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Book Self-Directed CBT?

Discussion in 'General Discussion Subforum' started by stanz, Nov 9, 2025 at 9:31 AM.

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  1. stanz

    stanz New Member

    As a life-long sufferer of TMS, and having overcome 14 years of back pain reading the works of Dr. Sarno, and attending his workshops in the 1990s, I continue to struggle with new sites of pain. Almost all are tendon-related. Now in my seventies, I continue to run, cycle, workout, and ski, so there is always the lingering thought/feeling that I may have suffered some grievous, incapacitating, overuse injury. No matter how many times I overcome these “injuries,” my tormented spirit invariably finds a new place work its TMS mischief.

    I am interested in trying self-directed CBT in the hope that this will help me to deal with these incessant TMS events. Some recommendations regarding good texts or workbooks would be greatly appreciated.
     
    stanz, Nov 9, 2025 at 9:31 AM
    #1
  2. Diana-M

    Diana-M Beloved Grand Eagle

    The best CBT book I know is Feeling Good, by David Burns. It’s excellent. But I don’t know if CBT will help you eliminate new sites of TMS. Have you tried journaling to see what’s going on in your life when the new symptoms come up?
     
    Diana-M, Nov 9, 2025 at 9:45 AM
    #2
  3. Ellen

    Ellen Beloved Grand Eagle

    My understanding is that CBT has not been proven effective in eliminating chronic pain, just in managing it. Since you have had success in the past with Sarno's methods, maybe it would be better to refocus your efforts there. The SEP that is free on this site may be helpful to you. Or you may want to explore some of the more recent approaches by Dr. Schubiner (Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy) or Alan Gordon (Pain Reprocessing Therapy). If you are interested, we can make recommendations for resources regarding these approaches.
     
    Ellen, Nov 9, 2025 at 11:03 AM
    #3
  4. JanAtheCPA

    JanAtheCPA Beloved Grand Eagle

    Hi @stanz. I had lifelong mild TMS until multiple symptoms brought me to to a crisis in 2011, the year I turned 60. When I fortuitously found The Divided Mind by Sarno, I realized that aging was my biggest trigger. Fear of aging, mortality, disability, loss, and isolation. The biggies.

    You're not alone, that's for sure. Over the years I've seen many people who had significant success, years and even decades ago with Dr Sarno's knowledge, only to succumb to increasing symptoms as aging becomes an unavoidable reality. Then you've got the current state of the world, which does not help!

    At 74 myself, I find it difficult not to be disappointed and discouraged by the amount of inhumanity that still exists in the world, but this forum is a bright spot where people from all over the world come together to give and receive support.

    I second @Ellen's recommendation to do the Structured Educational Program on our main tmswiki.org. It's free of cost, ads, or registration requirements. And of course we're here to help!
     
    JanAtheCPA, Nov 9, 2025 at 12:42 PM
    #4

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