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Wonderful Diana! I'm not surprised since this method works and you didn't give up!!!

Two things I notice in your report. Huge breakthrough, and then some return of TMS symptom baseline. Very normal as you know. When we really experience a distinct lack of chronic symptoms, this is huge. It goes deep and teaches parts of us that the gig is up, and teaches other parts that there is nothing to fear. And that we're under the effect of a mindbody syndrome, not physically hurt. The effects of this experience are far-reaching and deep.

I had an experience of expecting foot pain, and like a miracle it was not there (first time in years). Even though the pain returned, it was less and did not scare me as much. It was the beginning of the end of years of misery.

Second thing is the way you used your anger. The way I understand it, anger is a boundary maker. While not everyone benefits from yelling through the pain and commanding a response, the core, to me, in its success is the boundary-making. You're not lost in it any more. You're not lost in the familiar relationship with the symptom, with you playing the part of a victim, and it having the strength. You're having a relationship which is assertive and not enmeshed. Similarly, in my opinion is the action of "pushing through the pain," as you did. ( It is not something everyone will benefit from as you probably know.) It is a way to put the locus of control back in you. Saying and feeling you've "had enough" is deeply empowering after a long time of being a victim.

This is one benefit of learning to work dismissively with the Inner Critic. We're empowered to be ourselves in relation to the conditions we meet, which builds inner strength. I honestly don't see success in TMS work without the person somehow summoning a core strength. This is partly what "outcome independence" does in my opinion. It creates healthy boundaries between what we are and what we experience.

Bravo and Congrats!!