Internally generated stresses take their toll without seeming any way out of the ordinary.

Internally generated stresses take their toll without seeming any way out of the ordinary. Gabor Mate

This is the genesis of TMS - stress and our reactions and emotions to it and surrounding it create physical symptoms. Even the stress itself isn't recognized...often buried deep in our subconscious. We have no idea we are stressed, angry, sad, have self-loathing, guilt, shame etc.


"We get so used to our negative patterns of thought and self-talk, that often we are unaware of how much internal stress we are unwittingly piling on ourselves. Understanding these negative internal voices as parts can be really helpful.
If you have a strong inner critic, or other parts in your system who are prone to beating you up, judging you, comparing you negatively to others etc… this will be causing internal stress, because other parts in you are hurt by that because they hear it and believe it’s true.
Mindfulness, meditation, journalling and self-awareness can help us to notice these different parts of us and the way they talk on the inside. When we become aware of these parts and get curious about them we can understand why they do what they do. They are trying to keep us safe by berating us and making us show up in the world in a certain way. They learned these ways of coping when we were young. As we get to know these parts we can build some trust with them and their voices will become softer and they will allow more space for our core, compassionate Self." - Phil de la Hay

What wise words from Gabor Mate and what a wise explanation, and great advice from Phil de la Hay.

 

Thanks for these great quotes, @Cactusflower ! In my journey to heal I was surprised to learn about all the ways I was actually bringing stress upon myself. It has been such a relief to learn to turn off these inner critics. Not perfect at this yet, but getting better!

 

Hi @Cactusflower,

Thank you for sharing these powerful insights! The quotes from Gabor Mate and Phil de la Hay really resonate with me. I'm new to this forum and just beginning my journey of understanding how much internal stress I might be causing myself without even realizing it.

It's eye-opening to think about how negative patterns and internal voices can affect not only our mindset but also our physical health. I'm trying to practice mindfulness and journaling, though it’s definitely a work in progress. It’s reassuring to know that others here have found relief through these practices—gives me hope!

Looking forward to learning more from everyone here.

 

Welcome to the forum! There is so much wonderful information and support here!

Alan Gordon, in his TMS Recovery Program (Part II), says that when we are putting that internal stress on ourselves, that it is really a form of self abuse. Those are some powerful words that have really opened up my eyes to the importance of minding our internal thoughts.

 

Welcome @jasmine224

If you can sense hope on those words then you are already moving forward in your journey!