Day 19 What I'm Proud of

My assignment today is to post something I've done recently that I'm proud of. I choose to celebrate a recent conflict I had with some friends wherein I used the things I've learned in this program to deal with the post traumatic stress from the past that was being stimulated by a different person in the present. I was honest about my situation without expecting anyone else to fix it for me. The outcome was very good, and I am feeling very relieved and relaxed as a result.

So far I cannot say that this program has had any result in lessening of pain or symptoms for me. I can only say that it is relieving my mind to journal about my stresses, and it has been interesting to see how stuff from the past comes out in the present. But I've always known that my pain was psychosomatic, and knowing that has never helped me get rid of it, and that has not changed in the last 19 days.

 

Hi, Sudonym. Don't become disheartened that you haven't felt much or any change in your symptoms since starting the SEProgram. It usually takes a while for to discover the emotional cause(s) of TMS pain. I found that it was because of emotions I had been repressing since by boyhood and my parents divorced when I was seven. It left me with feelings of abandonment and insecurity. Learning from the SEP and TMS books from Dr. Sarno and others, I became free of severe back pain. I also learned how to live better, accepting that life is not easy for anyone. I learned to accept the downers as well as the uppers and live more in the present.

You're already learning how to live better by having had that experience in dealing with the recent conflict with some friends.

The SEProgram takes only about a half hour a day. I find deep breathing and meditation helpful at other times each day or evening.

Meditation is a time-honored way of relaxing the mind and relieving anxiety, mental stress, headaches, and even physical pain. There are many ways to practice meditation, but many consider the most successful to be a technique called the Relaxation Response (RR).

It is a wonderful way to practice TMS Mindbody Healing because it changes harmful thinking in the subconscious mind which Dr. John Sarno says causes pain that is not caused by anything structural.

The RR, practiced once twice a day for 10, 15, or 20 minutes has a profound positive effect on the subconscious mind, relieving or curing everything from anxiety, hypertension, headaches, fatigue, nervousness, dizziness, high blood pressure, insomnia, stomach problems, all forms of pain including backaches, abdominal pain, muscle pain, neck, arm, and leg pain, and relieves side affects from cancer and AIDS.

RR is like Transcendental Meditation which is taught by TM specialists who charge hundreds or thousands of dollars. But the RR is free and you can do it yourself.

It is practiced, before a meal, and works best if not practiced within two hours after a meal. I do it in bed before arising in the morning and again in bed before falling sleep. Often, I only do it 5 or 10 minutes and it works to calm me and put me to sleep.

Just sit in a chair (or lie in bed in the morning or at bedtime), close your eyes, don’t listen to any music, and try to avoid outside noises. Let your mind think of a word such as "One " which has no real meaning or association. Or say a calming word such as “Calm” or “Peace,” or add the faith or spiritual element by saying a favorite religious word or prayer. Breathe naturally or incorporate Deep Breathing by breathing in through the mouth to inflate the stomach, suck in the stomach while holding the breath for a few seconds, then say the word when you exhale through the mouth.

Say the word silently over and over. At the end of the 10 to 20 minutes, picture and feel yourself as you were when you felt your best, and in a place where you felt that way.

When distracting thoughts arise during the RR, as they will, just tell yourself, “Oh, well,” and go back to repeating your chosen word.

My "word" is a prayer: "God loves me and is protecting me." I say it a few times and go right to sleep. If my mind wanders onto other things, I tell myself "Oh, well," and repeat my mantra silently while deep breathing.

There are several free videos on Youtube about the Relaxation Response. I especially recommend these two by Dr. Benson: