Recovery from TMS/PPD, by Georgie Oldifield

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This page contains a survey given to patients, who were under the care of Georgie Oldfield, and is controlled by her. The editorial standards that apply to the rest of the wiki aren't enforced on this page, but other guidelines and rules apply.

Results of a survey sent out to patients who have ‘recovered'.

1. How long would you say it took you to recover, or to feel that you were in

charge of any symptoms, and not the other way round?

1.	3 or 4 days for the break through but 6-8 weeks in total.
2.	over a year
3.	8 weeks
4	My initial recovery was very rapid - after hearing Georgie on a radio emission and reading Dr Sarno's book but then I had a relapse but after following Georgie's TMS Recovery programme I recovered after about 3 months.
5.	A very satisfactory result after 11 day, total control after finishing the TMS Recovery course.
6.	About 2 weeks
7.	10 months
8.	3 Months
9.	5 months to feel confident that it would all be ok.
10.	A 4 to 6 weeks
11.	2 months to noticing a definite improvement. 6 months to full recovery
12.	a few weeks
13.	Few weeks
14.	I saw Georgie around March 2010 and although I had believed in the TMS concept for many years, my progress has been slow. I would say that recently I have started to have symptom changes which, although some are worse than the original symptom are now, albeit slowly, helping me to start to feel that I am in charge of my symptoms. Progress is not unilinear though.
15.	about a month
16.	About a month
17.	To recover about a year, for change in symptoms 3 weeks.
18.	I noticed an improvement in only a few days but it took me a few months before I could get to the point I could say I was recovered. It probably took me about a month to realise that I could take control.
19.	I remember an enormous intensification of symptoms building up to my first appointment with Georgie, but then symptoms started to consistently reduce very soon after
20.	Very difficult to say as my back pain goes back more than 40 years and I don't think it's all TMS

'

2. Why do you think it may have taken you longer than you were initially

hoping to feel confident that you were in charge of your symptoms and not

the other way round?

1.	It took time to overcome the fear of attempting things that would normally cause pain.
2.	I found it really difficult to change my thought patterns and I had so many fears and anxieties in so many areas.
3.	Difficulty in identifying deeper issues in reservoir. Managed to deal with immediate ones but had trouble identifying residual issues. Also journaling made negative emotions float to surface I then struggled to get rid of them.
4	I'd had them so long and doctors had told me that I would never recover.
5.	Too many years of no self esteem and confidence. Slipping too easily into bad habits.
6.	It happened quicker than I was expecting.
7.	Because I had experienced a quick recovery 2 years earlier. Also because I am in my 60s and believe it possible that it is harder to change as you get older.
8.	A psychological approach is in opposition to the conventional physical approaches and I think it took a while to be confident or the confidence slipped.
9.	because I think I had some things to learn and understand. I was undoing decades of pain and negative messages about my back. I still am.
10.	I think its difficult to accept the positive over the negative ie:- if I have suffered the pain for long periods then the change process is as quick as your ability to become a positive over a career negative. Old dog new tricks syndrome.
11.	it took time to get my head round the problem after Georgie explained it to me.
12.	It didn't
13.	In truth I do not know the answer to this question other than suggesting it may possibly be to do with the fact I am diagnosed with Fibromyalgia & there are those including Sarno, who suggest these patients can take longer to get better.
14.	n/a
15.	Gaining confidence in the diagnosis of TMS seems key. Dropping structural explanations for pain.
16.	trying to reverse to fear habits is the hardest, therefore take longer.
17.	It didn't take me long. The improvement was so quick, if anything I was astounded by the result.
18.	Having a physical diagnosis of spondylolisthesis and remembering different bleak conversations over and over again from osteopaths and physios.
19.	As above

3. What do feel was the main reason for you to begin to make more

progress?

1.	I became in charge of it , not it of me.
2.	believe its TMS, stop worrying, stay in the moment, don't worry about tomorrow or what's been. Not easy but when achieved pain free and start to put myself first
3.	A TMS meeting was my first turning point. Inner child work and subsequently TFT
4	My therapy with Georgie and following her advice.
5.	Determination, if it had worked in small doses it will work, no pain, feeling good and happier, no drugs, or very few
6.	A complete change of mindset about what I thought was wrong with me and how the body works ie does not go wrong all the time. This came from reading the 3 John Sarno books.
7.	psychotherapy
8.	It started making sense when I looked at the severe incidents of pain and surrounding life events.
9.	I really don't know. Trying lots of things. I expected the bargaining / reward stuff to work but they seemed to make it worse. In the end I sort of had to be nice to my 'inner child'.
10.	Persistent, nagging of the positive attitude. I constantly repeated the positive instruction to myself especially when exercising.
11.	Talking to people who had recovered and seeing a TMS professional.
12.	By giving YOURSELF more time and the time to think about it.
13.	Being open minded
14.	I am not sure but think perhaps sheer bloody mindedness!
15.	my first break through involved talking to the pain, for about an hour - 'I feel you, thank you and I know there's nothing physically wrong with me' etc.. took a while but I knew I'd cracked it when it suddenly went away. This coupled with TOTALLY believing - knowing that what Sarno says about TMS is correct.
16.	Letting go of structural diagnosis. Just needing the time to let it all sink in.
17.	Counselling and expressing emotions physically.
18.	Realising that I could be in control and what had become debilitating and disabling was something that didn't have to rule me.
19.	Journaling really seemed to do the trick and slowly coming round to the idea of investigating the emotional not the physical. Being sensitive and aware of what was going on in my life.
20.	Stopping thinking of myself as a 'person in pain' and getting on with my life (initially nearly 20 years ago and then again more recently after a spell of thinking about TMS and pain).

4. Which book about TMS/Stress Illness would you most recommend?

1.	John Sarno Mind Body Concept
2.	I found Fred Amir's book ‘rapid recovery from neck and back pain' really helpful at the start
3.	TMS Recovery workbook
4	They can't find anything wrong, David D Clarke
5.	Dr J. Sarno, The Mindbody Prescription, Healing Back Pain,
6.	John Sarno. Healing Back pain read a few times
7.	The Mindbody prescription by John Sarno
8.	Any of Dr Sarno's work
9.	I read all of Sarno's books. I think they all helped
10.	The TMS Recovery CD did it for me, I am more a listener than a reader.
11.	you could take little bits from each and add together.
12.	Dr Sarno
13.	I think I have read them all but think it is hard to beat Sarno's books. They are all worthwhile though in my view.
14.	Mindbody Connection and healing back pain by sarno
15.	Of Dr. Sarno's book I liked The Divided mind best.
16.	Healing back pain.
17.	I have never read one.
18.	I read the divided mind, but in retrospect the smaller Dr Sarno paperback would have done the trick.
19.	Healing Backpain' (though reading it wasn't a very good idea for me!)

5. Are there any other books you would recommend that you feel helped

you in your recovery?

1.	the sarno books
2.	Tapping the healer within and the sarno books
3.	Dr. Sarno, The mind body prescription
4	Dr Wayne W. Dyer, have read 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace, to read, Stop the Excuses
5.	The Mind body prescription and the Divided mind
6.	The Divided Mind by J Sarno The Presence Process
7.	Evolving self confidence by Terry Dixon.
8.	8 minute meditations
9.	Generally books on organising your lifestyle I feel are the most benefit.
10.	Just reading in general gives YOU more time.
11.	Didn't read any more
12.	The Presence Process
14.	Presence Process has been quite good. But I think it can also throw up some questions that might conflict with Sarno's approach.
15.	Facing the fire by John Lee
16.	In relationship to TMS not really. Best to stick to the TMS literature and the TMS program itself with a qualified practitioner.

6. Which tool/exercise/information did you/do you use that you feel has

helped you most in your recovery?

1.	Journaling, exercising and learning to say no to people. Putting me first for once helps
2.	to stay in the moment this is hard to do also stop being critical of yourself, be kind to yourself
3.	TFT to get rid of negative emotions after journaling Pear process Night writing & then journaling what came up Letting go Inner Child work hearing others stories at groups
4	Journaling, positive self talk
5.	Listening to Georgie's TMS Recovery CD, Journaling and giving myself a good talking to
6.	I have used the books and a very small amount of journaling (10 pages)
7.	Psychotherapy because it focuses on how you feel emotionally. Meditation - or sitting observing your own breath for 15 minutes twice daily.
8.	Georgie's TMS Recovery DVD and Dr Sarno's "healing back pain"
9.	I think the positive affirmations made a big difference and probably turned the corner. And they were the things I least expected to help. Initially I overlooked them and then I resisted them because they didn't seem true. But I did them anyway (what harm could it do right?) and now they are true.
10.	The TMS Recovery CD
11.	Being firm with the pain. Repeatedly telling it that I know it's psychological, not physical, that it's a distraction and I'm not going to stand for it. Even when there seems to be no progress I keep repeating it and eventually it works.
12.	breathing exercise is easy but important.
13.	Sit quiet, picture myself well, deep breathing, peaceful thinking. Think five nice things about someone who may unintentionally hurt you.
14.	Initially, journaling but these days although I still journal, though not every day, I find meditating & walking both separately and together to be the most helpful for me.
15.	as above - talking to the pain.
16.	Visualisation, Listening to Georgie's TMS Recovery CD, Journaling.
17.	Journaling
18.	Defiance! I know others have tried thinking, 'The pain is an indicator of stress so thank you but I don't need that sign' but I didn't try that way. I would speak to the pain, tell it I would never let it get me so low again and that I would NOT let it beat me. Another tool was, if a movement hurt, I would keep repeating the movement at the same time telling myself I could do this and I would not be beater and I would keep doing the movement until the pain dissipated and went away. The more pain I expected - because of repeating the movement - the more I would keep doing it just to show the TSM that I could defy it.
19.	The journal and to some extent the visualisation. The 'look for the emotional not the physical' and also 'resume normal activity immediately'
20.	Focusing on things other than pain.

7. If you could give some advice to someone who is not progressing as much

or as quickly as they would want, what would it be?

1.	Make time to journal and search for the deep rooted problems that are holding you back. Once you open up things start to flow .
2.	to just take one day at a time, look at the positive of that day and try to not allow negative thoughts to come even if you break the day down and try to avoid thoughts for say 30 mins. distract yourself as much as possible, do things you enjoy and relax you and praise yourself for all those small achievement, don't let the critical part of you beat you up
3.	The pressure of getting well could stand in your way. Take it a day at a time Try new things every day until something makes a difference Persevere with techniques, If they are not working it only means you have not found what stress/-ve emotion that's making it happen yet.
4	Persevere
5.	Don't be hard on yourself, be more forgiving
6.	Keep at it and try to change the way you think about your pain problems. We are not fragile and easily hurt, we can do lots of very tough things without injury. Think about how hard peoples lives were in the past, they didn't all suffer from bad backs etc.
7.	Resume all your normal physical activity even if it seems impossible at first. It gets easier because basically there is no reason why it shouldn't - there is nothing physically wrong with you. Try to stop thinking about physical pain and focus your attention on how you feel about things. Pay attention to your dreams and think about how you feel in the dreams. When you reach a repressed emotion you will know.
8.	Be patient, you may be reprogramming years of negativity and associated pain.
9.	It seemed like a long time with little or no progress, but looking back I have achieved most of the goals I set and it really hasn't been that long
10.	Ideally you need the support of people who either care for you or have experienced the issues personally- ie Support group for the exchange of information, experiences and suggestions.
11.	Keep reminding yourself of successes, however small they may seem.
12.	Listen, learn and give yourself more time.
13.	Remember it is in the drug companie's best interest to keep us poorly so they will provide things to relieve the pain not cure. When you realise this you will be more open to other options. Self talk, I am able to walk the length of the room without pain. Pain is a thing of the past, once you start believing it just happens.
14.	Do not give up, keep at it because the time is going to pass anyway so it may as well pass with you continuing to try to get better. Everyone progresses at a different rate, try to always remember that & do not lose heart.
15.	read and re-read the sarno books. Perhaps have some kind of therapy to deal with the underlying issues.
16.	I think part of TMS is the capacity to get really obsessed and concerned about symptoms. If you are worrying about the progress you're making, for me this was feeding the TMS. Part of the function of the TMS symptoms is to distract and obsess our mind. So for me worrying about getting rid of the symptoms is part of the TMS itself. And something that perpetuates it. Recognising it as part of the TMS itself and not something separate seemed to help me.
17.	Don't give up, and don't compare yourself to other people, compare yourself with yourself 6months ago/a year ago..............is there progress? if yes, use this as your motivation.
18.	Try my tricks at number 6.
19.	Start journaling regularly, look at the emotional and stress factors that are currently working on you.
20.	Find something you are passionate about and do it and never mind the pain!

8. Do you have one final tip that may be the key to allowing someone to

move forward?

1.	The only person you have to be open and confrontational to, is yourself! re-visit past problems and emotions as much as is necessary to move forward. Keep up with journaling to stop the build up of pressure. It does get easier but if a pain re-appears look at the emotional pressure rather than worrying about the physical pain, always challenge your pain.
2.	the key to my recovery was to gradually change the way I had become to the way I once was. Before TMS I didn't think twice about going swimming, after it I was scared to swim half a length. Pain, fear and worry are a vicious circle and just like any other fear/ anxiety you go at you're own pace to break it
3.	Take responsibility and develop a positive control of your own well being and recovery. If our stresses make us ill then it's ourselves that can have the most impact fixing it. The doctor's role is only to assist our recovery by eliminating what it's not. Make your self better, its free and more likely to be permanent.
4	The TMS websites are very useful
5.	If you just had the slightest success, keep going or pick yourself up and start again. I have, and it's working again.
6.	Believe the theory of TMS and be on your guard for new symptoms once you begin the process.
7.	Try not to spend a lot of time analysing yourself and dwelling on all the things that stress you out. They are all distractions (like the pain).
8.	Meditation.
9.	believe that it can get better...even if you can only believe that it's possible...even if you can only believe it's a little bit possible for some other people...then try and work up from there.
10.	Make short term goals which are easily attainable and which will provide confidence to continue throughout the process. The mind is a powerful tool and can, when organised, help to fulfil these goals. Exercise is also important and needs to be placed in conjunction with the positive mind.
11.	every now and again give yourself a treat by doing what you want to do instead of doing what you have to do.
12.	Only you can tell if you feel any different or if what you do has changed. If you feel stressed then don't watch bad news on tv, or do anything that may make you feel worse. Always believe in yourself, think about what you are good at and don't dwell on the unachievable, anything that invokes a negative emotion is not worth pursuing. Allow yourself the right to be free of pain. Eat healthy, sleep well and journal every day. Love yourself.
13.	Always try to have something to look forward to however small a thing it may be and stay committed. A bad day is only a bad day not a bad life.
14.	real belief that it will work.
15.	Be honest with your self about whether you actually believe in the TMS concept, because for me clarifying my doubts one by one by e-mail with Georgie really helped.
16.	Think about the fear habits you have developed and understand that creating new healthy habits take time and only happen when you do a new habit for some time.
17.	Stop all treatment, all remedial exercise, forget diagnoses, enjoy your body and use it to its fullest, don't maintain- have the goal of improving
18.	Stop thinking of yourself as someone with a pain problem. Discourage friends and family from asking about your pain and find more interesting things to talk about.

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