Day 15 Prompted Question: Has Pain Moved Around?

I made it to day 15! My pain has changed more than moved around. My current pain (IBS and abdominal pain) increased when I started reading Dr. Sarno’s Healing Back Pain. Not a whole lot-but I noticed it. Then when I found this wiki page and started SEP and my pain tripled. I’m currently on a higher dose of my prescription medicine to deal with the increase of pain. And even with the higher dose that pain still flares up-I have decent days and bad days.
I also gained a new pain-I have hip pain. Isn’t that fun! I never had that at all before. It started when I was going for nightly walks-I love walking in the neighborhood and I feel like it helps with pain management and my anxiety. Of course at first, I wondered if I had hurt my hip walking….

Am I convinced this is TMS? I don’t know…maybe. I think I was more convinced in the beginning that it was TMS and I think I had expectations that I was going to be out of pain and done taking prescription medicine asap. Now, I realize that my journey may take a while. At this point, I’m sticking with the SEP and reviewing my evidence list daily to encourage myself. I did research prices for TMS coaches/therapists because I may need help. (Spoiler alert! It’s expensive!) But I’ll make that decision after I finish SEP. I still need to give it a little time.

Any tips that could help me would be appreciated!!

 

Just keep doing what you are doing! Having shifting, moving and new pain is often a "good sign" that your brain is working overtime trying to protect you from the things that create internal stress and anxiety. Doing the work is what teaches the brain that you are actually safe.
You mentioned "anxiety"
Hope and Help For Your Nerves by Dr. Claire Weekes is a book about dealing with anxiety (which, back in her day was called "nerves") and can be a great help. It taught me so many valuable tips for dealing with anxiety and created a new mindset.

Don't worry too much about getting a coach. They are expensive but provide people who need it, individualized support and have taken some expensive trainings to be able to do what they do. Although I used some TMS coaches, an EMDR therapist who took my insurance ended up being one of my best supports - we didn't talk about TMS, but worked to get to the root of the anxiety. You may need nothing extra besides the SEP. Don't worry about that now, you are doing so well!

 

Thank you so much @Cactusflower ! That means a lot. I will just keep chugging along. I do enjoy the SEP. Today was dialoguing and I had fun with that! I'll order the book from Claire Weekes. I definitely need help with anxiety for sure!

 

You’re doing great @Joulegirl!