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Livvygurl
20 Posts |
 Posted - 07/10/2012 : 09:44:45
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Hi All,
I am ready to tackle an old crutch that I have been relying on for a while. I have my laptop on a stand and type on the keyboard with my elbows resting on the desk. The reason I have been doing this is so I do not have to look down because the base of my neck and upper spine area feel really stiff and sore. I have been doing this for a long time and am ready to try some new alternatives I am thinking that this conditioned behavior is reinforcing my pain. So I need a graceful exit strategy from this scenario. Are there any gentle ways that I can wean myself from this habit?
Best,
Livvygurl  |
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Ace1
USA
1040 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2012 : 12:46:54
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| Like the Nike Logo, "Just do it" but try not to think about it as best you can as not to evoke fear. Do it also at a time when your feeling already relaxed, (i.e not in the midst of a severe flare of tms) |
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drh7900
USA
194 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2012 : 13:06:56
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I agree with Ace1.
I had a similar experience with my "leg pillow" (the pillow I put between my knees or under by knees depending on how I was laying) in order to support a straight spine, etc...I didn't think I could give it up for reasons of comfort. I tried one night to sleep without it and I just didn't sleep well...I was a little stiff the next day...I was discouraged. So I thought, "Well, if I just do it for the comfort aspect since I've used it for 12 years by now...surely that's ok...as long as I know it's not for my back." I can't say that using it again delayed things...don't know for sure...but I decided it wasn't worth delaying my healing so I stopped sleeping with it again one night...then a second night...I think by the third night I'd just forgotten it all together. Now I rarely even think about it and I sleep as comfortably as I did before.
So...as Nike and Ace1 said..."Just do it!"
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Dustin |
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stevep
106 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2012 : 13:58:53
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| I have the same thing with the leg pillow. It's just more comfortable for me. Been using it every night since discovering TMS. Even through the time that I "cured" myself for 2 months. It just feels so much more comfortable for me to sleep with my legs elevated. |
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Livvygurl
20 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2012 : 16:04:13
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| I agree with the “just do it” philosophy! I will integrate this new change when I am feeling good. If I start to think about it there are so many little rituals that I have created since the dawn of my pain. I guess I will just chip away little by little until I get the desired result. I want to release living in a fear based reality. I want my life back! |
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balto
839 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2012 : 11:21:20
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I think topic about conditioning is very important for long time tms/anxiety sufferers. Many of us get well using what we learned from Dr Sarno and other experts, but we usually get stuck at the 80, 90% mark. In my opinion, we got well but not completely well are usually due to conditioning. This topic I think is so important, it confused many and often lead us backward back into our illness. Someone need to write a book on this.
Conditioning responds are very broad and it effect our life greatly. I like to share what I have learn from many wise people about overcoming conditioning because I think we will not completely cure until we successfully conquered our negative conditioning respond. (yes, there are many positive conditioning respond, athletics using it all the time).
I hope you don't mind reading a long post, because this will be one. There are many type of conditioning:
- Conditioning respond we learned from revolution. Like fear of loud noise. Fear of the dark, fear of snakes, spiders...
- Conditioning responds we got due to association. When some neutral thing happen at the same time we were experience our symptoms, that neutral thing will trigger our symptoms when we experience it again.
- Conditioning responds due to anticipation. We all have jobs that we don't like, family responsibilities that we hated, relationships that we want to avoid... When we know we are heading into those situation, stress is created in our mind and very often trigger our tms/anxiety symptoms.
After a long time have passed, the conditioning respond became automatic. The wiring in our brain is in place and will respond automaticly to that situation without any input from our thinking. It is just like when our hand touch a red hot pot, the hand will put back instantly without thinking. We don't stand there holding the pot and think: is this more than 100 degree yet? is this going to burn and hurt my hand? Because conditioning is instantly and automaticly, we got confused and usually we blame something is wrong with our body instead of recornise that the symptoms is trigger by the conditioning respond.
I used to be a 4,5 cups a day coffee drinker. After I have anxiety, one sip would be enought to trigger a full blown panic attack. I went to work in the same job for years without any problem, when I was having anxiety, I felt more stress, and see more negative things about my job, my co-workers, my boss and it often trigger strong symptoms. One time, I have an attack while going thru a tunnel, after that, attack always come when I go thru the tunnel again. And for a long time, I have to spend an extra 20 minutes drive to work using a different route to avoid the tunnel.
There are thousand of conditioning behavior among tmser's. People walk with a limp because they affraid to put weight on their bad legs. people sleep with 2 pillows or no pillow, with a hard mattress or very soft mattress. People refuse to eat certain type of food for fear it will harm them even though they've been eating it their whole life with no problem. Many people's symptoms would be triggered by loud music or sad music, by too hot or too cold weather, Sad movies, certain colors would triggers unpleasant feeling, Someone I know even experience symptoms when he sees bald headed men. :))
the first step to overcome conditioning is to recognise it. Livvygurl's case here is she conditioned her body to produce neck pain if she doesn't rest her elbow a certain way or if her laptop is not high enough. For me I need to find the "truth" and the truth is coffee don't produce panic attack, my mind, my anticipation does. My friend is a doctor and he has a stressful and depressing job dealing with sick and dying patients every day. He need to recognise that is his conditioning behavior.
the second step is what one of my teacher called: "talk to our mind". We need to educate ourself that there is nothing danger with that thing, that situation, that event... it is just wrong thought, it is just our body's auto respond to a wrong conclusion.
Negative conditioning is a type of fear. It exist to protect us from perceive dangers that aren't real. The third step is using exposure therapy with will power. Pavlov's dog stopped salivating when hearing the bell and get no food for a few times. Our symptoms will lessen and stop after we keep expose ourself to the situation that would normally created fear or created symptoms. That is why Dr Sarno encouraged us to keep exercise and run. People with fear of snake overcame their fear by keep visiting snake farm. I myself overcame my fear of food by forcing myself to eat anything I like even if I think it is bad for me. My doctor friend I mention above over came his going to work conditioning respond after he came up with a list of what is wonderful about his job: saving lives, comforting his patient, being appreciate his patients, bringing home a paycheck to provide for his family, having a purpose in life. He came to work with a big smile and a positive outlook.
Another friend of my can only find peace at work. She hated to come home to care for her 3 kids, cleaning after them, listen to their arguing, cooking for her family... She list out all the positive aspect of being a wife and a mother. She look pass all those stressful thing and saw her kids' smile, she treasure the time their spend together watching tv or playing cowboy and Indians... She was cure a 100% after she was able to count her blessing.
We need to recognise the conditioning respond for what it is, we need to keep expose ourself to it with a positive mind, and we need to count our blessings.
I hope this help some of us here. I didn't come up with any of this, I learned it from many wise men and women in my life and it really save me. Goodluck to all.
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No, I don't know everything. I'm just here to share my experience. |
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Ace1
USA
1040 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2012 : 15:57:32
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| Yes this was the thing balto ad mentioned to me before that I found very helpful and helped me get to we're I am now. In my case however I had to use the mindpower techniques to overcome the conditioning to the point were I am at now. Just thinking positive without directing my mind in the right path with repetition was not enough for my intensely conditioned mind. Listen to balto with this is is very important to your recovery. |
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Livvygurl
20 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2012 : 19:01:55
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Balto, thanks for your excellent post! You really honed in on some important issues about conditioning and how to overcome the negative cycle
Update:
I took the stand out from under my laptop and I am typing and using the computer as if everything is okay, because it is. MY BODY IS STRONG! I must say I feel like some kind of wooden doll but I am okay just experiencing the newness. Some slouching is involved but that is natural and leaning side to side is perfectly acceptable too. People do not have to have excellent drill Sargent posture like I have had for over a decade, in order to have a healthy back. Now I am really convinced that the mind controls the body! I actually let a friend hug me the other day. Next shall I try the REI climbing wall? Where does the limit end – the sky’s the limit, right? I started to wonder how human beings are conditioned in so many millions of ways. It can be quite a mind boggling thought when you really start to think about it. With all your support I am able to challenge myself, change, and grow! THANK YOU!!! #9825;#9825;#9825;
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Livvygurl
20 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2012 : 19:04:45
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| I am not sure what those numbers are, is their no editing feature on the board? Yes, I am a perfectionist! |
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stevep
106 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2012 : 19:49:48
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Good job Livvygurl, keep it going! You have all our support
I have been challenging my sciatica by sitting at the computer myself, as opposed to standing up and using it. I've been through this once before and beat it, so I know I can take back control again. The bigger challenge for me is the leg pillow thing while sleeping. |
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Crutches
