Derek S. Could I have TMS??

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Question

Could I have TMS?Three years ago I started with buttock pain that then went all over. Diagnosed with Fibro. Now I am diagnosed with Painful bladder syndrome. First while taking care of Father. Second after Fathers death. Been diagnosed bipolar since 18. Disabled with that since age 30. I have had every test. Bloodwork. Pain meds Nothing seems to help. I'm a stay at home Mom with a 5 year old. I have another stepson who stays and home schools. I sleep most days. Stay severely depressed and Husband works many long hours second shift. Any advice would be considered helpful. Desperate to live pain free. Read 3 Dr Sarno books. I feel it's TMS. Thank you. Candice

 

Answer

Hi Candice,

Thanks for your question. Firstly, I am so sorry to hear that you have been suffering so much. Pain and depression are closely linked and can feed off of one another.

What you are describing certainly sounds like TMS to me. I consider all of the diagnoses that you have received interchangeable with TMS. The lack of any clear structural cause for your pain along with your significant life stressors and co-occurring bipolar depression make a very strong case for a psychogenic explanation for your pain symptoms.

The first thing that I would do would be to get into therapy. Of course a TMS therapist would be preferable but if that is not possible for you, just get into treatment. Since you have a bipolar diagnosis, it is very important that you are under the care of a psychiatrist. There are very effective medications for bipolar depression and anything that decreases your depression will likely help your pain symptoms as well.

Furthermore, work toward certainty regarding the cause of your pain symptoms. Create an evidence sheet to help you to conceptualize your symptoms as psychogenic and use it during periods of doubt. Utilize the wonderful resources on the TMS Wiki including Alan Gordon's TMS Recovery Program and the Structured Educational Program to get you started on your path to recovery.

All the best.

-Derek

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Hi, Candice. I agree with Derek Shapiro that you should try to get some help for your bipolar problem, but I also would like to say that I have some friends with that and they are coping with it very well. One is self-employed, building and repairing computers and helping people with computer problems, like I have.

I think everyone lives with some emotional and physical problems. We have to accept them and not let them become the biggest things in our lives.

 

Ty for your advice. I am in therapy right now. We are working the mind body way. Just started. I have tried the medicine route for depression. Never worked for me. Too many reactions, but hopefully with the knowledge and working therapy I will be better. Ty again.

 

Ty. I'm in therapy. I've been disabled with bipolar since 2005. Just started new mind body therapy and it seems to help more than medicine ever did. Ty for the help.
Candy