What else is there - Seriously

But the question is, how do you do this so it's not just a temporary fix?

 

But I don't understand how to do it

 

Maybe it's just another flareup of self-doubt.

 

I guess you can treat yourself to things just because they're fun or whatever.

 

I get this same thought when my symptoms are bad. I think this is a MAJOR symptom trigger.

 

I find setting up expectations or calendar watching makes it worse.

 

Exactly! I get the "contradictory CBT techniques" vibe too but keeping a little evidence sheet has been helpful to know it's TMS.

 

It's burnout and exhaustion. It means your body is overwhelmed with the feelings and is generating pain to get you to rest and refresh and recharge etc. Not perfect but does that make sense? I wallow too much so what do I know lol

 

Yep. It's magical in the times when your brain gets it.

 

Yeahhh it's focusing on the discomfort instead of the good things. I do this a lot even when I don't have a flare up. TMS fixation goes brrr

 

When you have an unwavering belief in something and you have shifted mindset, you have essentially "become" another person (or actually your true self). It's an inside job that is profound, as opposed to a temporary change in behavior. Often changing our state of being requires tons of repetition and practice. It's usually a gradual process. We need to examine the real fear behind your question. Are you afraid of "failure" and subsequent disappointment? Are you hedging your bets so as to avoid that feared disappointment ? Is there doubt or lack of certainty about the TMS diagnosis and if the approach actually works? These are things that need to be addressed and confronted head-on . It really speaks to getting off the fence, keeping an open mind, committing yourself and believing in yourself.

 

I'm starting to feel like @eskimoeskimo
How long is enough? I have pain since 2011, every minute of every day of my life since then. I don't even know what it means to feel good anymore. I know about TMS for what like 3-4 years. Nothing helps, pain doesn't even change a little bit. It seems like there's no hope for people like me. Maybe it works for backpain, and not for abdominal TMJ/teeth sensitivity. I don't know. I'm just tired.

 

It's not about the pain. The pain and symptoms are simply messengers. This is not a journey to eliminate pain. The journey is an emotional (and spiritual imo) one that you have to be willing to address. Your body keeps calling out to you but it's easier to focus on the symptoms than the underlying issues. When you stop caring about the symptoms and start caring more about your actual life, the tms ceases to have a purpose. This is the truth and it really is as simple as that. It's not about figuring out the symptoms or triggers. All of that is besides the point. We were not put on this earth to suffer for the sake of suffering. It's about living your life as your authentic self...finding joy, meaning, and love. Chronic pain is not normal and not the natural state. It's your body's way of crying out for attention ...for you to pay attention to your feelings, allow yourself to feel them, and live according to your own heart's desires. I love this quote by John O'Donohue, and it sums up the journey for me:

"May I have the courage today
To live the life I would love,
To postpone my dream no longer,
But do at last what I came here for
and waste my heart on fear no more."

 

No it's just a more stubborn form of TMS. I've had those things.

 

Great that this worked for, but it does not work for everyone. Not everyone’s experience is the same as yours.

 

@eskimoeskimo ,

It's not a question of "something working". Again, that is besides the point. It comes down to knowing yourself and your own personal journey. Again, it is not about the pain or symptoms. It's about your life. Simple? Yes. Easy? No. Everyone is capable of healing and living a fulfilling life. No one is excluded from that truth. THAT is my message and I think your negativity and naysaying is honestly doing a disservice to others here. Health and happiness is our birthright. It's up to each person to take ownership of their own life.

 

I think telling every single person that they have TMS and that they will get better once they “take ownership of their own life” is a disservice to others. False hope is not a kindness.

 

Not sure how you extrapolated that from my comment. I never said everyone has TMS and I never said everyone gets better. I stated that within the context of TMS, everyone is capable of getting better and living a happy life. This is not about symptoms, it's about one's LIFE. For others who may be reading here, describing my experience, as well as the experience of millions of people who got better using the mind body approach of Dr. Sarno, as "false hope" (as if the wiki was some kind of snake oil), is a great disservice and frankly unkind on your part. If this approach is not for you, so be it, but why then come here to spread negativity to others seeking help and hope?

 

Perhaps you didn't notice, but this is my thread, which I started by asking if anybody has any ideas for something else to try. If the answer is 'no,' so be it. But the thread has been hijacked by people advocating the usual TMS stuff. My aim is not to spread negativity, it's to find help. There are plenty of other threads where you can explain your take on TMS, but I don't see how it applies here.

I did email admin multiple times asking for my account and all of my messages and threads to be deleted, but have received no response. I also turned off notifications but that didn't work, so I still get notified every time someone responds to one of my threads and, out of desperation, sometimes I check. It's frustrating to be told, in response to a plea for help and different ideas, that health and happiness are my birthright, that everyone is capable of healing, that I just need to discover my personal journey and live authentically. It seems to me like you're proselytizing rather than responding to the specific thread.