Fox News host recommends Dr. Sarno on breitbart.com

[Forest]

Heya, all...

One of my vast network of spies tipped me off to a new article about Dr. Sarno written by a Fox News host named Greg Gutfeld. Here's his bio:

Greg Gutfeld has been called “outrageous and outspoken,” neither of which he denies. A libertarian political satirist, humorist, magazine editor and blogger, he is perhaps best known as the host of the Fox News Channel program “Red Eye With Greg Gutfeld.” Airing at 3 a.m. ET Tuesday through Saturday, the show covers a variety of topics, including news, entertainment, sports, and gossip. Gutfeld is also a host of FNC’s “The Five,” a weekday program at 5 p.m. ET​

Here's the link:
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/10/14/Gut-check-PAIN-RELIEVERS



It's very well written. The other book he mentioned sounded interesting, too.

If you get a chance, please consider representing the TMS perspective in the comments. Perhaps we can inspire some people in a life-changing direction.

By the way, in terms of perspectives, it may be tempting to make political jabs based on the website where this was published. Please keep the thread on topic, though, focusing on mindbody medicine rather than politics. Thanks!

 

[Forest]

The end of the first half of the article is provocative and possibly thought provoking. Greg clearly doesn't hold back:

The moment I decided to stop thinking about the damage I might be doing, and chose instead to live normally, the back pain disappeared. That was three years ago. By denying the existence of physical damage of back pain, the pain moved on.

I remember old Greg. He was always touching his back, and dramatically expressing an anguished acknowledgment of suffering. He took days off to nurse it.

The new Greg is better: when he feels back pain, he simply tells it to go fuck itself (I believe this is also what Stossel says to his back pain, and mustache).

The language he chooses may be crass, but it is empowering. It reminds me of how ISTDP-influenced practitioners sometimes tap into reservoirs of anger to power emotional change. For example, Alan Gordon teaches us that we can use anger at our inner bully (or the parents the inner bully came from) to power an emotional change in which we become more self-compassionate (it can take energy to make deep changes like this and the energy must come from somewhere).

I am tired of us feeling afraid of our pain or weak, and I have to wonder if the power he taps into with his language helped him.

He continues:

Before you stop reading this for fear I am a gullible dope, I must implore you that I hate new age medicine. I hate self-help experts. Working in health mags for a decade made me abhor charlatans. I hate gimmicks and caftans.

But this, is not that. Sarno is an MD who spent his life working with patients. His conclusions are revolutionary, but not necessary to accept, to reap their benefits. That the pain might be due to repressed anger is secondary, and to me, meaningless. The primary key was his solution: Do not adjust your life to the pain, but instead return to full activity. Because there is no reason to think you are making matters worse when living your life. MOVE ON. This is key: we stop doing things because we think we ARE making things worse. By erasing that option, it creates freedom. By refusing to surrender to the spasm, the spasm retreats.

Keep moving... Immerse yourself in life!

(Regarding what Greg says about new age medicine, in general, I love science and the scientific approach. I've been surprised, over the years, at how much people have been helped by alternative approaches. Nonetheless, I think of the mindbody connection as good medicine rather than alternative medicine.)

 

[Tennis Tom]

By the way, in terms of perspectives, it may be tempting to make political jabs based on the website where this was published. Please keep the thread on topic, though, focusing on mindbody medicine rather than politics. Thanks!

I would NEVER do such a thing to Gutfeld or Breitbart, you know me better then that. One of the best parts of my night is curling up with RED EYE and gazing at the pretty bright female commentators with long legs they always put in front of the panel desk --oops, I hope that doesn't sound sexist--sorry, I like girls. Maybe Gutfeld heard about it from Stossel, or Howard Stern, the King of All Media.

BTW Forest, how do I turn off the B (bold) button and the I (italics) button when typing a reply? They keep sticking.

Cheers,
tt/lsmft

 

[Forest]

Oh, Jeez, Tom, it wasn't you I was worried about. It was Ellen and Jan.

Spoiler: click here

Not really. I didn't have anyone in particular in mind.

They seem like real troublemakers. Highly refined internet trolls, in fact.

Spoiler: 10 points

10 points to the first person besides me who figures out how to make these spoiler buttons.

 

[Tennis Tom]

Thanks Forest, my tennis elbow/TMS feels better already .

 

[Ellen]

Oh, Jeez, Tom, it wasn't you I was worried about. It was Ellen and Jan.

Spoiler: click here

Not really. I didn't have anyone in particular in mind.

They seem like real troublemakers. Highly refined internet trolls, in fact.

Spoiler: 10 points

10 points to the first person besides me who figures out how to make these spoiler buttons.

HA! I restrained myself from making any incendiary remarks! Took a whole lot of uncharacteristic self control

 

[Ellen]

Spoiler: You mean this thing?

Too easy!

 

[Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021)]

It'[s great that Fox News ran an article about Dr. Sarno.
The good doctor's good news is definitely spreading.

 

[Cap'n Spanky]

Despite any feelings I may have towards Fox News and it's contributors I'll say that any good publicity is good publicity. So this is great!!

Got me thinking about my father-in-law. He's pretty much completely crippled up from back pain. I've never approached him about Dr. Sarno because both my wife and I agree that he would not be receptive to the message. But he does sit and watch Fox News all day. I wonder if John Stossel, and now this guy could be enough to sway him? Hmm...

"That the pain might be due to repressed anger is secondary, and to me, meaningless. "
This "might" be why he still experiences back pain. Being unwilling to dig into the psychological aspects only get's you half the way there (in my opinion, of course). Or should I say, in my fair and balanced opinion...

 

[BruceMC]

I can actually see how Sam Harris’s new book, Waking Up, would appeal to a skeptical, cantankerous libertarian like Greg Gutfeld:

http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-Spirituality-Without-Religion-ebook/dp/B00GEEB9YC

Pure consciousness without ego, theology and dogma does have an irresistible appeal in a post-secular, post-humanist world. I do like Gutfeld's advice, distilled from Dr Sarno, about the best cure for TMS being just getting back to getting on with your life. Make perfect sense!