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arsondude
Canada
3 Posts |
 Posted - 12/07/2011 : 10:51:52
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Hi all this is my first post.
I have recently come to the conclusion that all my back pain, anxiety, depression and exhaustion has been because of a mindbody disorder. After reading all of Dr.Sarno's books in 3 months I am learning that everything I feel is a symptom of TMS (or mind to body reaction). But my question is my brain seems to jump around with the symptoms all the time. My back pain alleviates after a week and then I have a severe headache, then i have severe anxiety and then it is suppressed and i go back to back, shoulder or neck pain. Is this me winning over it all? Or am I just in a vicious cycle? It’s very unsettling at times and then i have to tell myself that there is nothing wrong with me, I usually cry and think about what is bugging me, which is a lot of things not just one thing. But when my whole life is messed up, hating my job, having no direction and its not just one thing i always feel like im at the end of my rope - just struggling to get by. Change comes slowly in life and I have accepted this it’s just some days i want to jump out of my skin and other days i want to cry and others my back hurts so much. I am in therapy which is helping but I want to feel better now LOL anyway I just wanted to vent because I am having a particularly awful day at work.
So my question is when symptoms jump around and I realize this is the case should things get better physically? I just need some encouragement like I always feel like I am doing something wrong in this whole mindbody thing. Not that I need to solve it but I need to hear other experiences with the issue.
Thanks#61514;
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 12/07/2011 : 11:29:59
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Consider this as a positive development. Essentially you have TMS "on the run" and it is trying harder to win the battle in light of your newfound belief and acceptance. It does this by moving the symptoms around until it finds one that successfully grabs your attention.
Don't let it win. Continue to accept that the symptoms are psychogenic, and do the work to recondition your thoughts and reactions to them. |
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Tippy
31 Posts |
Posted - 12/07/2011 : 12:00:40
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trust me I probably had one of the worst cases of TMS anyone has ever seen I was literally paralyzed for 2 years. When the symptoms start to move around you are on the road to success for some reason when you try to combat this thing or monster whatever you want to call it, the pain finds itself going to other parts of the body like it wont leave and then all of a sudden bam it is gone! My pain is gone I am only dealing with spams and weakness which with the help of Sarno and the forum Im expecting it to go away. I found this forum two months ago but was too afraid to join or tell my story but I had to.
Stephanie |
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arsondude
Canada
3 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2011 : 08:56:17
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Thanks for the replies.
I hope you guys are right about my "symptoms". I get relief in the oddest places or when i'm thinking about how i feel.
My biggest issue is i hate my job and when im at work i can deal with it. I am trying to just accept it as is for now and not react to it the way i do. I need to move on with my life. Sometimes i feel i take 2 steps and then i fall back 1 step. Its very frustrating.
Anyway thanks for your input. |
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Joy_I_Am
United Kingdom
138 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2012 : 09:00:32
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Hey there TMSers,
I've hit on this thread because it sounds the nearest to what I'm going through. I had a fairly rotten last year, and was looking forward to January because I planned to put all that behind me and move forward. I haven't had an alcoholic drink since New Year's Eve (a decision that's been a long time coming, and which I'm happy with). I've tapered successfully off PPIs. All good...
...I've also, in the three weeks since 1st Jan, had a UTI, then a gum infection, and now sinusitis, not to mention my perennial IBS - I'm exhausted, and I'm pretty fed up with it! I do my best, eat well, get out for some exercise every day, and am trying to get back into some work that I've neglected... but my body seems to be out to get me! I've slept eleven hours a night the last few nights, and still I'm fatigued and spacey in the day. Taking pseudoephedrine and a beconase nasal spray, plus ibuprofen and sea water spray. But I just want to curl up on my own and sleep.
I've been looking forward to kicking some January ass... could this be what is nobbling me? Am I subconsciously afraid of the challenge and sabotaging myself? If I recognise this, what can I do to move on, break the pattern? I feel sure it's TMS because of the way my symptoms are playing musical chairs!
Anyone been through this, and if so, do you have any advice? Thanks, Joy |
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balto
839 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2012 : 08:53:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Joy_I_Am
I've slept eleven hours a night the last few nights, and still I'm fatigued and spacey in the day. Taking pseudoephedrine and a beconase nasal spray, plus ibuprofen and sea water spray. But I just want to curl up on my own and sleep.
Hi, I have a question, beside sleep and taking all these medicines, what do you do psychologically to try to rid yourself of tms? |
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Joy_I_Am
United Kingdom
138 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2012 : 15:06:33
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Balto... that... is...BRILLIANT!  Thank you! Of course, I've been doing nothing - I've been waiting to 'feel better' so that I can 'really start to get on with things, turn my life around'. And my subconscious wants none of it! My subconscious is scared. So it's putting this stuff up as a shield so that I don't have to do anything... yet.
I feel daft that I didn't spot this, it's so obvious, it's what TMS is about... Looking back at my post, it is there, in fact... Even though, consciously, I feel annoyed and frustrated that I haven't the energy to get on with things, an honest look at my feelings tells me how afraid I really am. It's easy to forget that even good, positive things can shake us up.
Hmm, so what to do? Well, I'm going to re-read 'Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway' for starters. I'm also going to think of doing some things differently, instead of throwing myself against the same old problems in the same old way like a moth at a lamp. I think I've been afraid of facing the things that I turned into hard work, whereas I can make them not so hard by being a bit more mindful.
Balto, this has been a really useful catalyst for thought, thank you!
Warmest wishes, Joy |
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bryan3000
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2012 : 19:22:38
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I have major, major symptom jumping right now. It's amazing to watch. I've had anxiety, replaced by intrusive thoughts, replaced by my back "going out" and now today I've got my right ear starting to plug up and cause pressure/pain. (I've also had mild depression flashes, stomach issues, etc.)
For a long time, I just had anxiety... then went into benzo withdrawal and had a ton of non-TMS symptoms. (Weight loss, nausea, gastritis, etc.)
Now, I feel like I'm mostly out of withdrawal, but the symptom substitution is running rampant. I've been working hard to simply disregard the symptoms, smile and go about my day. I do stop down at times (like now) to do some research to see if I can figure out a way to make them stop. Of course, this is almost a way of seeking shelter.... so I'm trying to keep it more solutions-focused than just seeking sympathy. (We're all in pain, so I don't really need sympathy.)
But, I feel like I'm close to something, here. I'm stronger than I've been in a long time. My attitude is better. I'm walking and doing light running, and lifting weights a bit again.
Working hard, living life... but still having to content with physical issues. Only now, they're running around my body looking for a place to live where I'll believe they're real, I guess.
I hope some of the veteran TMS'ers can chime in here and give an opinion for us. There seem to be a lot of us on this doorstep. I don't want to get stuck here, but I'm not sure what my next step is, if any. I'm doing therapy weekly with a therapist that is at least versed in TMS and MBS. I'm doing some MBS-related meditations and most of all, I'm trying to reinvent my attitude towards fear and pain. But, I'm still stuck, to a degree.
I wonder how those who found "cure" get themselves out of this particular state? There have been a lot of threads about this lately. Walnut started one as well. I know people say that when you're symptoms start running.... you're getting close. But, I wonder how I'll get to the next level?
_____________________________
-1/2010 - Developed chronic sinus problems. ENTs/Docs can't find anything
-5/29/2010 - Doc gives cocktail of allergy meds which induces first ever panic attack/anxiety.
-7/16/2010 - Anxiety stays/worsens - put on Xanax
2/1/2011 - Began Xanax taper - Withdrawal starts - full body chaos
-6/11/2011 - Last dose of Xanax. Physical/emotional chaos continues for several months.
-Now: Taking it day by day, looking for real answers and ways to heal myself without medical poison. |
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Hillbilly
USA
385 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2012 : 18:38:46
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Bryan,
I suppose you have to remind yourself every time you get focused on a symptom that it is benign, only nerves, and temporary. That's all there is to it. Time will take care of the rest if you let it. You have to let yourself heal. You can't make yourself heal. The body knows what to do, and it's doing it based upon your mind's instructions. It's giving you tons of stress hormones that are making you feel terrible, stiffening your muscles to brace against all your imagined dragons, etc. You're fine. Smile and go for a walk.
I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.
Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Joy_I_Am
United Kingdom
138 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2012 : 04:04:21
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Thanks again, Balto. I read some Divided Mind and did some self-work, journalling, talking to my 'inner child' (and getting some revealing answers!) Recognising the toxic shame that causes me to self-sabotage (giving myself the fearful talk and criticism that my parents laid on me; I think my body joins in, perpetuating an idea of helplessness and 'being broken'). I feel a lot better today, freer, less my own enemy! It's a great start.
You were right. My focus had become all physical, and I had to think psychological.
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Symptoms Jumping Around
