Does TMS usually manifest in a body part you care about a lot?

Hmmm. @gettingbacktome, this is the third time you've posted a similar question, and each one is focused on physical symptoms.

The answer this time is that it depends on the individual, and on what kind of symptom is most likely to keep that individual in fear. Your unique brain is quite capable of figuring that out and creating the "perfect" symptom just for you to obsess and worry about.

This is because all physical sensations and all physiological processes originate in the brain. This is a neuroscientific fact which you can look up. You can also do your own research on the connection between physical symptoms and inflammation, and from there the direct connection between stress and inflammation. It is being studied and being more widely recognized all the time.

Here's my question for you: why these questions? Are you concerned that you have TMS? Why not just do the work and learn? It costs nothing (we have two free programs) and it is not any kind of medical or physical intervention. As long as you've been checked out and don't have any kind of obvious urgent medical need, then doing this work is a no-cost no-risk no-brainer.

 

You do need to read at least one book by John Sarno MD. His books are carried by many if not most public libraries in physical and virtual formats if you don't want to buy new or used. For you I recommend The Mindbody Prescription.

Start doing The Structured Educational Program which you can find on our main site, which is tmswiki.org. There isn't any kind of signup or registration, you just do it on your own.

Don't do more than one "Day" every day. Use extra time to finish your Sarno book, then look into other resources. If you have anxiety (and of course you do), the #1 best recommendation you will find anywhere is to read Hope and Help for Your Nerves, by Claire Weekes.

Watch out for increased or new symptoms or even increased anxiety as you start to make progress - this means that your TMS brain is trying to make you stop, which is good news! Be kind to yourself if this happens, but remember that you need to fight back and keep going.

Don't be hard on yourself, but you must be extremely honest when you are asked to start writing things down. Your brain will try to stop you, so don't be fooled by its tricks.

Stop thinking physically and start thinking psychologically.

Don't mention symptom details here on the forum again. This is for your own good! The Mindbody Prescription is all about assuring you that TMS takes many different forms. They are infinite, as it turns out. If you need to post about having symptoms, just figure out a general term like "my pain symptoms" or "my neuro symptoms".

If you wonder if any particular symptom can be tms, all you need to do is go to Google and type in "[name of symptom] and stress". For example, the connection between hair loss and stress is extremely well known.

If you have questions about doing the program, just ask. If your symptoms flare and you need reassurance, that's fine, as long as you concentrate on telling us about the emotional things you are discovering by doing the program, and do not provide any symptom details. I'm completely serious about that!

Good luck!