Recent content by Derek Sapico MFT

Thanks for your question, Newarrior. First of all, I wouldn't build up too much structure around a symptom that can be treated psychologically. I believe that creating too many rituals and treatments for TMS symptoms gives them more power and attention. TMS symptoms feed off of fear and...

Thanks for your question, hopefuldan. I know that tinnitus seems like it is somehow different from other TMS symptoms but I would argue that it is not. It is a fairly common experience/sensation that your primitive brain can interpret as a threat and then subsequently re-create leading to a...

Thanks for your question, Ginnie. I believe that good emotional hygiene entails allowing yourself to feel all of your feelings. This certainly applies to joy/happiness as well as rage and sadness. I view pain as a response to a perceived threat. For many people, feeling anger or sadness can be...

Thanks for your question. This is an issue that is coming up a lot in my practice, and that of many of my colleagues. Should we come up with a name for it? Trump Myositis Syndrome? Mind Body Bannon Disorder? Feel free to make suggestions! All kidding aside, politics is something that can...

Hi Jay. Sounds like you could use a little hope and encouragement right about now. TMS recovery is different for everybody. Some people are able to read a Sarno book, get rid of their symptoms and never look back. Most have a longer and more bumpy story of recovery. Getting symptom relief is...

Thanks for your question. Urethral pain can absolutely be TMS, especially considering that you had sexual contact with a stranger prior to the onset of the symptom. TMS often will piggyback on an event that causes uncertainty. In this case, there may have been a fear that you had contracted...

Thnaks for your question, Roxie. I'm so sorry to hear about the losses that you have been through lately. Grief is a common reason for a symptom relapse and I think that it would be a good idea to get yourself into some form of counseling, even if it is not with a TMS specialist. At the...

Thanks for your question. It is important to recognize this negative thought pattern that comes up around your symptoms as being a form of anxiety. Whenever you start having these fearful thoughts about symptom recurrence, your primitive brain is feeling unsafe. It's not scared of pain or...

Thanks for your question. If you are not comfortable with your family doctor's feedback, consider seeing a different physician. If you are exploring a mind-body etiology for the pain, I would consider seeing a doctor who specializes in TMS. In my experience, the symptoms that you are...

Thanks for your question, Bonnie. I totally understand that you want to avoid the medical rigamarole due to the stress and uncertainty that this inevitably causes. That said, I don't think you are going to be able to approach this as TMS with any confidence until you have a full cardio workup...

Thanks for your question, jjsurfn. First of all, it sounds like you're doing a really great job of challenging your symptoms and processing difficult emotions so keep up that good work. Your symptoms seem to be on the run so keep practicing outcome independence and your symptoms will continue...

Thanks for your question. While emotional repression is an important aspect of TMS, I find that trying to figure out what unconscious emotions are driving your pain as a first step to recovery is quite difficult. Instead, I would suggest first trying to break the cycle of fear and...

Thanks for your question. It is important to make the distinction between "structural problems" and "incidental findings." Things like disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, and herniated discs are often incidental findings. In other words, if you have back pain and get some imaging done, they...

Thanks for your question. There are two resources that I recommend to people dealing with TMS that I think are particularly helpful. One of them would be Howard Schubiner'a book entitled Unlearn Your Pain. It contains excellent discussions detailing the scientific explanations for...

Thanks for your question, Rebecca. To me, your case does not seem atypical at all. I have worked with many people who have presented with symptoms similar to what you describe. I think that it is more common for people to be attracted to TMS if they have straightforward presentations of pain...