Day 2 + day 3 + interesting bike ride

[Jaromir]

Hey everyone, I wanted to update my recent progress, if I can call it that way.

So Im still reading about TMS and I’m kind of getting the point how Sarno and others think it’s working. Still I’m not convinced that all my pain is from my psyche yet. It is a big nut to crack after all that physio and so on..

I was reading those articles from day 2 and 3 from SEP and they are pretty good source of information, even they are a bit old school though? Well I guess if Sarnos method worked 20 years ago, it means it can work today .

I also started my journal and I have to admit, it is difficult for me to think about how the life without TMS would be (because I’m not sure if all my troubles are TMS), or what are three things making me sad (not such a problem with anger). Anyway in the end I found something, and the biggest benefit of it is that one have to stop and think about himself. So hopefully I will find some time this week for my journal again.. One question about journal, do you share it with your partners / close friends? Do you tell them you are actually journaling, or you keep it secret? Right now I didn’t tell to my girlfriend anything about it yet..

I’m also trying to be very active. I was rollerblading three times last week (I’m just learning, it’s fun, but I’m not super talented). I felt once (Thursday) and heard pretty nice crack in my left hip. It was painful of course, but I didn’t take care about it too much. The day after I was gardening – digging, hoeing. So a lot of hard work, I didn’t feel my hip during the work, but after I finished I was exhausted.. I was barely able to move my left leg and my arm, shoulder and neck was in fire. I was trying to tell myself it is just my head causing this, but with no big results. The day after I had to travel by train to another city and I was shopping with my girlfriend all day. My neck was stiff and hip painful, but I somehow managed to not focus on it too much and did the 7 hour shopping torture (I had to, as I needed some stuff for upcoming holiday). Sunday was a rest day and it healed me well. I still was feeling pain, but my hip was much better (thanks I didn’t focus on it too much) and my neck was a little bit looser. I had time to calm and relax.

Yesterday I was feeling much better, so I decided to go mountain biking. It was for a first time this year. Mountain biking was causing me trouble for my last two years, that’s why I don’t do it much at this time. It makes me feel pain in my neck and shoulder with my palm as well and it can be pretty bad, sometimes I’m also having pain in my right knee. Anyway I jumped on my bike and start my trail. I did a first uphill in the forest, heartrate up in high, than down and up again like a rollercoaster . I love biking in the hills. Continued like this for about 8 km. About this time I started to feel my neck and shoulder blade. I calmed down, stopped, did some stretching and (I think more important) I did some soothing meditation. It was really quick one, just trying to focus on my breath how it flows through my body, telling myself that there is no need to stress – and it helped! Pain was gone. I thought I will have to quit earlier, but I did another 10 km. In the evening I felt it again a little, but nothing crazy bad. Plus I did one hour of drawing – which might add more pain as that is another trigger I know about.. Anyway today I feel my neck just a little, after 20 km of bike ride and drawing. My palm is a little bit more tender, but not that bad. Again, I try not to focus on it a lot. Maybe I will do some pain dissolving meditation later today, which is opposite approach- you focus directly on pain and you try to breath it out.

As I said before, I’m not 100% convinced that all my pain is TMS, but part of it is coming from my head. That’s for sure!

 

[Ines]

I'm so glad you were able to mountain bike. Good for you! I hope your meditation helped you too.
I know what you mean about talking to other people about it. My husband doesn't really want to hear it. People in my family that I know for a fact have TMS (and I bought books for) say they can't get around to reading it. It's sort of a dilemma when people ask me how I am because I don't want to pay my migraines any attention by talking about them. I try to change the subject.
Keep up the good work!

 

[Jaromir]

Thank you Ines.

It is obvious that not everyone is able to accept TMS concept. If your relatives are not ready to accept it, give them time. You informed them and that’s all you can do for now. If they will need it, they will take those books and read them. Just don’t force anyone in this; I think everyone has to find this for himself.

With healthy people, it is difficult. I’m not sure what my girlfriend will tell me, if I will tell her I think I have pain from my feelings and even worse, if I will tell her she might be part of it!


You are open enough to accept the fact, that there might be something else then structural issues causing your headaches. You are working on to figure out what is it and you are convinced enough to avoid thinking about your pain. Maybe you already see some progress?

If anyone will ask me how my shoulder is, I will probably tell him true as if I will try to change subject and force myself in to it, I will probably feel like hiding it. Maybe I will tell them I still have some pain, but it’s getting better. Maybe I will tell them I’m changing my attitude about this pain information I’m getting. No need to analyze it, no need to hide it. But I know what you mean.

 

[Gigi]

Hi Jaromir. Sounds like you're making good progress.

As I said before, I’m not 100% convinced that all my pain is TMS, but part of it is coming from my head. That’s for sure!

Your statement made me smile. Even after 2 bouts of TMS recovery, whenever new pain crops up, the million dollar question for me is always, "Is this structual or TMS?"
So I would say if you acknowledge that at least some of your pain is due to TMS, you're in the right place!
With regard to telling people about TMS--that's a hard call. I had a pretty dramatic recovery--from wheelchair to walking at a pretty good clip. Everyone at work wanted to know what happened. I told most that it wound up being stress related. If they sincerely wanted to know more, I told them about TMS and referred them to the wiki.
Blessings on your journey.

 

[Jaromir]

Thank you Gigi. That is some real progress "from wheelchair to walking" wow! I hope I will show some persistence in this journey.

 

[Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021)]

Hi, Jaromir. You sure are an active guy. I'm 85 and loved tennis and golf but in later years have mostly walked with my darling dog.

You sound like you are doing great in healing but need to increase your belief in TMS to 100 percent.

Meditation is one of the best ways to heal from emotional pains. It relaxes our mind and body in many ways.

Meditation is a time-honored way of relaxing the mind and relieving anxiety, mental stress, headaches, and even physical pain. There are many ways to practice meditation, but many consider the most successful to be a technique called the Relaxation Response (RR).

It is a wonderful way to practice TMS Mindbody Healing because it changes harmful thinking in the subconscious mind which Dr. John Sarno says causes pain in many people.

The RR, practiced daily for a few minutes has a profound positive effect on the subconscious mind, relieving or curing everything from inflammation and pain to headaches, stomach problems, insomnia, high blood pressure, to even aiding in recovery from cancer.

RR is like Transcendental Meditation which is taught by TM specialists who charge hundreds or thousands of dollars. But the RR is free and you can do it yourself.

It is done 20 minutes once or twice a day, before a meal, and works best if not practiced within two hours after a meal. I do it in bed before arising in the morning and again in bed before falling sleep. Often, I only do it 5 or 10 minutes and it works to calm me and put me to sleep.

Just sit in a chair (or lie in bed in the morning or at bedtime), close your eyes, don’t listen to any music, and try to avoid outside noises. Let your mind think of a word such as "One " which has no real meaning or association. Or say a calming word such as “Peace,” or add the faith or spiritual element by saying a favorite religious word. Breathe in through the nose, hold the breath for a few seconds, then say the word when you exhale.

Say the word silently over and over. At the end of the 10 to 20 minutes, picture and feel yourself as you were when you felt your best, and in a place where you felt that way.

When distracting thoughts arise during the RR, as they will, just tell yourslf, “Oh, well,” and go back to repeating your chosen word. Transcendental Meditation teachers will charge hundreds of dollars to give practitioners a word, but the word you choose yourself in the RR works just as well.

There are several free videos on Youtube about the Relaxation Response. I especially recommend these two by Dr. Benson:

 

[Ines]

Good luck Jaromir. You sound like you are on the right track. I think I'll take your advice too about telling people I'm just changing my attitude. That's good advice. Thank you.

 

[Jaromir]

Thank you Walt, I feel like Im on the right path, so hopefuly I will get more confidence about TMS in a while. And thank you for noting Relaxation Response meditation. I will give it a try. I think, that part of any meditation might be to accept other thoughts and let them pass with something like that "oh well". Also letting pass other imputs like noises, people talking and so on is sometimes even more difficult. But possible. I was amazed when I first discovered dissolving pain exercises from Les Fehmi and he was explaining, that in further stages you should be able to meditate almost anywhere, anytime. Not while driving though . For me it is impossible to fall asleep while TV is on for example, my brain just keeps listening to those words even Im not interested at all. Im having troubles to turn my brain off. On the other hand Im having troubles to stay focused on someones talk for example. I hope that this might be also improved by meditation practise and discover my real self..