Does lack of sleep cause symtopms to flare ?

[GokuGn]

I'm not sure about it but whenever I don't get enough sleep for 2 to 3 days I tend to flare but I'm not really sure if there’s any corelation between the two . So are there anyone with similar experiences?

 

[Cactusflower]

What do you think about when you get less sleep?
Are you anxious?
Do you worry about sleep?

 

[Vikki]

Не уверен, но когда я не высыпаюсь 2-3 дня, у меня случаются вспышки, но я не уверен, есть ли между этим какая-то связь. Есть ли у кого-нибудь похожий опыт?

I have the same condition

 

[GokuGn]

What do you think about when you get less sleep?
Are you anxious?
Do you worry about sleep?

Yes I'm definitely worried because I don't feel 100% that day and also I get worried if I'll get enough sleep the next day

 

[Cactusflower]

It is the worry, and the focus on not feeling 100% (perfectionism) that is making symptoms increase - the anxiety.
When you worry, your nervous system reacts by putting up it's guard and in return your brain begins to "scan" for threats - your mind begins to work overtime even more: have more thoughts and worries.
This is why reading any book by Claire Weekes and reading books by Dr. Sarno (not just once, read them over and over because our resistant minds will not "See" much of what is on the page and we will often just not fully understand what we have read) is imperative.
Dr. Sarno explains how the personality traits of people with TMS fit into the paradigm. As you work through the Structured Educational Program that will become more evident as you do the work.
Claire Weekes talks about the nervous system and anxiety in very basic and easy to understand terms by explaining what you can actually do, in the moment you have worries and fears. Sarno offers some basics, Claire Weekes gives you more specifics and is more centered on the anxiety, stress and emotional side of the equation.

The basic premise is that even when you have sensations, thoughts, and are uncomfortable within these things you are FINE. It is normal and natural to have discomforts and yet still go about your day, to eventually look past them and still find purpose and enjoyment in your life. When this begins to happen, the brain begins to focus less on the discomfort; it becomes meaningless. However, to get to this point a person must purposefully engage in making it happen. That is what we call "the work". Claire Weekes suggest you let the ideas: worries, fears, looping thoughts etc "float" on by - let them come, let them go and don't give them much attention. Focus on what you are doing: the studies, the work tasks, making dinner, cleaning up, enjoyment in being with others, a good book, a warm bath, a lovely hot drink, a good workout... enjoy these things. Focus on how GOOD them make us feel instead of how bad discomfort makes us feel.

 

[JanAtheCPA]

@BloodMoon asked you the right question,@GokuGn! Your anxiety is more likely to be the cause of the flare, not the lack of sleep. We can get by just fine with less-than-ideal sleep in the short term, as long as we don't waste energy obsessing about it!

 

[GokuGn]

It is the worry, and the focus on not feeling 100% (perfectionism) that is making symptoms increase - the anxiety.
When you worry, your nervous system reacts by putting up it's guard and in return your brain begins to "scan" for threats - your mind begins to work overtime even more: have more thoughts and worries.
This is why reading any book by Claire Weekes and reading books by Dr. Sarno (not just once, read them over and over because our resistant minds will not "See" much of what is on the page and we will often just not fully understand what we have read) is imperative.
Dr. Sarno explains how the personality traits of people with TMS fit into the paradigm. As you work through the Structured Educational Program that will become more evident as you do the work.
Claire Weekes talks about the nervous system and anxiety in very basic and easy to understand terms by explaining what you can actually do, in the moment you have worries and fears. Sarno offers some basics, Claire Weekes gives you more specifics and is more centered on the anxiety, stress and emotional side of the equation.

The basic premise is that even when you have sensations, thoughts, and are uncomfortable within these things you are FINE. It is normal and natural to have discomforts and yet still go about your day, to eventually look past them and still find purpose and enjoyment in your life. When this begins to happen, the brain begins to focus less on the discomfort; it becomes meaningless. However, to get to this point a person must purposefully engage in making it happen. That is what we call "the work". Claire Weekes suggest you let the ideas: worries, fears, looping thoughts etc "float" on by - let them come, let them go and don't give them much attention. Focus on what you are doing: the studies, the work tasks, making dinner, cleaning up, enjoyment in being with others, a good book, a warm bath, a lovely hot drink, a good workout... enjoy these things. Focus on how GOOD them make us feel instead of how bad discomfort makes us feel.

Got that . Can you provide any examples on how to focus on the good things ? My mind starts to wander when I'm reading a book , working out , studying etc to my sensations . Even Gordon mentions about feeling good but I'm clueless about how to do it

 

[BloodMoon]

Can you provide any examples on how to focus on the good things ? My mind starts to wander when I'm reading a book , working out , studying etc to my sensations . Even Gordon mentions about feeling good but I'm clueless about how to do it

To focus on the good things during activities like reading, working out, or studying, the key is gently guiding your brain’s attention away from symptoms and toward something safe, interesting, and positive. Often with mind/body/TMS, your brain automatically monitors sensations as a protective habit. Gordon suggests feeling good by shifting your focus to meaningful parts of what you’re doing, which can retrain your brain to loosen its grip on the symptoms.

Here’s a simple approach to practice:

1. Choose a clear focus or anchor related to your activity. For example, when reading, focus on the story or ideas; when exercising, focus on your strength or rhythm; when studying, focus on understanding or making progress. This gives your mind something positive and goal-oriented to return to.
   
   
2. Set a short intention before starting each task. Decide to concentrate on that focus for 10–30 seconds at a time. Research shows that attention improves in small, manageable windows rather than trying to force long stretches of focus all at once.
   
   
3. When your mind drifts to bodily sensations or symptoms, acknowledge this gently. Label it as “symptom checking” or your “brain’s alarm.” Then reassure yourself that your body is safe and not in danger. Immediately bring your attention back to your chosen anchor by asking a simple question about your activity (e.g., “What just happened in the story?” or “How many reps have I done?”).

This method trains your attention to shift instead of drift and builds a habit of focusing on positive, meaningful experiences rather than uncomfortable sensations.

Examples:

• Reading: Look for a phrase or image that catches your interest. If symptoms intrude, label it and ask yourself what the main idea of the paragraph was to refocus.
  
  
• Working out: Notice simple sensations like your breath, the rhythm of your steps, or the effort your muscles are making. When symptoms come, remind yourself that these feelings are normal and your body is safe. Focus on counting reps or syncing movement with music.
  
  
• Studying: Focus on understanding one concept better or summarizing a key idea. If symptoms appear, remind yourself they’re false alarms and redirect attention to the next small task or question.

“Feeling good” here means feeling safer, more interested, or proud of small achievements—not necessarily joy or euphoria. You can say to yourself: “My job right now is to engage or enjoy this just a little more than usual.” Practicing in short bursts like this gradually trains your brain to prioritize life and positive experiences over symptom checking.

This approach blends Gordon’s advice with research on attention training and emotional regulation to help you focus on the good things even when symptoms try to pull your mind away.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, a gratitude practice would complement the above.

A simple gratitude practice related to your activities could go like this:

First, pause before or after the activity, whether it’s reading, working out, or studying.

Second, identify one to three things you appreciate about this moment or yourself—for example, during reading, you might feel grateful for an interesting idea you learned; during a workout, you might thank your body for moving and getting stronger; during study, you might appreciate the progress you’re making on a subject.

Third, say this gratitude silently or out loud with intention, really allowing yourself to feel the appreciation. If symptoms or distractions arise, remind yourself that gratitude serves as a signal of safety and connection, inviting your mind to settle in this positive space.

Gratitude practice enhances your attention training by nurturing positive feelings like safety, interest, and pride, making it easier for your brain to choose what to focus on. It activates reward pathways in the brain, counteracting the negativity bias that often drives symptom hypervigilance. Over time, regular gratitude practice can make “feeling good” more natural and accessible during all activities.

In essence, gratitude provides a warm emotional anchor that supports the focus techniques discussed earlier, helping you gently shift your attention from symptoms to meaningful engagement. This combination aids your brain in loosening its grip on symptom-checking and promotes more positive, life-affirming focus.

 

[Cactusflower]

When you loose your focus don’t judge this lack of focus as “bad” - just return your focus to what you are doing. This is an exact skill from meditation and mindfulness as @BloodMoon has clearly pointed out above.
The frustration, judgement, anxiety of not being able to focus 100% are the types of things that feed the monkey mind (lack of focus). This is a phase, it will pass.

 

[GokuGn]

G

@BloodMoon asked you the right question,@GokuGn! Your anxiety is more likely to be the cause of the flare, not the lack of sleep. We can get by just fine with less-than-ideal sleep in the short term, as long as we don't waste energy obsessing about it!

Gotcha

To focus on the good things during activities like reading, working out, or studying, the key is gently guiding your brain’s attention away from symptoms and toward something safe, interesting, and positive. Often with mind/body/TMS, your brain automatically monitors sensations as a protective habit. Gordon suggests feeling good by shifting your focus to meaningful parts of what you’re doing, which can retrain your brain to loosen its grip on the symptoms.

Here’s a simple approach to practice:

1. Choose a clear focus or anchor related to your activity. For example, when reading, focus on the story or ideas; when exercising, focus on your strength or rhythm; when studying, focus on understanding or making progress. This gives your mind something positive and goal-oriented to return to.
   
   
2. Set a short intention before starting each task. Decide to concentrate on that focus for 10–30 seconds at a time. Research shows that attention improves in small, manageable windows rather than trying to force long stretches of focus all at once.
   
   
3. When your mind drifts to bodily sensations or symptoms, acknowledge this gently. Label it as “symptom checking” or your “brain’s alarm.” Then reassure yourself that your body is safe and not in danger. Immediately bring your attention back to your chosen anchor by asking a simple question about your activity (e.g., “What just happened in the story?” or “How many reps have I done?”).

This method trains your attention to shift instead of drift and builds a habit of focusing on positive, meaningful experiences rather than uncomfortable sensations.

Examples:

• Reading: Look for a phrase or image that catches your interest. If symptoms intrude, label it and ask yourself what the main idea of the paragraph was to refocus.
  
  
• Working out: Notice simple sensations like your breath, the rhythm of your steps, or the effort your muscles are making. When symptoms come, remind yourself that these feelings are normal and your body is safe. Focus on counting reps or syncing movement with music.
  
  
• Studying: Focus on understanding one concept better or summarizing a key idea. If symptoms appear, remind yourself they’re false alarms and redirect attention to the next small task or question.

“Feeling good” here means feeling safer, more interested, or proud of small achievements—not necessarily joy or euphoria. You can say to yourself: “My job right now is to engage or enjoy this just a little more than usual.” Practicing in short bursts like this gradually trains your brain to prioritize life and positive experiences over symptom checking.

This approach blends Gordon’s advice with research on attention training and emotional regulation to help you focus on the good things even when symptoms try to pull your mind away.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, a gratitude practice would complement the above.

A simple gratitude practice related to your activities could go like this:

First, pause before or after the activity, whether it’s reading, working out, or studying.

Second, identify one to three things you appreciate about this moment or yourself—for example, during reading, you might feel grateful for an interesting idea you learned; during a workout, you might thank your body for moving and getting stronger; during study, you might appreciate the progress you’re making on a subject.

Third, say this gratitude silently or out loud with intention, really allowing yourself to feel the appreciation. If symptoms or distractions arise, remind yourself that gratitude serves as a signal of safety and connection, inviting your mind to settle in this positive space.

Gratitude practice enhances your attention training by nurturing positive feelings like safety, interest, and pride, making it easier for your brain to choose what to focus on. It activates reward pathways in the brain, counteracting the negativity bias that often drives symptom hypervigilance. Over time, regular gratitude practice can make “feeling good” more natural and accessible during all activities.

In essence, gratitude provides a warm emotional anchor that supports the focus techniques discussed earlier, helping you gently shift your attention from symptoms to meaningful engagement. This combination aids your brain in loosening its grip on symptom-checking and promotes more positive, life-affirming focus.

Got that . Thank you so much for such clear explanation . I'll definitely implement these practises from today and see how it goes

 

[GokuGn]

When you loose your focus don’t judge this lack of focus as “bad” - just return your focus to what you are doing. This is an exact skill from meditation and mindfulness as @BloodMoon has clearly pointed out above.
The frustration, judgement, anxiety of not being able to focus 100% are the types of things that feed the monkey mind (lack of focus). This is a phase, it will pass.

Sure . This too shall pass .

 

[GokuGn]

To focus on the good things during activities like reading, working out, or studying, the key is gently guiding your brain’s attention away from symptoms and toward something safe, interesting, and positive. Often with mind/body/TMS, your brain automatically monitors sensations as a protective habit. Gordon suggests feeling good by shifting your focus to meaningful parts of what you’re doing, which can retrain your brain to loosen its grip on the symptoms.

Here’s a simple approach to practice:

1. Choose a clear focus or anchor related to your activity. For example, when reading, focus on the story or ideas; when exercising, focus on your strength or rhythm; when studying, focus on understanding or making progress. This gives your mind something positive and goal-oriented to return to.
   
   
2. Set a short intention before starting each task. Decide to concentrate on that focus for 10–30 seconds at a time. Research shows that attention improves in small, manageable windows rather than trying to force long stretches of focus all at once.
   
   
3. When your mind drifts to bodily sensations or symptoms, acknowledge this gently. Label it as “symptom checking” or your “brain’s alarm.” Then reassure yourself that your body is safe and not in danger. Immediately bring your attention back to your chosen anchor by asking a simple question about your activity (e.g., “What just happened in the story?” or “How many reps have I done?”).

This method trains your attention to shift instead of drift and builds a habit of focusing on positive, meaningful experiences rather than uncomfortable sensations.

Examples:

• Reading: Look for a phrase or image that catches your interest. If symptoms intrude, label it and ask yourself what the main idea of the paragraph was to refocus.
  
  
• Working out: Notice simple sensations like your breath, the rhythm of your steps, or the effort your muscles are making. When symptoms come, remind yourself that these feelings are normal and your body is safe. Focus on counting reps or syncing movement with music.
  
  
• Studying: Focus on understanding one concept better or summarizing a key idea. If symptoms appear, remind yourself they’re false alarms and redirect attention to the next small task or question.

“Feeling good” here means feeling safer, more interested, or proud of small achievements—not necessarily joy or euphoria. You can say to yourself: “My job right now is to engage or enjoy this just a little more than usual.” Practicing in short bursts like this gradually trains your brain to prioritize life and positive experiences over symptom checking.

This approach blends Gordon’s advice with research on attention training and emotional regulation to help you focus on the good things even when symptoms try to pull your mind away.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, a gratitude practice would complement the above.

A simple gratitude practice related to your activities could go like this:

First, pause before or after the activity, whether it’s reading, working out, or studying.

Second, identify one to three things you appreciate about this moment or yourself—for example, during reading, you might feel grateful for an interesting idea you learned; during a workout, you might thank your body for moving and getting stronger; during study, you might appreciate the progress you’re making on a subject.

Third, say this gratitude silently or out loud with intention, really allowing yourself to feel the appreciation. If symptoms or distractions arise, remind yourself that gratitude serves as a signal of safety and connection, inviting your mind to settle in this positive space.

Gratitude practice enhances your attention training by nurturing positive feelings like safety, interest, and pride, making it easier for your brain to choose what to focus on. It activates reward pathways in the brain, counteracting the negativity bias that often drives symptom hypervigilance. Over time, regular gratitude practice can make “feeling good” more natural and accessible during all activities.

In essence, gratitude provides a warm emotional anchor that supports the focus techniques discussed earlier, helping you gently shift your attention from symptoms to meaningful engagement. This combination aids your brain in loosening its grip on symptom-checking and promotes more positive, life-affirming focus.

Can I please dm you