Fear of structural issues

I’m go through the SEP. Just finished Day 8. As my symptoms move around I find myself worrying that I have structural issues. Yet I know better. Still it’s a repeated temptation. It’s tough when my symptoms are not the more common ones brought up in literature and podcasts (back pain, headaches etc.). Mine switch around from the following: tingly feet, tingly hands, heartbeat obsession, left arm and armpit burning, chest sensations, a general unsettleness.

I also forget what to literally do when symptoms flare. I’m doing my journaling in the morning. I’m doing meditative prayer. I’m also doing belly breathing. I’m still new with these so I probably just need to keep it up.

I’m getting better at being kind to myself. I’m also much more aware of my internal stress state and listening to my body as it tries to tell me to slow down.

So that’s a little update on my journey with TMS so far.

 

Another thing I struggle with at times (another move around symptom) is feeling like I can’t be still. I can only achieve it if I’m running my hands over a texture like clothes or a pen or whatever. It’s all about distraction it seems.

 

Completely normal! What I would do is write out an evidence list with all the reasoning as to why this is TMS (this was my main recovery tool really and what I advocate for) - then refer to it constantly, especially when the doubts come up. It's a great way to combat the doubt and reassure yourself

 

The fact that you've decided to follow a "plan" by journaling, meditation, mindset-shifts are all HUGE wins, great strides towards recovery.
The thoughts and fears on that endless loop can take some time to disengage. Don't add more stress or worry about the fact that they are still present. Heck, mine still like to visit!
A therapist once told me that if I disengaged from those thoughts even once in a week, it was a win. You build from there.
This stuff becomes habit, it takes awhile to break those habits and OCD -like thinking is very much part of anxiety (as is that feeling like you want to jump out of your skin). It all eventually passes.