Day 10 Not sure if this is helping

I'm doing my best to keep up with the daily readings and writing exercises, but I'm not sure they are helping. I'm still hopeful that the readings will finally get through to me, that is, to my subconscious. Occasionally, I will feel better in the evening that in the morning. I with that I could start the new day at the level of pain I had the night before. But, alas, that does not happen. Over the weekend, I started to get tingling in my had again, a symptom I haven't had in many months. I think that this is a sign that the education program is not working, but I'm sure other will say just the opposite.

 

Can you link your levels of pain or tingling to any emotion you felt? Did you feel angry, resentful, sad or anything? It is in trying to get an understanding of how our bodies/minds work and react that we get to heal. If you feel more pain in the morning - why? Is there something about the mornings activities that you do not like, or do you link it to something from the past? It is like being a super sleuth - you need to investigate to find out!

 

Hi, Bill. I find it helpful to practice meditation before I get out of bed in the morning. It helps me start the day positive, telling myself it is going to be the best new day ever.

I especially like the meditation technique called the Relaxation Response...

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 or 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:





and this one which can put you to sleep:



and