overwhelmed and full of anxiety

Hi, did anyone use the unlearn your pain book by Dr. Schubiner? Its alot of emotional work, and to be honest, i am overwhelmed right now. I am so bad at this, i am in therapy since 4 years but i still dont understand this stuff. Its just to complicated for me this whole emotional world. I have terrible symptoms in my face since 5 years and all i want is it to be gone . Now i am hopeless, reading all this emotional work stuff. I feel like i will never get my life back if i dont understand myself and emotions etc.... Im so stressed now......I hope the symptoms can still leave if i dont fear them anymore, relax more and show my self more love. But i dont see myself in this life to understand emotions and our thinking

 

So sorry to hear this, Dejan069. I'm just starting my healing now via Pain Reprocessing Therapy (at the same clinic that Dr. Schubiner is at in Chicago). Can I ask if you are still seeing a therapist now? Is there any way that you could ask them for a bit of help or clarification of the basic concepts? Dr. Schubiner's work is not unlike Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, etc. Any therapist, even those that aren't familiar with neuroplastic pain, should be able to offer you some general guidance. I've also been finding that the psychologist community out there are starting to become aware of neuroplastic pain / TMS / PRT / etc. One of my recent outpatient therapists, to my surprise, was very well-versed in the work of Schubiner, Alan Gordon, etc. You could always start looking around your area and asking?

If that is not an option, you could always try another book. I'd recommend Alan's book "The Way Out". It's very accessible and easy to read. He also has a lot of YouTube videos/interviews/webinars/etc (not to mention his course that's published here as well).

Hope that helps!

 

Thanks for your reply. Yea im still in CBT but i feel like i wasted 3 years because of these symptoms. I couldnt concentrate and forgot much pretty fast again. Hope i can start "fresh" somwhere else again. I looked up The way out on amazon and he has a translation in my mother language :O , first Tms book i see in my language. Is it much different then dr Schubiners?

 

It's probably a good book to start with if you are confused on the emotional side - it may relate more to you and your personality as it is more scientific and practical

 

The Way Out is easier to digest. I’d start there if you are easily overwhelmed. Dr. Schubiner’s Unlearn Your Pain is really great but also kind of hardcore (have personally done his exercises).

 

I haven't read it, but if I had to choose one today I'd probably pick The PRT Workbook, by Vanessa Blackstone.

 

Thank you all , then i will start there and take it easy. I hope I will understand more when my symptoms and anxiety lessen. Now i am easly overwhelmed lol

 

I know how you feel, and I'm right there with you. I was diagnosed in January with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and have been in full-time/then part-time anxiety therapy ever since. While overall I'm getting better, it's been quite a difficult struggle at times. Of course, I'm also dealing with TMS / neuroplastic pain at the same time (and have started separate therapy sessions for that) - so that makes the rough times with my anxiety just that much more difficult.

(I have to believe also that many people on this forum - while perhaps not having an official / clinical diagnosis of anxiety - nonetheless have to deal with that condition on a regular basis as a result of their particular form of TMS. It's not like you and I are 'unique' in our situations...which is a COMFORT in many ways!)

I have to remember that with both my anxiety and TMS the healing is non-linear; which can be very frustrating. One small thing that's helped me is to keep a 'win list' - big things and little things about my battle with TMS and anxiety that have felt like victories. It helps to look back on that list on a regular basis when things get overwhelming, and you feel like you've gotten nowhere.

 

Imo that is a great strategy! In addition to this, I use a visual representation of all my 'wins', big and small, by placing a pebble or marble for each 'win' in to a large glass jar. It's great to look at it and see just how many things I'm doing and achieving now.

 

Oh, that's very cool! I may have to start that practice. It's like a piece of 'healing art' !