Recent content by Cap'n Spanky

I just want to add that I recovered from CFS using the TMS methodology and it didn't cost me a penny. It was all available using free resources on the web... some of them right here on this website. Don't let one person's negative experience dissuade you from using a tool that has been...

Yes, @Diana-M .... beerbuds It was really a catalyst for change when I was stuck.

For me, this is almost always the culprit that keeps me in pain. And that is, I haven't fully accepted the mind-body diagnosis. I wish there was magic button that turned that acceptance on. It's always been a cumulative process that came after dedicating myself to multiple aspects of...

Good comments so far. Until this practice comes more into the medical and media mainstream, people are gonna be skeptical... and in some cases, get angry. I don't talk about it either, unless a near perfect opportunity arises.

What you're experiencing is pretty common. It's very natural to be fearful, frustrated and angry about our symptoms. Fear and frustration (which is considered a substitute for fear) are generally believed to be the fuel behind TMS pain. So fear reduction is one of our goals. How do we...

:) I completely agree! It's totally possible that once we process a particular traumatic event or piece of emotional baggage it opens a door to real change. That change may very well lead to recovery from our pain/symptoms. I didn't mean to make a blanket statement and that there are no...

My image of someone new coming to the TMS world is a person whose had little or no therapy and has spent little time exploring their emotions or trauma. But as you and others point out, that's not necessarily true. I can totally understand why you got burned on the therapy (and self help)...

Good question, @Ellen. It is a rather ambiguous term. I made a feeble attempt at describing it in my original post: "For example, expressive writing (like JournalSpeak), Emotional Awareness Expression Therapy, and other kinds of therapy would fall in this category. Even sitting quietly and...

Well said!

I'd like to hear more view points too, @JanAtheCPA. So the reason I brought this up is there is some messaging inconsistency on the importance of emotional work. I'd say most, like Dr. Schubiner and others, feel it's an essential part of recovery. But notably, Alan Gordon doesn't really make...

It's completely understandable why you might think that. :) It's a logical train of thought. And whose to say that in some cases there is an ah-ha moment that makes things fall in place (like the aforementioned Dr. Sarno story).

I hadn't thought about that. But I suppose that could cause unrealistic expectations. I took me about 5 months to fully recover from my back pain. I'm very curious about this. I'm gonna look into it

Yeah, it makes sense to me too, @Diana-M. Both of these TMS dudes have videos on Alexithymia: https://www.youtube.com/@thepainpt https://www.youtube.com/@painpsychotherapy

Yeah. There seems to be a misconception that there's some magical hidden trauma or piece of emotional baggage, that once uncovered, will be the key to recovery. I suspect that may partly come from Dr. Sarno's dramatic story about the woman who suddenly recovered after remembering she was...

I've also noticed this phenomenon with many of those who struggle, as well. When you start asking questions about what steps they're taking to recover, you get nothing in the way of emotional work. It's natural for most people to resist "feeling our feelings". But it's been hypothesized that...