Recent content by mm718

The problem is when our mind represses this natural phenomenon and the energy backs up and turns to tension. I was taught at a very young age not to cry, so I had a lot of repressed emotion. That's my situation in a nutshell and I am sure very common with TMSers. Time to let it fly, with less...

The point about self-compassion is huge. Lots to think about here but self-compassion is more processing of unprocessed emotion. Seeing emotions at a deeper level must reduce the secondary emotions attached to them (e.g., anger) and in turn reduce the tension associated with symptoms in the...

Thanks MBPT. This is my understanding as well. I start with the breath as my anchor and observe any thoughts that come up as you've described and then return my focus to the breath. It has been said that meditation isn't being free of distracting thoughts but rather the act of bringing our focus...

Thanks, AC. I like the idea of reclaiming energy lost to this unfelt emotion. It's helpful to hear that others have experience this too.

Balto, thanks for your comment. I am new to meditation but it is my understanding that when strong emotions come that you can take the opportunity to turn your attention to that emotion and make it the focus of your mediation. The emotion rather than the breath becomes the new anchoring point...

Thanks so much, Plum. This is a beautiful way of framing it. I do find that when I get quiet either through meditation or yoga that it takes me right to the truth. Maybe I need to let of the anxiety about figuring it all out and just let it happen without being so focused on the results. I...

Several years ago I noticed that when I did certain yoga poses opening up the lower back I started to cry. This is also happening now daily during meditation. For three weeks I've been having these "therapeutic crying" sessions but don't know what the tears are about. I had a rough childhood...

You're finding your groove, Jules! You've now had the corrective experience that Alan talks about and you have something concrete and effective to work with. This experience can't be taken away from you and shows that this can be done. With repeated work doing the visualization your confidence...

Thanks so much, Caulfield. It helps to hear from others who have gone before us. I may give biofeedback try. I've been doing 4-7-8 breathing and I sometimes get great results from that. I've noticed lately that doing a body scan and systematically letting each group of muscles soften really...

Lynn, This is where it all starts, soothing and being kind to ourselves. This and calming practices lays the groundwork for those new neural pathways. Thanks for sharing some of your experience. I will be following your posts with interest as you get further along in your journey.

Well said, Bruce. It all resonates with me. I can relate to Clapton. Not so much with alcohol but with an abusable medication that minutes after I took it I felt like myself for the first time. That turned out very badly for me over a decade and then a couple of years to recover. In graduate...

Wow, great interview. He said so much in such a short amount of time. I can see some parallels with TMS and addiction. It's interesting that for many, self-soothing place such a central role in their (TMS) healing, something that may have been missing in some who had chaotic childhoods and go on...

Can you describe what you did?

I have a similar history growing up and then later had a medical issue that I believe caused central sensitization. Can you describe specifically how you calmed your nervous system? What type of breathing exercises and is this biofeedback you did with an app? I am thinking of trying Heart...