Journaling

I was asked by a TMS therapist whether I feel it when I journal and this was my email response to it. I would like to know peoples opinions on it?

Here it is
I just had a question to ask you as you were asking me if I feel it when I am journaling and I said much of it is intellectual however sometimes I do feel it. In Sarnos work and says to write down all of your past experiences that have caused anger or other unpleasant emotions. I was rageful when I was younger so much of my experiences I was not suppressing anything at the time even though I was punished as a result of it. It was probably not until my later high school years that I started to suppress anger and emotions like these.


So my question is this: I dont feel them because they were so long ago and as a result I no longer feel much connection to them so shouldnt I be focusing on things that stress and anger me in the now because then I will actually feel them?


And Dr Sarno makes it very clear that the pain is from repressed and unconscious emotions which means I would not even be aware of them. I have spent so many years in psychotherapy going through all of my past traumatic experiences and it has not helped me a bit in fact maybe been counter productive because of all the focus on past traumatic events that cannot be changed.
many thanks

Bowen

 

This is such a loaded question but a good one as well! Have you listened or read anything by Nicole Sach's? She is the guru for journal speak. Her newest book Mind Your Body really goes into detail about journaling about repressed emotions. Here is a youtube from her regarding journaling:

In my experience, I journal from past experiences as well as current stressors. It depends on what I'm feeling about the day. Some days you will feel your feelings. Some days you journal and then you are done not sure if it did anything at all! Sometimes past events bring up feelings-you are looking at them in hindsight. Sometimes you can journal about it just to sort it out. You may not feel a thing. Journaling is probably very different for all of us. It's very personal.

 

So had I...I had been in treatment for Substance abuse for YEARS when I found Sarno...however, with Pain as a Motivator I sought out stuff with a renewed vigor and actual enthusiasm.

I have said this before. I had STOPPED making resentment lists in the 12 step format because I found the same resentments popping up over and over again with new faces and situations. About 3 months or so after stopping a daily morning anger list I got the mother of all TMS attacks!

Part of my very quick recovery was resuming those lists and asking myself what they affected. I did NOT do the 'Where was Marc Wrong?' section; if repressed Rage is the culprit, than that voice of Moses or your super-ego is actually part of the problem. I asked God for a respite from being a good guy and I got it....and boy was there a lot of stuff there.

Of course it was only one dimension in a multi-pronged recovery strategy. I did the 'pg 77 ' exercise with diligence....that is anytime I caught myself focusing on symptoms, turning my mind with Force towards a recurring irritation or anger.
I also got fully involved physically in spite of the pain, Broke a lot of stuff, created a bunch of new releases like pounding plywood with my bat, and I also learned how to use Guns and went and shot up lots of furniture in the desert.....

Mental/Physical/spiritual. I prayed a lot and asked God to show me what I wasn't getting...what I was missing. like you said, it is repressed. I am not sure how much I understood, but the PROCESS shut down the symptoms distraction