What changes are you making to get free of TMS? Please share!

12 symptoms and 8 months in—changes have come in three categories for me: changes in personality traits, thoughts, and life circumstances.

Changing personality traits

Personality traits have changed due to learning things on this forum and reading TMS material. When I first came here I had an astonishing amount of pressure on myself to achieve all sorts of crazy things that nobody should have to do. I wasn’t able to lose all these goals right away. I wasn’t even able to see that I had them for quite a while. Once I did, though, I started internally questioning whether these were fair. And after a while, I could see that they weren’t. Then, I could see that I cling to them for various reasons —pretty much from having low self-esteem. So, I began to build my self-esteem so that I wouldn’t need these things to make me feel better anymore. As I let go of these goals, I could feel the tension lift.

Changing thought patterns

Thoughts are tough. It really does require 24/7 mind babysitting and repeating what you want to believe in your brain over and over. Some of my favorites are: “I am safe. I don’t have to try to prove anything to anybody. I’m not a bad person.”And, then rejecting all of the scary thoughts that come continually and all the nerve wracking, pressure-filled thoughts. I just dismiss them as they show. up. Don’t give them any airtime at all.

Changing life circumstances

Life circumstances has also been a difficult one to change because it involves admitting that maybe someone you love is not really good for you. And it also involves getting away from things that you thought you were always going to be committed to and evaluating every single thing in your life. I’ve made a lot of changes. There might still be more to come, but quite a few of the changes brought immediate relief.

Are my symptoms still here? Yes, but they are turned down many days. And some days are better than others. I just rounded the bend where I can see that this is all working. And it is exciting, because once you can see that it’s working—hope kicks in!

My number 1 influence has been, Hope and Help for Your Nerves, by Claire Weekes, MD. It’s a short book. And also available on audio. I just listen to it continually.

This book is a lifesaver, because after I addressed my rage through therapy and journaling: I was still in high alert, fight or flight mode. Severe anxiety. Dr. Weekes gave me complete hope and certainty that my symptoms are mainly due to an extended period of time with an Adrenalin overdose. Given enough time and the right strategy, this CAN be healed.

Lastly, the forum has been my lifeline. It was here that I learned how to TRUST and BELIEVE I have TMS. This is ESSENTIAL and is not something you can easily convince yourself on your own.

Many thanks to my dear friends here and all who have been and still are my daily inspiration. You are giving me my life back!

How are your changes coming along on your journey? And if you are mainly symptom-free, what were the most important changes you made, looking back?