Funny names for your symptoms?

dystonicrunner

dystonicrunner

Well known member
I was listening to the most recent episode of the The Mind and Fitness Podcast this AM that had a Mindbody PT on it talking about her practice and how she did Pain Reprocessing Therapy. She would bring in "jokes" while she was doing this and said something about a Meerkat. I totally cracked up. So I have decided to name my various pains/symptoms with different silly names and when they arise just say "Oh hey Meerkat! Nice to see you, thank you for popping in to say hi!"

So far I also have Fluffernutter and Old Man Winter for other symptoms. I dunno, they just came to me and they make me laugh.

One of my Runner's Dystonia friends who was the person who introduced TMS to me said that she just called her dystonia "Rainbow Sprinkles" and never even used the word. I forgot she told me that until now. I understood then that the language is important to not over focus on the symptom... but also now I get that having it be funny can help with that fear response too.

Do any of you have funny names you use for your pains or symptoms?
 
Thanks--that is really cool. Anything to take the bite and the fear out of symptoms is going to be helpful. Also to break the conditioned patterns. It's like during a stressful day or experience at work or whatever--when humor breaks things up, the mood is lightened and perspective can return. A window can open so we're not so locked into one pattern of thinking.
I don't have any funny names for my symptoms....yet! My mind is working them out though, after reading your post. Thanks for that.
I've done a lot of talking to myself when symptoms were bad, and humor was certainly a part of that, but never naming my symptoms.
 
dystonicrunner said:
I was listening to the most recent episode of the The Mind and Fitness Podcast this AM that had a Mindbody PT on it talking about her practice and how she did Pain Reprocessing Therapy. She would bring in "jokes" while she was doing this and said something about a Meerkat. I totally cracked up. So I have decided to name my various pains/symptoms with different silly names and when they arise just say "Oh hey Meerkat! Nice to see you, thank you for popping in to say hi!"

So far I also have Fluffernutter and Old Man Winter for other symptoms. I dunno, they just came to me and they make me laugh.

One of my Runner's Dystonia friends who was the person who introduced TMS to me said that she just called her dystonia "Rainbow Sprinkles" and never even used the word. I forgot she told me that until now. I understood then that the language is important to not over focus on the symptom... but also now I get that having it be funny can help with that fear response too.

Do any of you have funny names you use for your pains or symptoms?
Click to expand...
Awesome idea! Love it!
 
Okay I now also have "Bubbles and Squeak" for my knees and I've been laughing about this one all day.

For those of you who don't know Google AI Overview says

"Bubble and squeak is a traditional English dish made with leftover cooked potatoes and vegetables, typically cabbage, fried in a pan. It's known for its crispy, browned edges and the "squeaking" sound it makes as it cooks, which gives the dish its name."
 
OMG, Walton, yes, that's perfect. Kinda dark, kinda twisted LOL.

I refer to the cat with all kinds of goofy names, but I've never named my symptoms or my TMS brain. "The Little Monster" was retired when he hit 14 pounds and also wasn't such a holy terror anymore, so maybe that name could be be resurrected...
 
dlane2530 said:
The DARE approach for anxiety suggests naming and visualizing your anxiety as a character. For a while this was really helpful for me -- Mr. Squeaker, who was small and fluffy and had a really squeaky voice.
Click to expand...

Oh yes! I have seen this used for Fear of Flying too, like making a cartoon character (if anyone has a Fear of Flying I read the Book "SOAR" written by Dr. Tom Bunn who is both a pilot and a therapist which hugely helped me). I will look up the DARE approach I am not sure I have heard of that. Haha Mr. Squeaker! Thank you!
 
dystonicrunner said:
Oh yes! I have seen this used for Fear of Flying too, like making a cartoon character (if anyone has a Fear of Flying I read the Book "SOAR" written by Dr. Tom Bunn who is both a pilot and a therapist which hugely helped me). I will look up the DARE approach I am not sure I have heard of that. Haha Mr. Squeaker! Thank you!
Click to expand...
It is similar to Claire Weekes but is modernized and sometimes uses a different form of paradoxical intention. My guess is some will prefer one and some the other, but both work. DARE helped me a lot initially but now I prefer Weekes. So both are good!
 
Last edited:
dlane2530 said:
visualizing your anxiety as a character.
Click to expand...
I did this once, I feel like it was an exercise suggested in a program or webinar or something associated with the forum, years ago. I pictured my anxiety as the figure in the Munch painting "The Scream" and then I visualized rejecting it, so that it ran away from me and got smaller and smaller and finally disappeared in the distance. It was very powerful.
 
This is very interesting! I wonder what may be more beneficial towards losing TMS symptoms - to choose a name that matches the symptom, like the example feduccini gave, or to make light of the symptom with a silly name?
 
I think whatever works for you! I now have added Al Bundy and Franklin to the mix for other body parts. I actually named my right big toe/joint Al Bundy because I have a minimal bunion on that one so I thought Bunion... Bundy. Lol I dunno! :-)
 
dystonicrunner said:
I was listening to the most recent episode of the The Mind and Fitness Podcast this AM that had a Mindbody PT on it talking about her practice and how she did Pain Reprocessing Therapy. She would bring in "jokes" while she was doing this and said something about a Meerkat. I totally cracked up. So I have decided to name my various pains/symptoms with different silly names and when they arise just say "Oh hey Meerkat! Nice to see you, thank you for popping in to say hi!"

So far I also have Fluffernutter and Old Man Winter for other symptoms. I dunno, they just came to me and they make me laugh.

One of my Runner's Dystonia friends who was the person who introduced TMS to me said that she just called her dystonia "Rainbow Sprinkles" and never even used the word. I forgot she told me that until now. I understood then that the language is important to not over focus on the symptom... but also now I get that having it be funny can help with that fear response too.

Do any of you have funny names you use for your pains or symptoms?
Click to expand...

I call my knee pain fiddle faddle.
 
When neuropathic pain in my hand and dystonia (involuntary muscle contraction of my fingers) drove me to the heights of misery and despair, it occurred to me that my middle finger gave me the middle finger. I broke into laughter, and the pain lifted just a bit, and for a short moment - but I was feeling better. The trick worked, time and time again! Humor is a painkiller!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top