Long History of Stress-Linked Symptoms – Looking for Guidance

I had frequent sore throats since childhood and episodes of breathing difficulty during stressful times. After I started going to the gym regularly after high school, these symptoms had disappeared.

I moved to the U.S. in 2013 for college and stayed physically active with no major health issues. After graduating in 2017 I stopped exercising and the sore throat and cough returned. In 2019 I had severe symptoms (sore throat, feverish feeling, shortness of breath) and was treated for reflux.

Over the years I noticed my symptoms strongly correlate with stress levels. When I was relaxed (for example during vacations) my symptoms used to disappear.

In 2023, during a period of extreme work stress, I developed pelvic pain and urinary frequency. Interestedly reflux that existed since childhood vanished. Later I experienced severe insomnia and anxiety too. I moved to my home country, visited many doctors, but finally saw a psychiatrist, and took medication for sleep(olazapine for 5 months)/anxiety(SNRI), and at the same time started practicing meditation and Dr. Sarno’s TMS approach. All of my symptoms improved significantly within 4-5 months.

I returned to the U.S. in late 2023 and stopped anxiety medication in mid-2024 while functioning well in life without major pain issue. I had flareup of pelvic pain once after that, but it went away within few weeks.

2 months ago, I experienced prolonged emotional stress from relationship related stuffs. I started gym to relieve the stress. But out of sudden, I started getting new symptom of chest pain and burning stomach(never had it in my life). Also, some old symptoms returned (shortness of breath, minor pelvic pain) along with anxiety in the morning. Out of panic, I went to doctor for physical checkup. He prescribed ppi for reflux but I am hesitant to take the medication. Currently only taking antacid so I can sleep at night. When I visited some relatives last week, I realized now I have developed severe social anxiety too.

pain is not localized, it keeps moving between pelvic region, upper abdomen, burning stomach, chest.. Recently realized I am losing weight too.

I think these symptoms is part of a mind-body/TMS pattern triggered by stress and want to stop the cycle without relying on medication this time. I live alone and do not have friends as I moved to this city just 1-2 years ago. I feel like I am in downward spiral and need help.

 

Hi @hammocksoul
Sounds like you already know what to do. You also already know what triggers your stress.
I think you are having some anxiety and doing what most people with TMS do - avoid those feelings. Anxiety feels horrible in the body but...the good news is that if you can begin to allow those sensations which include the physical symptoms you describe and may include reflux (I had reflux, it was definitely associated with anxiety) - the sweaty palms, racing hearts, the circling thoughts, perhaps feeling a bit shaky, burning etc can all be anxiety. I lost weight when I had severe anxiety with TMS and I lost interest and became even more anxious around others.

However all that changed when I recognized the anxiety and just let it be. I began to get curious about the sensations and marvel at how the body can absolutely reflect what is going on in the mind. I noticed that things like excitement can make the body react in a similar way to anxiety - all the same sensations and restless mind. I stopped worrying that something was "wrong" and began to recognize there was nothing to "fix" and just let it be. There is nothing wrong with feeling anxious; it is only our primitive brain that reverts back to thinking that something big and awful is going to happen to us when we feel anxious because that's simply how it works. Cavemen got anxious when they were about to be eaten by a lion - our minds are still dialed into that primitive reaction. However we don't live there anymore and it really is just simply recognizing that we don't have any imminent danger 99% of the time when we feel anxious.

I think you just need to keep doing all the things you learned from Dr. Sarno and recognize when he says to keep up with life he doesn't mean you have to shove yourself sideways into it. You don't need to force it: have some self compassion, recognize when you need to slow down, feel the heaviness and difficulty of emotional relationships and know that FEELING them, in the body will allow your brain and mind to process them over time. Allow the sensations of anxiety. Take medication for reflux if you need to for now: it's not failing, it's not giving into symptoms, it's not a crutch - it's just what you need right now to be kind to yourself and you can stop taking it when you don't need it.

If you feel you'd like more emotional exploration, the free SEP - Structured Educational Program on this website can help you work through thoughts and emotions. I don't know how to link to that right now for you (there are some technical issues with the website that are being worked on right now)...

 

At its core TMS is nervous system dysfunction, the analogy of the overfilled glass gets mentioned a lot in this space. Our nervous system is a like glass of water, after a certain level we start manifesting symptoms, could be mild to start, but if we ignore our issues (emotional repression, poor treatment of ourselves, ocd looping thoughts, isolation etc) that glass continues to fill and overflow and we get debilitating symptoms. Which then grabs our attention. You sound like you’re kinda in this situation of cycling between periods of debilitating symptoms and relief which makes sense if you do some TMS work to bring your nervous system back down to a lower level but not enough to where there is less of a risk of developing severe symptoms in the future. Which again isn’t too abnormal especially when you factor in a new country a new city, social isolation, state of the US atm. The truth is, is that us tmsers are always at risk of developing symptoms if we don’t look after ourselves. Especially after high periods where we are feeling good and neglect the stuff that led to us having success.

I think diving back into the TMS stuff is wise, it sounds like you have a good foundation so kinda your call how you want to proceed, as Cactus said the SEP is a good place to start.

I think the social isolation is definitely something that needs to be addressed, i really struggle with this too and it makes low moments feel a lot heavier if we think we’re alone. Are there hobbies you like to engage, does the city you’re in have meetup groups for those activities. In person yoga has helped me a lot, not that I made a ton of friends there, but it’s been good for small talk and just getting out of my comfort zone, good for lowering the nervous system threshold too. Are there any volunteer groups nearby or things your passionate about-maybe there are some like minded people out there. I know it’s all easier said than done, again I struggle with it, I’m thankful my work allows lots of socializing and communication so that itch gets scratched a little, but I still yearn for close friends and close deep relationships. I totally get what you’re going through. You likely have lots of empathy and are a decent person (I think most tmsers are!) you have stuff to offer people, and can add to their lives and vice versa.

you’re going through a lot, take it easy on yourself. All these symptoms are temporary, I know that’s tough to believe right now but you got through the previous bouts, you’ll get through this one, self compassion is so key. We really need to be our friend in these low moments.

also just want to add as someone who has dealt with a variety of GI issues (chest pain and burning stomach being one) and now they are so much better- GI stuff is a little tricky in that being in perpetual fight or flight can absolutely mess with the digestive system. I was prescribed ppis and took them for a little but stopped and just modified my diet, when I ate, how much. You shouldn’t approach dietary changes as a cure, the issue is caused by the brain and nervous system and being in fight or flight but if we’re full of fear then we may have to make some temporary physical changes while our system calms down. I remember when I first became TMS aware and was scared of all foods I said fuck it I’m going to eat chili for dinner every night I lasted about 3 days before I realized this is stupid and I was torturing myself. My diet is wide and varied now and while I still deal with some GI symptoms they are short lived and I no longer find myself fearing foods, because the pain always passes.

I cannot emphasize enough that the localized symptoms are not the issue, the brain is causing all this because you are in fight or flight.