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Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021)
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Location:
Glenview, IL
Occupation:
writer

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Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021)

Beloved Grand Eagle, Male, from Glenview, IL

I am a freelance writer of books for preteens and teenagers. A list of them is at www.walteroleksybooks.com Nov 2, 2012

  • My Story

    (moderator edit: we lost our dear Walt in 2021. His obituary is here: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/chicagotribune/name/walter-oleksy-obituary?id=4616539 (Walter G. Oleksy Obituary (2021) Chicago Tribune))

    That's me with my darling Annie, a 70-pound lap dog.

    I was 82 and never had any pain except a few toothaches when I was a teenager. I was never even sick, just had a couple of hernias from lifting my dog the wrong way. Then last fall I lifted a case of 36 cans of beer into a shopping cart at the supermarket and felt excruciating pain in my back. Somehow, I got home, but the pain stayed with me.

    I try never to see a doctor and didn’t with the back ache, figuring he’d want to give me strong pain killers or have an operation. I toughed it out, then after about two weeks I emailed a friend who is a nurse in Hawaii. I asked her advice and she said I should read a book, Healing Back Pain, by Dr. John E. Sarno. She said it helped another friend, a psychiatrist, who had back pain, so I bought a copy and learned that Dr. Sarno says most if not all our back and other pain is not caused by lifting or any structural damage from aging, but from our repressed emotions.

    I read the Sarno book and followed its 12 daily reminders that reinforce the knowledge that the pain is a disorder he calls Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS), a slight deprivation of oxygen to parts of the body that is caused by our repressed emotions. It suggested “journaling,” writing down what we can remember of our youth, since many of our pain problems began back when we were young, from family or other stresses. I certainly fit that description growing up during the Great Depression of the 1930s and World War II.

    I grew up with my parents never having much money and drinking too much. They divorced when I was about six years old, Mom remarried, a man who owned his own house, which gave my older brother and sister a roof over our heads. A year later Mom left him and went back to my birth father. Ten years later he died and she married his brother who was very jealous and also a heavy drinker. He made life miserable for my sister and me, but my brother had run away and joined the navy.

    I went to college, then the army, and had no anxiety, but that returned when I became a newspaper reporter and then freelance writer, never having regular income. You want a stressful job, be a reporter on a Chicago newspaper and cover crime and violence. And being self-employed brings its own stresses, for me mostly financial uncertainties.

    During my freelance years, I also tried caring for my mother but learned the hard way how difficult it is to be a caretaker. After two years I asked my brother to find another place for Mom to live, and that left me with a lot of guilt. I thought I had repressed it, but lifting that case of beer gave me back pain to tell me I hadn’t put that guilt to rest.

    Sarno’s book helped me to get rid of about 95 percent of my back pain, but I still felt lower back pain. I refused to believe that 100 percent of my pain came from TMS repressed emotions. It took me more than six months before I decided Sarno was
    100 percent right and the pain went away.

    I attribute my pain relief mainly to Dr. Sarno and the web site www.TMSWiki.org. I found that many others became free of pain by following advice and posts on that web site and I highly recommend it to everyone, even if they are not in pain. It is an amazing treasure house of information and help on healing.

    Along the way over the past year I’ve felt some pain relief from reading another Sarno book, The Mindbody Prescription, as well as The Great Pain Deception by Steven Ray Ozanich, Pain Free for Life by Dr. Scott Brady, MD, You Can Heal Yourself by Louise L. Hay, Hope and Help for Your Nerves by Claire Weekes, Loving What Is by Byron Katie, and Instant Self-Hypnosis by Forbes Robbins Blair. Most recently

    I have found more great healing techniques by following the advice and writings of Dr. James Alexander, psychologist and author of The Hidden Psychology of Pain, and Dr. Alan Gordon, psychotherapist, following his Recovery Program free on www.TMSWiki.org.

    I also believe I have been helped to be pain-free by daily playing a hypnosis DVD, “Stress Relief for Life,” by London psychotherapist and hypnotherapist Susan Hepburn.

    Mainly, I believe I finally stopped feeling back pain because I convinced my subconscious mind that it was 100 percent from TMS repressed emotions. That, and deep breathing, relaxed me and enabled me to learn the pain was all in my head.

    Also, last but probably not least, I added the spiritual element to my healing, which Dr. Brady suggests in his book. I began reading The Bible and began walking more closely with God, following His own advice: “Ask and you shall receive.” I asked to be pain-free and for release from guilt and anxiety and to achieve some steady income, and He answered my prayers.

    One or more of the techniques suggested by Dr. Sarno and the others I have read could help you to overcome your pain, whatever it is. And ask whatever God you worship to help you and He will. “Believe and you shall receive.”
    1. riv44
      riv44
      I wondered if Walt was still with us...I have been absent for a long time. RIP.
    2. Meu-retired
      Meu-retired
      Love and respect to you. Dear man, always ready to comment and support the members of this group. An example to all of us that you can reach your 90s and control your TMS and therefore enjoy life. Rest in peace amigo!
    3. BeauB77
      BeauB77
      What a gorgeous and inspiring story. Thank you
    4. Piano Mom
      Piano Mom
      Rest In Peace, Walt. We are forever grateful for your contributions and encouragements here.
      1. emporeon027 likes this.
      2. intense50
        intense50
        Did not know he passed will be missed
        Sep 11, 2022
    5. theroomstoocold
      theroomstoocold
      Hey, how are you?
      1. EVEAGOO likes this.
    6. Karim
      Karim
      I need help urgent
    7. Bennyvk
      Bennyvk
      hi, i am trying to figure out how to delete an old thread in the support sub forum can you tell me how?
    8. Rickyb
      Rickyb
      Hi. I read this story and would like to talk with you about what I should do to begin treatment of some type to remove this tms. If that is in fact what I have. I don't suspect I will get pain relief from reading books though. I've listend to lots of utube stuff on dr. Sarns with no relief. And right now in lots of pain which is frustrating the crap out of me as I type this. Thanks
    9. cjdaze
      cjdaze
      Thank you so much for listing the books you have read and found helpful. I continue to battle TMS, as whenever I conquer one symptom my subconscious comes up with three more caused by TMS repressed emotions. What a journey this is! I am grateful to everyone who writes about their experience and for all the suggestions.
    10. Anna Marie
      Anna Marie
      I am trying to think psychological and not physical, but I feel so overwhelmed and afraid that this will never end. Part of me keeps saying this TMS is crazy, something physical is wrong. I am hoping as I read more of your book, I will fully accept the diagnosis of TMS and learn techniques to calm my mind.
      3/3
    11. Anna Marie
      Anna Marie
      I am trying to practice what he suggests to heal and feel I have made progress, but not as much as I would like. While on this site, I saw your book suggested and have bought it in the last week. I am in the process of reading it now. I was thrilled to find a TMS book that included faith in the recovery. I have a lot going on in my life right now and have had more pain in my foot again (plantar fascitis). 2/3
    12. Anna Marie
      Anna Marie
      Hi Walt, I believe I have had TMS most of my life. For the past six years, the pain and symptoms have been pretty constant, rotating between foot pain, back pain, and IBS. MY anxiety has also steadily increased. Last May, my doctor suggested I read Dr. Sarno's book THe Mind Body Prescription. Right away I knew he was describing me! It was exciting. 1/3
    13. Franco
      Franco
      I can relate to a great deal in your story. Very inspirational. Thanks for sharing
    14. PattiAnn2763
      PattiAnn2763
      Wow!! Really loved your story!! Thanks for sharing. Congratulations on your Success!! I noted all of your books to read☺️Namaste
    15. Celayne
      Celayne
      What a great story, Walt! Thanks for sharing and congratulations on your success.
    16. Click#7
      Click#7
      I think another good read for you would be Thank God Ahead of time by Michael H. Crobsy, O.F.M, cap. To round out the spiritual aspects you mentioned about Fr. Solanus Casey...who said to ask God ahead of time and you shall receive..because it's like putting God on the spot.
    17. Evsperl
      Evsperl
      Wonderful story. You are such a positive presence on the wiki!
    18. ThatBookBlewMyMind
      ThatBookBlewMyMind
      wow what a story
    19. Carol Omans
      Carol Omans
      So glad to read your story and that you are better. I have an appointment with a student of Dr. Sarno's next Friday. I can't wait as I have been suffering for years. We are neighbors! Stay well!
      And yes I pray and it works in so many ways. Carol
    20. 0208mad
      0208mad
      My pain is pretty bad and I am so scared it will get worse and worse. Need some advice. Thanks.
  • Loading...
  • My Story

    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Glenview, IL
    Occupation:
    writer
    (moderator edit: we lost our dear Walt in 2021. His obituary is here: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/chicagotribune/name/walter-oleksy-obituary?id=4616539 (Walter G. Oleksy Obituary (2021) Chicago Tribune))

    That's me with my darling Annie, a 70-pound lap dog.

    I was 82 and never had any pain except a few toothaches when I was a teenager. I was never even sick, just had a couple of hernias from lifting my dog the wrong way. Then last fall I lifted a case of 36 cans of beer into a shopping cart at the supermarket and felt excruciating pain in my back. Somehow, I got home, but the pain stayed with me.

    I try never to see a doctor and didn’t with the back ache, figuring he’d want to give me strong pain killers or have an operation. I toughed it out, then after about two weeks I emailed a friend who is a nurse in Hawaii. I asked her advice and she said I should read a book, Healing Back Pain, by Dr. John E. Sarno. She said it helped another friend, a psychiatrist, who had back pain, so I bought a copy and learned that Dr. Sarno says most if not all our back and other pain is not caused by lifting or any structural damage from aging, but from our repressed emotions.

    I read the Sarno book and followed its 12 daily reminders that reinforce the knowledge that the pain is a disorder he calls Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS), a slight deprivation of oxygen to parts of the body that is caused by our repressed emotions. It suggested “journaling,” writing down what we can remember of our youth, since many of our pain problems began back when we were young, from family or other stresses. I certainly fit that description growing up during the Great Depression of the 1930s and World War II.

    I grew up with my parents never having much money and drinking too much. They divorced when I was about six years old, Mom remarried, a man who owned his own house, which gave my older brother and sister a roof over our heads. A year later Mom left him and went back to my birth father. Ten years later he died and she married his brother who was very jealous and also a heavy drinker. He made life miserable for my sister and me, but my brother had run away and joined the navy.

    I went to college, then the army, and had no anxiety, but that returned when I became a newspaper reporter and then freelance writer, never having regular income. You want a stressful job, be a reporter on a Chicago newspaper and cover crime and violence. And being self-employed brings its own stresses, for me mostly financial uncertainties.

    During my freelance years, I also tried caring for my mother but learned the hard way how difficult it is to be a caretaker. After two years I asked my brother to find another place for Mom to live, and that left me with a lot of guilt. I thought I had repressed it, but lifting that case of beer gave me back pain to tell me I hadn’t put that guilt to rest.

    Sarno’s book helped me to get rid of about 95 percent of my back pain, but I still felt lower back pain. I refused to believe that 100 percent of my pain came from TMS repressed emotions. It took me more than six months before I decided Sarno was
    100 percent right and the pain went away.

    I attribute my pain relief mainly to Dr. Sarno and the web site www.TMSWiki.org. I found that many others became free of pain by following advice and posts on that web site and I highly recommend it to everyone, even if they are not in pain. It is an amazing treasure house of information and help on healing.

    Along the way over the past year I’ve felt some pain relief from reading another Sarno book, The Mindbody Prescription, as well as The Great Pain Deception by Steven Ray Ozanich, Pain Free for Life by Dr. Scott Brady, MD, You Can Heal Yourself by Louise L. Hay, Hope and Help for Your Nerves by Claire Weekes, Loving What Is by Byron Katie, and Instant Self-Hypnosis by Forbes Robbins Blair. Most recently

    I have found more great healing techniques by following the advice and writings of Dr. James Alexander, psychologist and author of The Hidden Psychology of Pain, and Dr. Alan Gordon, psychotherapist, following his Recovery Program free on www.TMSWiki.org.

    I also believe I have been helped to be pain-free by daily playing a hypnosis DVD, “Stress Relief for Life,” by London psychotherapist and hypnotherapist Susan Hepburn.

    Mainly, I believe I finally stopped feeling back pain because I convinced my subconscious mind that it was 100 percent from TMS repressed emotions. That, and deep breathing, relaxed me and enabled me to learn the pain was all in my head.

    Also, last but probably not least, I added the spiritual element to my healing, which Dr. Brady suggests in his book. I began reading The Bible and began walking more closely with God, following His own advice: “Ask and you shall receive.” I asked to be pain-free and for release from guilt and anxiety and to achieve some steady income, and He answered my prayers.

    One or more of the techniques suggested by Dr. Sarno and the others I have read could help you to overcome your pain, whatever it is. And ask whatever God you worship to help you and He will. “Believe and you shall receive.”