The value of baby steps to recovery

I’ve had my current TMS for four years. I’ve been on the forum for 16 months. When I first came I had 16 symptoms— most of the smaller ones have now gone away. Four big ones are left— and they are extremely disruptive to living. I’m basically in the type of a situation where I’m bringing myself back to life. And every single step is hard and takes time.

One thing keeps me going: I have friends on this forum who have been in my shoes. They are ahead of me. They have worked very hard over a long period of time to slowly increase their activity; to gently nudge themselves forward without freaking out their TMS brain more; they’ve never given up.

One of my friends is very big on baby steps. If I’ve learned one thing from her it’s the value and importance of baby steps. She told me to stick with a beginning very simple exercise program. I stuck with the same bed yoga for five months. I wanted to move ahead, but I followed her advice. Slowly, over time, I built some strength. Now, I have recently advanced onto a simple chair yoga. (The program I do is actually unique, it combines calisthenics and controlled resistance to add a cardiovascular workout to the yoga.)

My friend has also emphasized the importance of daily chores, that you take on at a snail’s pace. Overdoing it can set you back. I now can do my dishes every single day without pain. I look at it as a little Mount Everest that I climb every day— and I’m a champion with it.

All I know is that on hard days, I have hope because I believe in baby steps. I believe, now, that adding one day to another with consistent effort is going to get me there, and that’s what keeps me going!

Thank you to this forum— to everyone who has helped me and inspired me. All of you! I appreciate you so much. You have no idea.

 

Baby steps and not having a freakout when the nervous system questions your actions is simply the way to go for some of us!

 

Thanks--wishing you well with dropping those 4 big ones as well.

I appreciate you all on this forum so much as well!

Tracking the smaller progress is what comes to mind for me with baby steps. If we can point to some kind of progress when we're stuck, that can counter the TMS brain.

 

Every post you make brings a smile to my face, your journey is so inspiring. And doubly good is that all these posts serve as evidence log for yourself.

Keep it up Diana. This universe is brighter as a result of the wisdom you share with us all!

 

Rabscuttle,
You know what the irony is? I post to whistle in the dark. It always cheers me up to try and cheer everyone else up! I honestly feel like I’m getting nowhere most of the time. It’s so important to make a big deal out of every single tiny victory. If not, you can easily feel so discouraged. I also think expectations can kill you, too. Saying, “I should be able to do XYZ by now,” is another way to get sad pretty fast. I’m glad I make you smile.

 

I hope you're able to feel how much your hope helps light the way for others' hope as well, @Diana-M!
Your insights are such a gift to all us. Thank you for continuing to share your journey!
Sending lots of love, hope, and support your way. Keep taking the next (baby) step on the path!

 

Hugs, @NewBeginning ! ❤️ I thought your gratitude list was a really big source of hope and built our community a lot. You shine light yourself!

 

Baby steps. baby steps.

I have the opposite to learn: slow. down. I've been taught to be on the go go go. Weakness = failure. TMS has taught me to slow down, to enjoy being bored, to not worry about the next task, to take care of myself. Diana, I know you will beat your last few symptoms. Stay kind to yourself, stay compassionate. This is a major thing that TMS has taught me because I was never compassionate or kind to myself.

 

You also help and inspire others, Diana

 

Mike, how are you doing?

 

Not good, thx for asking. I think Cactus was right. She’s a smart one. My TMS brain is highly anxious. I never was aware of it but I can see it now. It’s anxious agitation. It’s constant and unrelenting. I try to float through it and go through my day being at peace with it but it feels as if my brain is not the same brain I used to have. Getting used to this highly sensitised brain has been really challenging. I think this is what is driving the pain sensations.

 

I’m sorry to hear that! Have I been on my soap box about Claire Weekes to you yet? (It’s my favorite soap box.) Because: I’m just like you. I believe my anxiety is the root cause for me, too. And it’s horrific. Reading Claire Weekes for me— every day for a year— actually helped calm me down. It took awhile, but I let it soak in. I learned to believe this is what’s wrong; and that time (and proper care) will lead to healing. After I got that to be part of my psyche, things began to improve. And very slowly, some of my symptoms started subsiding. It proved it to me. And it was a start. I can’t remember how you feel about Claire Weekes. But maybe you could try her again. I promise it will help!

For some people, Sarno is key. And for others, Claire Weekes. She’s the healer for me. A lifesaver.

Some good quotes from Hope and Help for Your Nerves, by Claire Weekes (starting at page 26).

“Don’t try to appear normal. Don’t even strive for relaxation. Simply let the thought of relaxation be in your mind, in your attitude toward your body. Loosen your attitude. In other words, don’t be too concerned because you are tense and cannot relax. The very act of being prepared to accept your tenseness relaxes your mind, and relaxation of body gradually follows.”

“The relief of loosening your tense hold on yourself, of giving up the struggle and recognizing that there is no battle to fight—except of your own making—may bring a calmness you have forgotten existed within you.”

“Masterly inactivity, a well-known phrase, is another way to describe floating. It means to give up the struggle to stop holding tensely onto yourself, trying to control your fear, trying “to do something about it” while subjecting yourself to constant self-analysis. It means to cease trying to navigate your way out of illness by meeting each obstacle as if it were a challenge that must be met before recovery is possible. It means to bypass the struggle, to go around—not over—the mountain, to float and let time pass.“

I hope you feel better, my brother from another mother! ❤️ Don’t give up hope!

I posted more of my favorite quotes for you here: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/good-quotes-from-claire-weekes-for-tmsers.30022/ (Good quotes from Claire Weekes for TMSers)

 

Aww, thanks, Diana. You’re one of the people on this website I really connect with and it’s a blessing to have connected with you. I promise, I won’t give up hope -