Great question! Dr. Sarno gave one simple answer to it: drop all the props, get on with your life and TMS will fade away. But in real life it is not that simple. Most of the time the only thing that stands between you and getting on with your life is fear, but it is a very powerful enemy. Our use of accommodations certainly hinders healing, but it is not the accommodations themselves, it is our inability to confront and overcome the fear. Most importantly, not just in this particular case, but in every life situation.
People with more fragile nervous system tend to catastrophize. Rational assessment of the situation and your own abilities to overcome the obstacle is what gets you out of fear. For example, I have irrational fear of heights. I approached it from two sides, by calming down my nervous system through meditation and by consciously preparing myself each time I am facing the height I am afraid of through visualization of the upcoming experience. The same practice of rational assessment of my abilities and upcoming obstacle along with visualization helps me in other life situations, not just with heights. At the same time, you have to be patient with yourself and give yourself enough space and time to get through the fear.
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Alan has completed the new Pain Recovery Program. To read or share it, use this updated link: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/painrecovery/Dismiss Notice
