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Bingo! This is exactly the post I was thinking of writing myself: finding the unconscious anger. I can totally identify things that anger me consciously, but it's the unconscious that I can't do much about, but wonder about. And Daniel, you're absolutely right about asking why and speculating that it's probably to get rid of the pain. That's exactly the quest I was on: find it, so I can address it and get rid of my TMS manifestations. I kept thinking that if only I could get in touch with that repressed angry emotion (that I'm sure is in here somewhere) then I can address it and the pain/affliction will go away.

But in reading this thread, and a number of other threads since joining the forum, I am reminded of what I discovered when I first read Dr. Sarno's books: that our perfectionistic personality tends to guide us to finding something to work on, to check off our list, so we can reach a particular outcome. And that's precisely what gets us in trouble in the first place! Trying, and trying and getting frustrated when we don't get there, so then we try harder. For me it's kind of an addiction that I need to keep in check ... but not "try" to keep in check for then I'd make that into a new goal! ; ) So I'm heeding your words here Daniel, and I'm looking at changing my relationship with my pain, not trying to chase it away, or figure out what obscure childhood or repressed emotion lies beneath it, but rather allow it to be there and continue with my life. Easier said than done, but I'm a perfectionist so I'm certainly going to give that a try ... oops, not a try but a casual "hey, this is my life and pain happens to be there in the corner". We'll see how it goes!