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I just want to start by expressing my appreciation for this community. In my early 20s I began an over 30 year journey with chronic, widespread symptoms including neck/back pain, sacroiliac "sprain", facet syndrome, RLS, IBS, interstitial cystitis, frozen shoulder and many, many more! Many of my symptoms were initially attributed to the fact that I only have one arm, and perhaps I "overused" the stronger side. In addition, I was working as an occupational therapist, which required much lifting and manual work. As my symptoms would continue to increase over the years, I became more preoccupied with the pain/symptoms as well as fearful of further"damaging" myself. I finally had to move to a work setting that required very little physical activity, as my symptoms continued to spread throughout my body.
One day during the first week of my psychology residency I passed by a bookstore and noticed the book "Healing Back Pain" in the window. Out of curiosity I went inside and started looking through this book. Of course, I saw myself on every page, and for the first time I realized what was going on: my body was not fragile and my brain was creating the symptoms! I contacted Dr. Sarno, who generously agreed to see me, even though I was out of state. He confirmed the TMS diagnosis.
While I made significant progress over the next two years, new symptoms would continue to appear, and my (once helpful) journaling and "thinking psychologically" began to seem to be in vain. During this time I also began experiencing severe bladder pain/urgency, and began using benzodiazepams to help with insomnia.
It wasn't until I began to truly realize and understand the major impact that my tenacious inner- bully was having on my whole life that I was finally able to develop a sense of deep self-compassion and calming of my scared "inner child" and frazzled nervous system. My final extinction burst hit when I went through benzodiazepine withdrawals.
I am so grateful to be able to say that at age 60, I've been pretty much symptom-free for the past several years, and am stronger and more physically capable then I've been since my early 20s! I travel, hike, carry, my 15 pound cat around (with one arm), and basically do/eat whatever I want without pain/symptoms!