Day 19 Another Paradox/Dilemma

Hi Everyone...the SEP keeps us busy for 42 days! It is a learning process for sure. I found it interesting that no Ozanich an Sarno advocate not paying attention to what the body is doing otherwise the Pain continues....that is a difficult mind trick to overcome...especially early on...Catch 22 for me... focus on pain is dependent on the amount/level...little or no pain. And I'm not occupied with it....increasing or intensified Pain leads to a resultant rise in (pre) occupation with it...just another facet of the mind 'game'...Ozanich really shares a real life journey which is most likely the reality for most of us...inspirational

 

Hi Sean, I feel myself in the same catch 22. I've been beginning to think of the pain the way that I think of upsetting thoughts before I go to sleep. Sometimes if somethings upsetting me, I pay special attention to it, so that it can't hideout in my subconscious mind and haunt me in my sleep. Next I think of a few things that brought me joy or that I found beautiful during the day. Then I drift off to sleep. Lately when pain arises, I've been letting myself attend to it by spending some time asking "what am I thinking now?" and then feeling any emotions that arise. Mostly fear! By staying with the fear for a little while, I feel like I'm short-circuiting it from dropping down into my subconscious. It works for upending upsetting thoughts from entering my dreams, and it seems to be working so far with TMS. While I don't focus a lot of time on the actual pain, I do do a few gentle things to alleviate pain as well. Like massaging my knees or doing some stretches. May you keep up the great explorations and also be compassionate with yourself!