I think I may have TMS

Hello to everybody. I have been light headed / spaced out for about 3-4 years. I have been to every doctor and they either tell me I am healthy ( which makes me happy ) or they tell me it's anxiety and give me a pill. My neck has been hurting for a long time and I think it's the SCM muscle so that has been my focus. I hear that a tight SCM can really mess you up and make you dizzy. I have also had a lot of stress thrown at me and even though I don't think I am stressed, my wife would disagree. Then I came across Dr. Sarno's book Healing back pain which I just started reading. It is interesting how I do focus on the dizziness and maybe that is why it is still here. I wake up in the morning and the first thoughts are " am I still dizzy? " I don't know how to break this cycle and I am hoping this book can help. I use to be a happy person and now I just don't care so much about things like I use to. My son and wife deserve better then what I am giving them and I won't stop till I am better. If anybody has thoughts on how to break the cycle let me know and any other thoughts as well. Thanks.

 

Most people here can identify. So long as you've had all the tests and ruled out all other possibilities then hammer away.
It's amazing how many little stressors can be present without even being aware of them. This has been the revelation for me personally. I didn't think I was stressed!
The Unconscious is a weird,wonderful and vicious thing all in one.

 

Hi Rocksolid,
Welcome to this forum. Most of here have had the whole long trip with the medical system, with no results, so we are with you.

Your personality, the way you write, the insights about yourself all point to TMS, in my opinion. You are careful, thoughtful of others, focus on the problem at hand. While I don't know your symptoms in my experience, there are so many symptoms that have been treated with Dr. Sarno's work. The problems treated with Dr. Sarno's work are apparently almost endless, in the realm of "nothing they can find" type cases, as Irish says.

I want to make sure you know about both of these free programs.
http://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/Structured_Educational_Program

http://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/TMS_Recovery_Program

Good Luck! Andy B.

 

Thanks for writing back and kind words. I will look over the links once I finish reading the book. I am guessing there is no test to determine if you have TMS.

 

Waking up in the morning and the first thing is checking for being dizzy, exhibits the "distraction" that TMS is, to me that's sort of a proof for TMS. When I've done some short term low dosage anti-depressants I felt "spacey", so maybe they contribute to the feeling rather then take it away--but there are so many pills out there that can have so many different effects on the psyche. There is a physical test Dr. Sarno used in the initial exam work-up "palpation of the tender points" but it wasn't conclusive for everyone. The Rahe-Holmes Stress Scale is a good way of discovering what emotionally charged life situations cause TMS:

THE HOLMES-RAHE STRESS SCALE:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale

 

I have had so many different life challenges in my life, I wish I know which one was giving me an issue. I thought I had everything locked down tight. In my mind I can come up with reasons why all the crappy stuff in my life happens but I guess reasons still don't take away the pain of them. My wife is a crier ( like many females ) I never cry and I realize I have no release for the feelings I keep pent up inside. I have tried to watch sad movies to make me cry and it works but I have to be alone because I grew up thinking that crying is a weakness ( stupid man thinking) I tell my son who is Autistic ( one of my stresses and also the best kid I could ever ask for) that it is ok to cry and show his feeling when ever he needs to. I don't want him not to have a release like me. I just wish I could be put under hypnosis and just have a giant cry. Any suggestions to let out the pain? I feel talking will not be enough.

 

Well, I've never tried it myself but maybe Reichian therapy may be of help:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichian_therapy

I found this interesting quote doing a little google by a Jack Willis in a PDF handbook on the internet that looked interesting for self-help DIY'ers:

http://www.markfoster.net/struc/Reich_Home_Book.pdf

"THE JOB OF LIVING IS LIVING. It is not the job of living to do therapy. This type of work should only be done to the extent that it aids you in the job of living. There is no reason, no excuse, to use therapy for self-destructive ends"

This credo seems to tie in well with TMS philosophy which basically says, you are NOT injured-- so--JUST DO IT! Maybe someday my gf will give me a gift certificate for some Reichian therapy, it looks like fun. I've heard an exercise is to put you in a padded room where you hit a mattress with a baseball bat to release those pent-up (TMS) tensions.

 

Rocksolid,
I thought I would chime in here to say that I have had dizziness that was TMS. Every so often I have it again and I am able to talk myself out of it Seems like I spend every day talking myself out of a symptom! The good news is I can talk myself out of them.

If you look into the SEP Andy suggested, it can be done while reading the book, as part of doing it is to read TMS books. Keep us posted!

 

How do you talk yourself out of it Lizzy? I will do the exercise while reading the book.

 

It depends on how I am feeling. Sometimes I am more reassuring, " I am alright, let whatever come, its normal to have my body react this way under the circumstances" ( even if we would prefer to be asked if this is what we want!). Other times I read my evidence sheet, which lists why I personally believe I have tms. And sometimes I give my brain what for! "I know what you're doing! I am going to do what I want, when I want and you won't stop me!" For example, my right foot will act up with plantar faciitis and I will drive without using cruise control, or go walking, dance around, or go barefoot. Anything to tell my unconscious mind that the game is up.

I have been at this for about 8 months and am still learning. I think most would say they still get aha moments, even after years of being pain free. As Irishsceptic said, its weird wonderful and vicious all at once! This "condition" brings the opportunity to learn so much about ourselves!

Lizzy

 

I've felt dizziness and know it happens when I am really upset and angry.
I just slow down and tell myself it's emotional... TMS... and that nothing lasts forever.

A cup of hot tea or milk helps, but mainly it's telling myself not to worry, to slow down,
chill out, and LAUGH.

 

Thanks again everybody. I really don't have any pain ( thank goodness ) except some tightness in my neck. It's the dizzy feeling that I can't stand anymore. It's been sooo long since I have not felt this way that sometimes I feel like this is it for ever and I need to learn how to deal with it. I was looking over that 6 week program a few messages up and I was wondering if I can do more then one day at a time. I figure I can bang out a few days in one and maybe shorten it to 3 weeks instead of 6.

 

Well......one of the things that give us symptoms is rushing and pressure. Your inner child might have itself a hissy-fit if you pressure yourself to hurry up and heal. If your subconscious is a pot boiling over it doesn't help to turn up the heat or pour in more boiling stuff. Maybe look at it this way, 6 weeks will go by whether you do tms work or not. Doing it quickly will get the SEP done, but maybe not the calming of your system that will fade symptoms. Being well now is what you want, but being truly well is what you need.

 

These are both interesting statements. We all believe we should "just take life" and "buck up." But underneath, parts of us are very sad and angry about all the things we have endured. You clearly have feelings about this, even though you aren't in direct contact with it. The journaling may help you open to more feeling. So does sensing into your body. And Dr. Sarno's guidance to "just imagine what your inner child is feeling about the pressures life and your personality puts on it." Some folks need therapy or coaching to feel more...you'd be surprised what someone listening will open in you, someone who knows their own feeling (and the resistance to feeling, which is essentially Superego activity)!

 

Well I just had a heart to heart talk with my wife and I think the thing that has been bothering me is that I have felt trapped. Even though my son is my world I feel like I will never have the " Normal " life even when he gets older because he is autistic and that is very upsetting. I have already made sacrifices and I feel like I will never get what I want out of life since I need to cater to him. I feel like a jerk for feeling that way, but that's how I feel. I did not cry but I feel better. I may go and talk to somebody about this. I guess I will see how I feel tomorrow. Thanks to everybody for the support.

 

Hi Rocksolid,

How Wonderful to have this exploration of your truth, and all right now...when you were curious about what was feeling in you, a little more below the surface. It all may more accessible than you think! I think that a lot is accomplished when we simply begin to ask ourselves, with sincerity, to feel and know more.

With any new awareness, and that especially includes feelings, the Superego gets activated. It doesn't want us to feel what's underneath. This is why working with the Superego or "Inner Bully" is important! Good luck in this. But this is how I feel is a strong stance, which is needed. It is a tender journey of the heart, that brings you closer to your own love, your own sweetness. The reason we don't all embark on this, and feel more, is that these feelings were "dangerous to us as children." They are not any longer, but they feel this way.

Andy B.

 

So..... It's been a few days and I felt dizzy over the weekend but not too bad, but today I am back to being more dizzy . I'm not letting it freak me out but I don't know what more I can do. I guess at this point I am suppose to think about what else could be making me upset and that would be the cause of my being more dizzy today?

 

Yes, and you can also try self talk: "Stop making me dizzy, I'm willing to feel my emotions!" The main thing is you are treating this as emotional, not physical in your outlook and self-talk. Good luck.

 

Hi Rocksolid,
Hopefully you are feeling a lot better now. I am wondering if you had any success? I am experiencing the same type of dizziness as you and my neck muscles are so tight. Did you end up with tension headaches everytime you tried to stretch them out?

 

Since the last time I was here I was diagnosed with Vertical Heterophoria which is an eye condition. I need to get glasses that have a prism in them and they have helped with my dizziness. It is not perfect but it is much better and I hope it will continue. I do have a lot of emotional issues that I need to work through and everybody here has been very supportive and helpful and I am thankful. Here are the symptoms for Vertical Heterophoria

Vestibular Symptoms a. Dizziness / lightheadedness / disorientation with varying degrees of frequency, from occasional episodes to daily awareness. Triggers to Dizziness: 1. Side to side head movement 2. Up and down head movement 3. Getting up quickly from a seated position 4. Bending over to retrieve an object and getting up quickly 5. Riding as a passenger in a car, especially in the back seat 6. Going around curves while in a car 7. High speed expressway driving with fast moving vehicles passing on either side b. Nausea c. Motion sickness and car sickness, often since childhood. d. Unsteadiness while walking. Develops a slower gait to feel steadier on feet and to avoid falling. e. Falls often (with occasional breaks to bones) due to being unsure of their footing. f. Drifts to one side while walking down a hallway. Unintentionally moves in to someone else’s space while walking next to them. Feels like their midline or body center is shifted to one side. Walks in to door frames, edges of tables, corners of counter, etc., often with the same side of the body each time. These symptoms are similar to those seen in patients with MS, sequella of a stroke, inner ear disorder or Meniere’s disease.

2. Head, Neck, and Shoulder Pain Symptoms a. Headaches with varying degrees of intensity and location. Most common locations: forehead, temples, back of head. b. Pain with eye movements. c. A felling of pressure and heaviness on top of the head. d. Facial / “sinus” pain, pain in the jaw region. e. Severe neck and shoulder discomfort due to an accompanying head tilt (frequently obvious). Neck pain described as a neck headache or neck migraine. These symptoms are similar to those seen in patients with sinus problems, migraines, TMJ problems, spinal misalignment issues.

3. Driving Symptoms a. Difficulties with stopping at traffic lights and stop signs. The signs seem to move due to the underlying dizziness. It can sometimes feel like the car is moving backward even though the foot is on the brake. b. Images are seen moving in the peripheral vision that aren’t really moving.