Day 15 Moving pain

Hi everyone,

I have been working on the program but had not posted on the forum yet. I have suffered with migraines for around a decade if not more. Before that it was lower back pain. The migraines are preceded with shoulder and neck pain. I was always advised its posture, its laptop time, I need to make 'lifestyle changes' but nothing helped and I have slowly eliminated physical activities but also many social activities since I realized my migraines are stress related and a lot of my stress is also related to social situations.

I am convinced that TMS explains my symptoms, but I am *not* convinced I can learn to manage my anxiety and follow the principle of 'mind over matter'. I experienced a migraine in the last two weeks. It was right after a deadline, I went to the gym, and had to attend a social event which I was v stressed about - all the things I find challenging in one golden day. The pain has also moved in to my wrists in the form of cracking thumbs and cysts. Some times my wrists feel itchy. I have had cysts before but hadn't experienced them in a few years. I am also more aware of pain in my forehead. Whereas the migraines begin with a strained neck muscle, my forehead is always a mild level of strained and now that has been feeling a lot worse consistently.

I suspect I am more aware of how much anxiety I can carry, but am struggling to manage it. Trying to stick with it and keep doing mindfulness as that seems to help; but higher the anxiety the more difficult I find it to practice mindfulness well.

Is my pain psychological? Yes.

Can I learn to manage my anxiety and not get stressed by the mere act of living? Not so sure.

 

Hi,
Check these out! Life-changing!
Hope and Help for Your Nerves, by Claire Weekes, MD
Beyond Anxiety, by Martha Beck

 

Thank you, both! I can gobble up books so I will definitely look these up and see if they can help me process my anxiety better.

 

A quick update: I'm around half way through Weekes' book and its already uncovered so much. Truly astonishing how unaware we can be of our minds and bodies. Thank you again for the recommendation @Diana-M and @JanAtheCPA

 

Yay!!!! That’s great news! When I found Dr. weeks I felt like I found a gold mine things I needed to know my whole life. a lot of answers will snap into place for you. She goes through things step-by-step how to fight your fears and how to soothe your nervous system. She also has other books if you do a search and she made some recordings back in the 60s that are now on Audible.com. I think you can even find some free recordings of hers on YouTube if you do a search. she’s got a spunky little way of talking that is very motivating . Part of my treatment is to read something from her or listen to her every single day she is what keeps me focused on the fact that my anxiety is causing all of this she keeps me in reality