Befriending doubt

[veronica73]

I really like this quote by poet Edward Field:

"Of course I have doubt. I invite her over for dinner and then I send her on her way. I've befriended her. If I'm an artist living an artist's life, doing these things, then of course I will be visited by doubt. If not, there would be something wrong. She's my recurring house guest."

I like the idea that doubt will always be part of life & the human condition, but that we can allow it in for a while and then usher it out the door without having it move in with us.

 

[Forest]

I really liked this quote. Thanks for posting it. As you mentioned doubt is part of the human condition. In terms of TMS, I think it is important to understand that at the beginning some doubt may be present. However, it is important to do find a way to overcome it.

I like this idea of allowing it and then ushering it out. So much of TMS is caused by trying ignoring how we feel and repress our emotions. Allowing, to me, simply means understanding that doubt is part of the human condition, and that we are not repressing this feeling. This will allow us to not become anxious and worry about it when it happens. Worrying and anxiety only leads to fear, and fear exacerbates our symptoms. If, however, we allow our doubt, we can then calmly address some of the emotions behind it. If we address it in this manner, I think we can begin to safely identify which emotions are driving it and what factors are preventing us from fully accepting the diagnosis.

I can't stress enough the importance of accepting the diagnosis. If we don't accept the diagnosis we will continue to think physically and are progress may stall. If however we fully accept that we have TMS and the cause of our symptoms is psychological, then we can begin to achieve long-term success.

 

[Beach-Girl]

I have doubt in a different way. Just had some information I received confirmed. Shows we DO need to usher doubt out the door.