self compassion

Hi there, I wanted to share this video I made about a strategy I use in relating to the more difficult parts of myself like the inner critic, my fear brain, the perfectionist, and all those different characters. I would love to know what protector parts of yourself you notice and if you can...

Being unable to forgive ourselves for mistakes plays a huge role in TMS symptoms. I have seen clients who still repeatedly beat themselves up for mistakes they made as teens or even as children and who often blame themselves for their pain. This is absolutely brutal on the nervous system and...

So, you really can't think your way into self-compassion. It's something that you grow over time through behaving kindly towards yourself. Here's a video I made about a tool I use all the time both with clients and in my own life to grow those self-compassion neural pathways.

I have always wanted to write a book with that title! But seriously, if you've read about the incredible benefits of self-compassion but struggle with how to actually DO it, here's something to try.

Hi all! I just wanted to take an opportunity to introduce myself. I have lurked here for years and have directed many clients here for help but have never actually posted! My name is Danielle Szasz, and I'm TMS therapist/coaching seeing clients in Southern California and via Skype. I was...

Hi Everyone, I am hosting this event and hope some of you will attend, or spread the word. This is not limited to TMS sufferers. At the same time, folks working with TMS might benefit from insights coming from this experience. I love this practice. It helps me be more myself. Sincerely, Andy B...

Somebody here on the forum mentioned Kristin Neff. I found several videos on Youtube where she talks about self-compassion. I find her approach very helpful in standing up to my inner bully (which is very powerful and resilient, as I discovered).

Had to write an unsent letter today and I addressed a close family member describing my feelings about feeling inadequate, not good enough, a failure in his eyes et cetera and I really focused on where I felt these emotions in my body. I visualised the situation with him as feeling like I was...

On Day 37 I read The first words about days of rest and self care and instantly thought oh no, not another 'nothing' day! In fact it wasn't. It was just introducing the concept of self care. What a reaction though! I hadn't realised I was so driven to do do do to get better. Then reading about...

Originally written by Dr. Schubiner on March 7, 2011 If you've seen the Black Swan, you will probably recognize many aspects of Mind Body Syndrome in the protagonist, Nina. She lived in a world where she denied herself pleasure because she had placed too many demands upon herself and her body...

If compassion doesn't include yourself, it' s incomplete." Buddha. I had to write something on how I criticize myself. I thought, I'll find some fault here and there, but when I wrote it out and saw it on paper, I was rather stunned. I think I started finding fault with myself since a little...

Originally written: December 21, 2008 The role of triggers: Holidays and headaches As the holiday season approaches, I am reminded of the importance of things that trigger MBS symptoms.I once heard a description of families during the holidays as being, “just the way they are, only more so.”It...

A lot of my TMS is triggered by being around/thinking about my mother, who was abusive and neglectful towards me growing up. When I am near her, regardless of if we are interacting or are even in the same room, I switch over to a state of fight/flight/freeze which does a number on my body and my...

My back started severe spasm on Saturday. This happened almost 2 years ago (not as severe then). At that time I read Dr. Sarnos book after seeing my PCP who indicated it was just spasms nothing physically wrong. Hadn't had any recurrence til Saturday. Read his book again, and have been...

Hi everyone, I had received some email requests for further information regarding my existential therapy approach to - and interpretation of - PPD/TMS pain. As a result, I decided to dedicate this week's podcast to explaining the role of existential anxiety in the development of PPD/TMS...

We are in the midst of a move. And that's on top of many life changes…kids moving out, a daughter getting married, financial stressors, etc, ad nauseum. And this has been the way things have been going not just few a few months but for several years. Even with all my TMS work, I am just a...

Dear TMS Forum Members, I have posted this on my blog here. And have copied it here for you. I am interested in your responses. Thank you. Andy B. I want to tell you about the first wonderful, mind-blowing surprise I experienced while beginning to accept Dr. Sarno's understanding about my...

Hey there, I am a recent TMS believer and am working hard to embrace, understand and accept the mind body connection and philosophy. I am 44 and live in an extremely active community, no place or time for pain....but I suffer, mostly in my knees and IT bands...total pain in the ass for a skier...

I have something that happend in my past that I keep beating myself up for. I tend to feel a lot of shame for doing this and have trouble forgiving myself. Should I keep digging and journaling about this subject? Is there any techniques to forgiving myself for this and getting this out of my...

Article on how attuning-to-self releases good chemicals. When it refers to "threat" this is often in the form of inner critic activity. http://www.livescience.com/14151-neuroscience-esteem-criticism-compassion.html Watch minutes 9 through 13 of this vid by self-empathy guru: It is the...