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Can brain fog by an imperative? If so, got resources?

Discussion in 'Support Subforum' started by Jawarrior1, Jul 11, 2022.

  1. Jawarrior1

    Jawarrior1 Peer Supporter

    Hey guys, so I am having a lot of life changes all at once, good ones, and have some fear associated with them. I havn't been journaling and consider myself a pretty successful case of TMS. But I am having unusual brain fog. If it were a symptom imperative I wouldn't blame myself as this is a fearful time.

    I searched on TMS Wiki for brain fog and found nothing. Can brain fog be a symptom imperative? If it were I can attack it with journaling. Also, if brain fog is an imperative, are there resources to read on it for faith?
     
  2. Booble

    Booble Beloved Grand Eagle

    *raising hand*
    I can discuss brain fog with you.
    Going into a meeting right now but will be back later.
     
  3. Cactusflower

    Cactusflower Beloved Grand Eagle

    Claire Weeks addresses it in her writings but not by the term brain fog, she’ll say things like clear thinking or thinking straight describing clients anxiety symptoms. I had brain fog for many years on and off. It seemed to switch back and forth between fog and overthinking. I’ve mentally noted it, reminded myself once or twice a day without judgement that its merely a symptom and ignored it. Seems to fade away most of the time.
     
    JanAtheCPA likes this.
  4. JanAtheCPA

    JanAtheCPA Beloved Grand Eagle

    https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/psycho-physiological-dizziness-syndrome-ppds.4599/ (Psycho-Physiological Dizziness Syndrome (PPDS))

    I'm like 99% sure that brain fog is mentioned either in individual posts, or in the PDF article that is referenced.

    Also google "brain fog mindbody" You'll find a ton of references and resources that say YES, absolutely brain fog is a mindbody condition.

    Recognize that TMS is not a term you will find out in the wider world. Most practitioners these days, even the ones who directly followed on Dr. Sarno's work, now refer either to MBS (MindBody syndrome) or PPD (PschoPhysiologic Disorder). That's because the Myositis in TMS is kind of out of date since Dr. Sarno was practicing - he is said to have acknowledged this after retiring.
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2022
  5. Celayne

    Celayne Well known member

    Brain fog is a symptom imperative. How do I know this? Because as my pain has lessened, my brain has gotten foggy. The days I have pain flares, the fog lifts.
    I didn’t have a lot of brain fog for the 10 or so years I had debilitating TMS pain. Got substantially better and here comes the fog. It’s annoying, but like all other symptoms it will someday be gone.
     
    Cactusflower and JanAtheCPA like this.
  6. Booble

    Booble Beloved Grand Eagle

    I think there are two kinds of brain fog.
    There is the kind from post virus when your brain is still a little inflamed and your body is responding to all the immune system chemicals.
    And there is the kind our minds place on us that feels sooo physical and structural but can lift as quickly as it came on -- because nothing IS structurally wrong with you.
    That latter kind of brain fog is similar to (but often longer lasting) than the brain fog that happens for some of us when we have to go do something that we are scared or worried about. For example if you have social anxiety and are meeting a friend or family member for lunch. You may have been excited about it when you set up the lunch date but gosh darn it on the day of the lunch, BAM, you feel really cruddy that morning. Stomach a little off and your head is all kind of fuzzy. You tell yourself there is no way you can get through a lunch. ......and then a miracle happens and your friend calls up and says that he or she has to cancel -- something came up at work -- and well bing, bang, boom...what do you know....in about 10 minutes, you suddenly feel good again.

    I think that unless you are struggling with post virus fatigue, most extended brain fog is a longer lasting version of that lunch date example. And it fits so well into the TMS framework that our bodies are saying, "Hey, you, you can't do this!" Oh how our lower part of our brain thinks it's helping and protecting us.
     
  7. Cactusflower

    Cactusflower Beloved Grand Eagle

    Booble, some of the science coming out about things like “immune system chemicals” is fascinating. These chemicals are all related to the nervous system and stress, so essentially is IS all one thing. No matter the reason: from illness and the physical stress of being ill or mental stress from thoughts, our bodies react one in the same way. Fascinating.
     
    Booble likes this.
  8. Booble

    Booble Beloved Grand Eagle

    Excellent points.
    Personally I feel like the jury is still out on the body's over reaction to immune system chemicals (cytokines) and allergens -- likewise to virus.
    I know that from a TMS standpoint we are to believe that over reactive immune system response is all from mental stress, thoughts, unconscious emotions....but to what degree do different bodies react differently from physical differences?
    For example, at 5 years old, my brother got 2 pox when he got chicken pox. Just 2. My mother asked the doctor is this chicken pox? He said no. ...until a couple days later when my sister, age 2, got a normal amount of pox and then poor Baby Booble (me) at 6 months got covered from head to toe, in my mouth, up my private parts, everywhere.
    I mean at 6 months, how much emotional baggage did I have?
    I can come up with theories on both sides of the table. On one hand, my mother had a bad cold/virus when I was born. Perhaps that impacted my immune system? On the other hand, I was third child and born in the "let the baby cry it out" supposed best practice of childhood. Perhaps I had emotional trauma of not feeling safe, even before I had language or words?

    Food for thought.
     

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