTrees |
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First TMS book
