Ami
Peer Supporter
In the past few days, some previously unrecognized-as-TMS symptoms have popped up; they are not completely new - just not my initial presenting issue ..(which happily, remains away). Interestingly, the issue of symptom substitution is part of the focus of this particular lesson. After several weeks, I had hoped to be less TMS-prone, so it is hard not to feel somewhat depressed to be experiencing a whole bunch of other TMS symptoms! Deja Vu - all over again. Will I have to go to the wall again in the same way on these symptoms? Dr. Schubiner's blog on Symptom Substitution has been very helpful and personally encouraging to me at the moment:
"When symptoms shift, that is a good sign; you've got your symptoms moving, and as I always say, you've got them “on the run.” ... Step back and look at how much progress you've made, how much better you understand yourself and how you've been able to make your original symptoms disappear. (Yes that is true!) Have confidence that since you've come this far, you only need to go a little bit farther to gain control over the new symptoms. (So very glad to hear that!) Realize that your brain/mind is getting desperate; it wants to hang on to some symptoms and since you've caught on to the original symptoms, it is trying something new. And it may be trying to gain control and scare you into retreating to your old pattern." (Okay, great warning about the need to remain vigilant!)
He goes on to explain, "The brain will continue to produce “other” symptoms or substitute symptoms for a variety of reasons.
1. It is not ready to give up yet and you may need to continue to be firm with it. (Right, I guess my work is not done yet, sigh!)
2. You haven't yet integrated the changes that you need to make in your life or in your psyche - obviously you have to figure out what those changes are, and that's where therapy may help as well. (For now, I will continue to journal, and I have just ordered Unlearn Your Pain. I am committed to becoming 100% pain free.)
3. You haven't yet accepted yourself fully and completely, i.e. you are still fighting yourself, doubting yourself, being afraid of symptoms or of certain issues/events in your life. (Hmmm...food for thought and more journaling: " what parts of me am I still repressing? What history is still unacceptable to my conscious mind?)
4. You haven't yet learned what you need to learn from your symptoms. This may sound odd, but several people in the program have directly asked their symptoms (in meditation or in writing) this question, i.e. “what do I need to learn from TMS? The body is basically trying to protect us by producing MBS/TMS symptoms. Once we recognize this, we can work with our mind and bodies to calm the fears, deal with the issues in our lives which are stressful and produce the danger signals that cause activation of the fight or flight reaction." (Another good journaling focus.)
And finally, he ends with these words of encouragement: "The symptoms you are having are an opportunity to learn, to grow and cope better with life. Seize this opportunity and learn from it. (Thanks so much doc! Really appreciate the help!)
"When symptoms shift, that is a good sign; you've got your symptoms moving, and as I always say, you've got them “on the run.” ... Step back and look at how much progress you've made, how much better you understand yourself and how you've been able to make your original symptoms disappear. (Yes that is true!) Have confidence that since you've come this far, you only need to go a little bit farther to gain control over the new symptoms. (So very glad to hear that!) Realize that your brain/mind is getting desperate; it wants to hang on to some symptoms and since you've caught on to the original symptoms, it is trying something new. And it may be trying to gain control and scare you into retreating to your old pattern." (Okay, great warning about the need to remain vigilant!)
He goes on to explain, "The brain will continue to produce “other” symptoms or substitute symptoms for a variety of reasons.
1. It is not ready to give up yet and you may need to continue to be firm with it. (Right, I guess my work is not done yet, sigh!)
2. You haven't yet integrated the changes that you need to make in your life or in your psyche - obviously you have to figure out what those changes are, and that's where therapy may help as well. (For now, I will continue to journal, and I have just ordered Unlearn Your Pain. I am committed to becoming 100% pain free.)
3. You haven't yet accepted yourself fully and completely, i.e. you are still fighting yourself, doubting yourself, being afraid of symptoms or of certain issues/events in your life. (Hmmm...food for thought and more journaling: " what parts of me am I still repressing? What history is still unacceptable to my conscious mind?)
4. You haven't yet learned what you need to learn from your symptoms. This may sound odd, but several people in the program have directly asked their symptoms (in meditation or in writing) this question, i.e. “what do I need to learn from TMS? The body is basically trying to protect us by producing MBS/TMS symptoms. Once we recognize this, we can work with our mind and bodies to calm the fears, deal with the issues in our lives which are stressful and produce the danger signals that cause activation of the fight or flight reaction." (Another good journaling focus.)
And finally, he ends with these words of encouragement: "The symptoms you are having are an opportunity to learn, to grow and cope better with life. Seize this opportunity and learn from it. (Thanks so much doc! Really appreciate the help!)
I had a small situation today...felt the tension building and instead of muting myself, I let it move through me, felt it build and crescendo (sensations of rapid heart rate and butterflies in chest and stomach, racing thoughts and dry mouth) then I felt the sensations soften, dissipate and discharge. Then I took a deep clearing breath at the hallmark end and said "ahhhhh".
I think I understand 'mental emotion ' ... you said , " I dismiss it too quickly ". That's a form of avoidance to keep from experiencing discomfort or pain resulting in repression and TMS pain, the emotion does not flow through you ... and you avoid ' feeling it ' I think that's huge in discovering how you process emotions. Now you can take steps towards simply feeling the emotion a little longer and stopping the repression. The TMS repression cycle is broken !
