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Sarno-ism is not a religion

Discussion in 'General Discussion Subforum' started by riv44, Sep 25, 2015.

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  1. riv44

    riv44 Well known member

    Awareness that anxiety, hopelessness, and depression amplified my experience of pain is a great thing. I have improved in so many ways because my fear is reduced and I can focus on emotional triggers.I
    We come from different spiritual and religious groups, but Sarno-ism isn't a religion and TMS isn't an evil spirit with a mind of its own. It's a process of converting mental experience to physical anxiety and focus on pain.

    Accepting the diagnosis is not a religious conversion. It is not about a deity, or a theology. It is simply a shift in focus away from catastrophic thinking.

    I do hope that newcomers will get the sense that we are not worshipers of Sarno. If the idea of "100% belief in TMS" makes you think that you have to sell your belongings and drink the Kool-aid, that iis unfortunate. Belief in the diagnosis (as I see it) means turning to low-key pain relief rather than going to medical specialists for drastic interventions. In other words, an ice-pack instead of surgery.

    I appreciate that there are diverse approaches to spirituality here. But TMS isn't a religious diagnosis. TMS doesn't have a mind of its own. It's a process, above all-- a process that can be unlearned.
     
    riv44, Sep 25, 2015
    #1
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  2. riv44

    riv44 Well known member

    In my opinion.
     
    riv44, Sep 25, 2015
    #2
  3. IrishSceptic

    IrishSceptic Podcast Visionary

    I knew that anxiety and depression were making my pain worse but I thought I was anx/depressed because the pain. The major breakthrough for many is finally having a rationale as to ''why'' the pain exists and practical steps to overcome it. Amazing how modern medicine has totally failed in this regard, my mind still goes back to doubt but I remember that Doctors are not Deities but Sarno hit the Motherlode!
     
    IrishSceptic, Sep 25, 2015
    #3
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  4. IrishSceptic

    IrishSceptic Podcast Visionary

    IrishSceptic, Sep 25, 2015
    #4
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  5. riv44

    riv44 Well known member

    EXACTLY!!
     
    riv44, Sep 25, 2015
    #5
  6. Boston Redsox

    Boston Redsox Well Known Member

    Spot on riv44 so many people believe its some sort of religious belief ( cult association to a degree) you are spot on about the fear its such a big hurdle to jump over.
     
    Boston Redsox, Sep 26, 2015
    #6
  7. Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021)

    Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021) Beloved Grand Eagle

    TMS is not a religion, but I found healing through adding the spiritual element, asking God to help in my healing, and I believe that did help me to stop having severe back pain.

    And actually, isn't sports a religion with many people? And rock music and performers. And politics? And greed? Of all of those and other things people are hung up on, I think only religion is really good for us.
     
    Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021), Sep 26, 2015
    #7
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  8. Forest

    Forest Beloved Grand Eagle

    That is such an important point, riv44. Dr. Sarno is a proud scientist who worked in a teaching hospital at New York University. He was clear that the TMS approach was not alternative medicine. Rather, it was just good "regular" medicine.

    Sadly, I think that some of the people who learn about TMS are what I call "searchers." "Searchers" want to feel like they understand some secret that no one else understands. Because they lack deep self esteem, they try to make up for it by reading books or watching videos with outlandish new-age or conspiracy-theory ideas. Generally, there is no scientific foundation for many of the ideas they adopt, but it makes them feel special to feel that they know something that other people don't know, so they believe it anyway. Searchers typically have difficulty telling the difference between theories that are credible and theories that just make them feel like they are special for believing them.

    Dr. Sarno and the other TMS doctors are not searcher do not like conspiracy theories. They know that the TMS approach is just good scientific medicine that happens to be out of fashion. It is in no way meant to be a religion. From conversations with Dr. Sarno's daughter, many of Dr. Sarno's closest associates, and Ken Malloy, who was a patient of Dr. Sarno's who runs healingbackpain.com, I know that Dr. Sarno was very skeptical of patients leading the TMS movement. To him, doctors should lead it because they are the ones with the scientific training.

    Dr. Sarno knew that TMS is not a religion. It is just good medical science. Let's make him proud of his legacy by always bearing that in mind.

    Thank you for bringing this up riv44.
     
    Forest, Sep 26, 2015
    #8
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  9. riv44

    riv44 Well known member

     
    riv44, Sep 26, 2015
    #9
  10. mike2014

    mike2014 Beloved Grand Eagle

    I could have sworn I read a similar thread last month, or am I just going crazy lol
     
    mike2014, Sep 26, 2015
    #10
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  11. riv44

    riv44 Well known member

    I hope it wasn't me that started it, because that would mean that I am the one who is losing it.
     
    riv44, Sep 26, 2015
    #11
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  12. mike2014

    mike2014 Beloved Grand Eagle

    Ahh, it was under the thread, "is TMS religious" and the poster asked if Dr Sarno is a Christian Scientist.
     
    mike2014, Sep 26, 2015
    #12

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