3. Can you work too hard at overcoming TMS?

I think those are great points, Walt. I'm trying to do more of those same thing's myself.

 

A little wine at end of the day doesn't hurt too much either.

 

I agree about a little wine at the end of the day.
I like a glass of red wine (good for the heart) before or with dinner.

My best friend used to drink a whole bottle of red wine with dinner.
His head hit the table (slowly) afterward. The wine helped him with back pain.
But he needed to know about TMS which would have helped more than the wine.
I didn't know about TMS in time to help him.

Dr. Sarno said in HEALING BACK PAIN that we shouldn't spend too much time
each day even on TMS healing. We need to relax and enjoy life.

Steve Ozanich has suggested we look at movies and television shows that
involve mind-body healing such as TMS techniques. I like the idea and have
begun contributing examples. If you want to take a break from TMS techniques,
the pop culture examples can be helpful and relaxing at the same time.
They're on the TMSWiki forum at TMS and Pop Culture.

Have a great day.

 

I was really pleased to watch this video as I have been giving this some thought. Just as I have said you own your TMS by thinking about it all the time,feeding it pain pills, loving it by watching over and being possesive because it may go away and you are wondering where it is so is the SEP part of that ownership. Now I can put a name to it and I can add another layer to what I do for it. As the kind of personality we tend to be ...... I'm organized with it printing out the sheets, making a file etc etc. I even get worried if I miss a day.....I shouldn't care this is my recovery
I am on Day 7 and a day of relaxing doing what I want to do. I walked today and I said I don't care.....I'm enjoying my walking

 

Very interesting comments about the video, Forest.

Ollin and others, I too feel that thinking too much and long about TMS can work against healing.
Dr. Sarno says in Healing Back Pain that we need to spend 15 minutes or so reviewing his
12 Daily Reminders once a day, but not let it become a ritual. I think it's a good idea to take the
mind off pain and healing and do something or think of something relaxing.

I like just turning off the tv, listening to soothing music, closing my eyes, deep breathing,
and visualizing the tranquil wilderness canoe trips I was on years ago in the Minnesota-Ontario
northwoods. Paddling a canoe on a quiet lake, listening to the call of the loons, hearing the
water spash against the canoe, a light breeze in the trees.

No electronics. No multi-tasking. No noise. Just calming. You probably have a place you've
been that gives you what my wilderness canoe trips gave me. Sitting in a room looking out at
a rainforest and hearing the birds calling to each other. That's great.

 

This video resonated strongly with me today. I am currently doing so many things to try to treat my pelvic pain via TMS that I was working on a schedule to organize my morning, noon, and night activities thinking it would lower my stress levels. I am meditating, stretching, doing yoga, using a foam roller, going for walks, doing tension release exercises, taking hot baths, and doing Dr. Schubiner's program. Most of those things I'm doing more than once a day. At the same time I'm staring at all I'm doing and my new schedule and thinking about scrapping it all and just doing nothing but continuing with Dr. Schubiner's workbook and some sort of meditation. Part of me doesn't even want to do that much because it reinforces there's something wrong with me and when I'm feeling better I don't do these activities. I know I have to release tension from my mind to begin to release it in my body, and in theory all of these activities help, but I think in combination they keep me stuck in the endless cycle of obsessing on the physical symptoms, my treatment options, am I doing everything I can, what's the next silver bullet, etc.

I've gone down this road before where I try one thing after the next and frequently many at the same time and yet I know when I got better 2 years ago I flat out gave up and literally did nothing but started living again. I had started to slowly improve and one day I hit a breaking point where I stop reading anything health related online, hid my TMS books, hid my pelvic pain books, stopped doing yoga, and got distracted by selling our house, buying a new one, and other real life things happening outside of my head. I thinking giving up was surrender or acceptance and that's what finally eased the tension in mind enough to ease it in my body.

This time my thinking is I changed my mind last time and learned about TMS and slowly got better over a year. If I had helped my body along and continued to build core strength and retrain my body to not hold tension in my pelvic floor I'd have healed quicker. But I am realizing that that is not accepting the TMS diagnosis and is still reinforcing the physical diagnosis. So ultimately I guess I'm trying to say you absolutely can try to hard to cure overcome TMS and I think I am currently doing just that.

 

Great post, mleach. The question of do we have to change ourselves in order to heal is a big one for me. Like you, I became obsessed with my TMS healing. I worked the SEP for over a month, read lots of books, journaled, etc. My pain decreased only slightly, but enough to know I was on the right track.

But that obsessive, hyped-up attitude was part of who I was. How much of that would I have to change?

As Plum said in another thread, TMS is telling us to chill. Relax. Get back into life. HOWEVER. If your life contained a lot of non-chilling, intense, obsessive moments, then maybe you can't get back into the life you once had. Maybe you have to create a new, slower version of your life. This is what I'm finding is true for me.

 

Yeah but . . . yeah but . . . yeah but . . . isn't the whole idea to use those techniques (journaling, mindfulness, meditation etc. etc.) to relax, not to build another obsessive-compulsive workaholic edifice that dominates and rules your every waking moment? Seems like you're merely replacing the tyranny of TMS with another form of slavery to your own unmet, unconscious psychological needs? Tricky business, isn't it Forest, performing brain surgery on your own brain?

 

What a pleasant surprise to see today is a day "off" from journaling and processing and digging and reliving. I'm sitting outside with the dogs - even though it's an overcast day, I want to be outside, where I belong. This morning I decided I might relax more if I were in a pleasant environment, maybe be able to reach things I haven't yet reached.

And to my delight, I receive a hall pass to do whatever I flippin want! Thanks, Forest!

I've heard before Ollin's reference to positive affirmations and the power of attraction, how telling yourself, "I'm feeling good and healthy. My body is strong, fit, and moves with ease," helps redirect the brain's focus. I'd forgotten about it until now. Thanks, Ollin, for reminding me of such a simple shift of focus.

I was stressing about journaling today - kind of overwhelmed by the volume of things which need to be addressed.

But I'm going to go play Words With Friends and post pics of my silly dogs and comment on anything I find which interests me.

Really, life is good. I just have to get my subconscious to understand!

 

Great video and subject! It was exactly what I needed to hear and read today. Grateful for a day off as I realized how I've put this program in my psyche as another thing to distract me. I suppose there could be worse distractions, like PAIN!!
This is a line that struck me today: Worry is one of the number one causes of TMS, and your ability to slow down and moderate the level of your activation could be a huge help in the progress that you've been seeing.
Thank you for naming this activity for me. I do it so much that half the time I'm not even noticing how much it grips me. Hugs to all of you for participating and helping people like me, just starting on this journey. So grateful today!

 

This is such a great post. The video from Forest and the replies.
Pilot, I think you could benefit a lot from looking at all of it.

Walt

 

Forrest, thank you for the video on trying too hard. A really important reminder for those of us who would be walking poster children for the MBS personality if you could see through us.

It's funny that this morning my pains though different than other mornings were pretty tough and I'm a bit worried about going to the relatives for Xmas eve. I went to my wife just to tell her and get some support and she said "Dave, take it easy today, ok?" many blessings everywhere if you are open to receiving them

Be well.

 

I SO needed to revisit this right now! Thank you all.
My college-age daughter injured herself doing something crazy, and urgent care recommended an orthopedic surgeon. Her "good" insurance only lasts until December 31. Argh!
Plus, my sister is flying down for 4 days. I love her dearly, and I know that her mild form of OCD drives me insane.
My TMS struggles of late have been centered on the issue of when pain is another manifestation of TMS, and when it's something else. Just a reminder that learning is an iterative process!!!!
This morning, I took time for a favorite hobby. It was great to spend an hour or so doing something I love, prior to all the madness.
Blessings for each of you to take some "self" time during the holidays.

 

I was hoping to ask you a quick question. I am continuing on my TMS journey in a positive direction. I feel that I am close, however I really took interest of a video by Forest about "working too hard" on our TMS. I feel this maybe me and think I must do something each day. It may not be a lot, but just something regarding TMS. I think this may just be giving attention to it. I fear that if I don't, I will not be doing some necessary work. I have a deep feeling that if I just don't do anything, that may be the answer? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, especially if you can personally relate. Thank you!

Here is also the link to the video by Forest:



joseph

 

Forest, it's great how many people replied who are new to me among those who post.

I'll think about how to include it in the book.

 

I agree with this completely .... words have power. They are like seeds scattered in a garden plot. We have to carefully weed out the ones we do not wish to take root, and cultivate those we wish to see flourishing.

with grace and gratitude,
^_^