Day 25: Experience reinforced reading

This is my day 25 post: this past week I have experienced several important lessons none of which are new but none the less critical

1. Don't be afraid to tell people you are recovering from TMS, especially those you think least likely to believe it. In fact you must tell people, it is great affirmation that you are not alone. My unscientific sample tells me that more than half of people, maybe 75%believe that your mind can mess with your body. I found a friend who I would have assumed would tell me to drink more who had never heard of TMS but suffered from back pain for years. one day he figured out on his own it was stress and he just had to think about it differently. Now when he feels it coming on he can stop it. AMAZING!

2. Engage in some physical activity as soon as you can and be consistent. I did 3 very light work outs this week. They weren't all as easy as the first but sticking with them gave me confidence and as an athlete fed my need for physical challenge which has been starved for nearly 2 months.

3. Find the courage to stay even when the pain is peaking. My wife and I were in the process of getting new cell phones which I had forgotten takes a long time. My pain often jumps when I am standing and waiting, my impatient personality kicking into overdrive. No place to sit. No empty wall to lean against. Just a counter to put my hands on. I asked my wife to stop talking to me to see if I could focus on getting it under control. I pretty much did.

As dr Schubiner said, "it's all temporary". I will not submit to the pain again. I might have to slow things down but I know that it's just passing through.

 

Hi, David. Your three lessons are great reminders to us all, whether healed or healing.

Neighbors have been looking in on me during our subzero and heavy snow wave the past
two weeks, asking if I need anything. I didn't want to drive in the bad weather so I took them up
on small grocery shopping for me. Today most of the snow and ice and cold is gone so I did my
own bigger shopping. Drove to two supermarket, loaded up on fruits, veggies, etc., and got home
and unloaded them in the refrig and pantry. Then I built a stair-stepper for my dog Annie who is
starting to think about it before she jumps up on the couch where loves to nap and sleep. I even
read the instructions without any problem.

Now I'm working at the computer. I'm not in any pain. It would have been easy to rely on
the neighbors for my shopping, but I didn't want to stop doing my regular activities.

I believe doing regular physical activity like cleaning the house, shopping, cooking, is good both
physically and mentally.

You're going great not to give in to pain.