Gas pains

[Y1958]

I have an upcoming trip planned and the closer I get to the date the more problems I seem to have. Currently I’m experiencing very bad gas pains causing quite a bit of abdominal discomfort. I don’t understand how your brain can make gas in your intestinal tract and that they hurt so bad. I would like to hear from anyone that had digestive issues particularly abdominal pain and how you resolved it. Thank you

 

[Adam Coloretti (coach)]

I have an upcoming trip planned and the closer I get to the date the more problems I seem to have. Currently I’m experiencing very bad gas pains causing quite a bit of abdominal discomfort. I don’t understand how your brain can make gas in your intestinal tract and that they hurt so bad. I would like to hear from anyone that had digestive issues particularly abdominal pain and how you resolved it. Thank you

Hi! It's important to remember that your brain and TMS can impact basically every system in your body. So what causes gas? Well I'm no gastrointestinal expert but I imagine it's a combination of how you digest food (TMS can impact the digestive system) coupled with how the muscles are functioning (TMS can impact the muscular system). Assuming it's TMS, the theory and strategy are the same regardless of what the symptom is

 

[BloodMoon]

Currently I’m experiencing very bad gas pains causing quite a bit of abdominal discomfort. I don’t understand how your brain can make gas in your intestinal tract and that they hurt so bad.

I asked my 'friend' Perplexity ai for you and it responded with the following (it's quite a long explanation because the mechanism is quite complex):

"In mind–body models (such as TMS/psychophysiological pain), intestinal “gas pain” is usually not caused by excess gas alone, but by a stress‑sensitive gut plus an over‑alert pain system. The brain and gut constantly talk via the gut–brain axis; when the nervous system is in a threat state, normal gut activity and normal amounts of gas can be interpreted as painful.

Core mechanism: brain–gut axis and threat response​

• The gut has its own nervous system (the enteric nervous system) that is tightly linked to the brain through the vagus nerve, spinal pathways, and stress hormones (the HPA axis).
• Psychological stress, anxiety, or strong emotions activate the “fight‑or‑flight” response, releasing CRF, cortisol, and adrenaline. These signals change gut function within minutes. (Corticotropin‑releasing factor, CRF is the brain’s main “stress alarm” chemical/hormone that kicks off the body’s stress response and directly affects the gut.)
• In this state, digestion is deprioritised: blood flow shifts away from the gut, motility becomes erratic (sometimes faster, sometimes slower), and secretions change. Food may move too slowly or too quickly, promoting fermentation and gas production.

How this creates “gas pain” specifically​

Several overlapping processes can make gas feel painful even when there’s no structural disease:

1. Altered motility and fermentation
   
   • Stress can slow parts of the intestine, so food sits longer and gut bacteria ferment it, producing more hydrogen, methane, and CO₂. This increases distension and pressure.
   • In other cases, stress speeds colonic transit, causing cramping and urgency with trapped pockets of gas.
2. Visceral hypersensitivity (sensitised pain pathways)
   • Chronic stress and anxiety: the nervous system over-amplifies ordinary gut sensations on gut pain pathways in the spinal cord and brain (central sensitisation) and sensitize local pain receptors via CRF and immune mediators.
   • As a result, normal amounts of gas or normal intestinal contractions are perceived as sharp, stabbing, or cramping pain. This is a hallmark of functional GI disorders like IBS.
   • Stress hormones (especially CRF) can loosen tight junctions in the gut lining, increasing permeability (“leaky gut”) and triggering local immune activity and histamine release.
   • This low‑grade inflammation further sensitises nerve endings in the gut wall, amplifying pain from stretch and gas.

How this fits a TMS/psychophysiological view​

From a TMS or psychophysiological pain perspective:

• The primary driver is a non‑dangerous but over‑active threat response in the brain, often fueled by stress, perfectionism, health anxiety, or suppressed emotions.
• The gut is a common “output” because it’s densely innervated and highly responsive to stress hormones. Gas and normal motility become the physical “hook” that the brain uses to generate real pain.
• Structural tests are often normal because the problem is functional: normal physiology + sensitised nerves + threat state = pain.

Practical implications (brief)​

Mechanistically, reducing mind–body gas pain usually means:

• Calming the threat response (education, reassurance, TMS work, relaxation, paced breathing)
• Reducing air swallowing (slower eating, nasal/diaphragmatic breathing, managing panic)"

 

[Y1958]

I asked my 'friend' Perplexity ai for you and it responded with the following (it's quite a long explanation because the mechanism is quite complex):

"In mind–body models (such as TMS/psychophysiological pain), intestinal “gas pain” is usually not caused by excess gas alone, but by a stress‑sensitive gut plus an over‑alert pain system. The brain and gut constantly talk via the gut–brain axis; when the nervous system is in a threat state, normal gut activity and normal amounts of gas can be interpreted as painful.

Core mechanism: brain–gut axis and threat response​

• The gut has its own nervous system (the enteric nervous system) that is tightly linked to the brain through the vagus nerve, spinal pathways, and stress hormones (the HPA axis).
• Psychological stress, anxiety, or strong emotions activate the “fight‑or‑flight” response, releasing CRF, cortisol, and adrenaline. These signals change gut function within minutes. (Corticotropin‑releasing factor, CRF is the brain’s main “stress alarm” chemical/hormone that kicks off the body’s stress response and directly affects the gut.)
• In this state, digestion is deprioritised: blood flow shifts away from the gut, motility becomes erratic (sometimes faster, sometimes slower), and secretions change. Food may move too slowly or too quickly, promoting fermentation and gas production.

How this creates “gas pain” specifically​

Several overlapping processes can make gas feel painful even when there’s no structural disease:

1. Altered motility and fermentation
   
   • Stress can slow parts of the intestine, so food sits longer and gut bacteria ferment it, producing more hydrogen, methane, and CO₂. This increases distension and pressure.
   • In other cases, stress speeds colonic transit, causing cramping and urgency with trapped pockets of gas.
2. Visceral hypersensitivity (sensitised pain pathways)
   • Chronic stress and anxiety: the nervous system over-amplifies ordinary gut sensations on gut pain pathways in the spinal cord and brain (central sensitisation) and sensitize local pain receptors via CRF and immune mediators.
   • As a result, normal amounts of gas or normal intestinal contractions are perceived as sharp, stabbing, or cramping pain. This is a hallmark of functional GI disorders like IBS.
   • Stress hormones (especially CRF) can loosen tight junctions in the gut lining, increasing permeability (“leaky gut”) and triggering local immune activity and histamine release.
   • This low‑grade inflammation further sensitises nerve endings in the gut wall, amplifying pain from stretch and gas.

How this fits a TMS/psychophysiological view​

From a TMS or psychophysiological pain perspective:

• The primary driver is a non‑dangerous but over‑active threat response in the brain, often fueled by stress, perfectionism, health anxiety, or suppressed emotions.
• The gut is a common “output” because it’s densely innervated and highly responsive to stress hormones. Gas and normal motility become the physical “hook” that the brain uses to generate real pain.
• Structural tests are often normal because the problem is functional: normal physiology + sensitised nerves + threat state = pain.

Practical implications (brief)​

Mechanistically, reducing mind–body gas pain usually means:

• Calming the threat response (education, reassurance, TMS work, relaxation, paced breathing)
• Reducing air swallowing (slower eating, nasal/diaphragmatic breathing, managing panic)"

So spot on. I’m t

I asked my 'friend' Perplexity ai for you and it responded with the following (it's quite a long explanation because the mechanism is quite complex):

"In mind–body models (such as TMS/psychophysiological pain), intestinal “gas pain” is usually not caused by excess gas alone, but by a stress‑sensitive gut plus an over‑alert pain system. The brain and gut constantly talk via the gut–brain axis; when the nervous system is in a threat state, normal gut activity and normal amounts of gas can be interpreted as painful.

Core mechanism: brain–gut axis and threat response​

• The gut has its own nervous system (the enteric nervous system) that is tightly linked to the brain through the vagus nerve, spinal pathways, and stress hormones (the HPA axis).
• Psychological stress, anxiety, or strong emotions activate the “fight‑or‑flight” response, releasing CRF, cortisol, and adrenaline. These signals change gut function within minutes. (Corticotropin‑releasing factor, CRF is the brain’s main “stress alarm” chemical/hormone that kicks off the body’s stress response and directly affects the gut.)
• In this state, digestion is deprioritised: blood flow shifts away from the gut, motility becomes erratic (sometimes faster, sometimes slower), and secretions change. Food may move too slowly or too quickly, promoting fermentation and gas production.

How this creates “gas pain” specifically​

Several overlapping processes can make gas feel painful even when there’s no structural disease:

1. Altered motility and fermentation
   
   • Stress can slow parts of the intestine, so food sits longer and gut bacteria ferment it, producing more hydrogen, methane, and CO₂. This increases distension and pressure.
   • In other cases, stress speeds colonic transit, causing cramping and urgency with trapped pockets of gas.
2. Visceral hypersensitivity (sensitised pain pathways)
   • Chronic stress and anxiety: the nervous system over-amplifies ordinary gut sensations on gut pain pathways in the spinal cord and brain (central sensitisation) and sensitize local pain receptors via CRF and immune mediators.
   • As a result, normal amounts of gas or normal intestinal contractions are perceived as sharp, stabbing, or cramping pain. This is a hallmark of functional GI disorders like IBS.
   • Stress hormones (especially CRF) can loosen tight junctions in the gut lining, increasing permeability (“leaky gut”) and triggering local immune activity and histamine release.
   • This low‑grade inflammation further sensitises nerve endings in the gut wall, amplifying pain from stretch and gas.

How this fits a TMS/psychophysiological view​

From a TMS or psychophysiological pain perspective:

• The primary driver is a non‑dangerous but over‑active threat response in the brain, often fueled by stress, perfectionism, health anxiety, or suppressed emotions.
• The gut is a common “output” because it’s densely innervated and highly responsive to stress hormones. Gas and normal motility become the physical “hook” that the brain uses to generate real pain.
• Structural tests are often normal because the problem is functional: normal physiology + sensitised nerves + threat state = pain.

Practical implications (brief)​

Mechanistically, reducing mind–body gas pain usually means:

• Calming the threat response (education, reassurance, TMS work, relaxation, paced breathing)
• Reducing air swallowing (slower eating, nasal/diaphragmatic breathing, managing panic)"

I asked my 'friend' Perplexity ai for you and it responded with the following (it's quite a long explanation because the mechanism is quite complex):

"In mind–body models (such as TMS/psychophysiological pain), intestinal “gas pain” is usually not caused by excess gas alone, but by a stress‑sensitive gut plus an over‑alert pain system. The brain and gut constantly talk via the gut–brain axis; when the nervous system is in a threat state, normal gut activity and normal amounts of gas can be interpreted as painful.

Core mechanism: brain–gut axis and threat response​

• The gut has its own nervous system (the enteric nervous system) that is tightly linked to the brain through the vagus nerve, spinal pathways, and stress hormones (the HPA axis).
• Psychological stress, anxiety, or strong emotions activate the “fight‑or‑flight” response, releasing CRF, cortisol, and adrenaline. These signals change gut function within minutes. (Corticotropin‑releasing factor, CRF is the brain’s main “stress alarm” chemical/hormone that kicks off the body’s stress response and directly affects the gut.)
• In this state, digestion is deprioritised: blood flow shifts away from the gut, motility becomes erratic (sometimes faster, sometimes slower), and secretions change. Food may move too slowly or too quickly, promoting fermentation and gas production.

How this creates “gas pain” specifically​

Several overlapping processes can make gas feel painful even when there’s no structural disease:

1. Altered motility and fermentation
   
   • Stress can slow parts of the intestine, so food sits longer and gut bacteria ferment it, producing more hydrogen, methane, and CO₂. This increases distension and pressure.
   • In other cases, stress speeds colonic transit, causing cramping and urgency with trapped pockets of gas.
2. Visceral hypersensitivity (sensitised pain pathways)
   • Chronic stress and anxiety: the nervous system over-amplifies ordinary gut sensations on gut pain pathways in the spinal cord and brain (central sensitisation) and sensitize local pain receptors via CRF and immune mediators.
   • As a result, normal amounts of gas or normal intestinal contractions are perceived as sharp, stabbing, or cramping pain. This is a hallmark of functional GI disorders like IBS.
   • Stress hormones (especially CRF) can loosen tight junctions in the gut lining, increasing permeability (“leaky gut”) and triggering local immune activity and histamine release.
   • This low‑grade inflammation further sensitises nerve endings in the gut wall, amplifying pain from stretch and gas.

How this fits a TMS/psychophysiological view​

From a TMS or psychophysiological pain perspective:

• The primary driver is a non‑dangerous but over‑active threat response in the brain, often fueled by stress, perfectionism, health anxiety, or suppressed emotions.
• The gut is a common “output” because it’s densely innervated and highly responsive to stress hormones. Gas and normal motility become the physical “hook” that the brain uses to generate real pain.
• Structural tests are often normal because the problem is functional: normal physiology + sensitised nerves + threat state = pain.

Practical implications (brief)​

Mechanistically, reducing mind–body gas pain usually means:

• Calming the threat response (education, reassurance, TMS work, relaxation, paced breathing)
• Reducing air swallowing (slower eating, nasal/diaphragmatic breathing, managing panic)"

that is so spot on. I’m trying to get myself relaxed, went for a long walk, keep telling myself I’m safe per Howard Schubener, I journaled done this morning on why going on this trip is bothering so much. I don’t know how to release by suppressed emotions as I’m not sure I even know what they are

 

[BloodMoon]

I journaled done this morning on why going on this trip is bothering so much

It may be that you simply don't actually want to go on this trip. Dr Sarno told the story in one of his books about how he went on a road trip with his wife and the whole time he experienced gastric disturbance. Later he realised that he hadn't wanted to go on the trip; he only went on it because his wife wanted to go and he wanted to please her and not be the bad guy. On the surface it seemed like it was no big deal to be a nice guy and do the loving thing and accompanying his wife, but rightly or wrongly, his brain was actually angry about this.

Dr Sarno also said to counteract one's anger/rage (and thus lose TMS symptoms) all that might be required is to self-soothe more in order to 'balance' things out, so doing that could help you. There are lots of videos on YouTube that teach simple ways of doing this. This imo is a good one:

and my personal favourite channel for this kind of somatic approach is...

https://www.youtube.com/@SomaticSkillsWithEmily

Emily, whose channel it is, has just put up a video about releasing stress and tension:

 

[BinLA]

Traveler's IBS (etc) is super common. I just posted a recovery story in the success forum, but I'll still have a bit of stomach issue hanging around here and there - and one of the last hurdles for me was/is event-based... what I call "calendar" anxiety. I like to be left alone to do things on my time frame but life doesn't allow that lol.

I've had IBS since birth, really. So, rather than expect it to vanish when I recovered... I recognize that my brain and stomach-brain may still use it as a communication medium sometimes. It's just how I'm wired. Is it way better, yes! I eat nearly anything I want now... do what I want etc. But, getting my conscious mind to admit and recognize that this is just part of my sensitive wiring was a huge step towards reducing and normalizing it.

I've had multiple doctors explain to me that I "feel things more than other patients might." This means... when I had palpitations, I might be more *aware of them than someone else. (Which I initially thought was bullsh*t) Later, I had a GI doctor scope my stomach and tell me the same... that I was totally fine, but "felt" things more than the average person.

It is highly likely that your gas pains are *felt by you differently than they would be by someone else. This is part of our wiring with TMS. But, as we reduce the amount of danger we associate with the feelings... the pain subsides. It's crazy, it's like magic at times... but it really does.

My best results have come from doing my best to accept that it's there, and the knowing that it is not danger - rather, communication from a system trying to alert/protect me. Sounds like that's what yours may be doing. And the knowledge (as Sarno said) alone can help reduce the impact and for some - eliminate it.

 

[TrustIt]

Traveler's IBS (etc) is super common. I just posted a recovery story in the success forum, but I'll still have a bit of stomach issue hanging around here and there - and one of the last hurdles for me was/is event-based... what I call "calendar" anxiety. I like to be left alone to do things on my time frame but life doesn't allow that lol.

I've had IBS since birth, really. So, rather than expect it to vanish when I recovered... I recognize that my brain and stomach-brain may still use it as a communication medium sometimes. It's just how I'm wired. Is it way better, yes! I eat nearly anything I want now... do what I want etc. But, getting my conscious mind to admit and recognize that this is just part of my sensitive wiring was a huge step towards reducing and normalizing it.

I've had multiple doctors explain to me that I "feel things more than other patients might." This means... when I had palpitations, I might be more *aware of them than someone else. (Which I initially thought was bullsh*t) Later, I had a GI doctor scope my stomach and tell me the same... that I was totally fine, but "felt" things more than the average person.

It is highly likely that your gas pains are *felt by you differently than they would be by someone else. This is part of our wiring with TMS. But, as we reduce the amount of danger we associate with the feelings... the pain subsides. It's crazy, it's like magic at times... but it really does.

My best results have come from doing my best to accept that it's there, and the knowing that it is not danger - rather, communication from a system trying to alert/protect me. Sounds like that's what yours may be doing. And the knowledge (as Sarno said) alone can help reduce the impact and for some - eliminate it.

Calendar anxiety! Perfect term! I definitely have this. The anticipatory state I build up before we are supposed to have some company or are supposed to be somewhere or are responsible for something, and I take a deep dive. I've actually been feeling kind of selfish for a while because I really just want to be away from people.

 

[Y1958]

Hi! It's important to remember that your brain and TMS can impact basically every system in your body. So what causes gas? Well I'm no gastrointestinal expert but I imagine it's a combination of how you digest food (TMS can impact the digestive system) coupled with how the muscles are functioning (TMS can impact the muscular system). Assuming it's TMS, the theory and strategy are the same regardless of what the symptom is

Thank you for that

Traveler's IBS (etc) is super common. I just posted a recovery story in the success forum, but I'll still have a bit of stomach issue hanging around here and there - and one of the last hurdles for me was/is event-based... what I call "calendar" anxiety. I like to be left alone to do things on my time frame but life doesn't allow that lol.

I've had IBS since birth, really. So, rather than expect it to vanish when I recovered... I recognize that my brain and stomach-brain may still use it as a communication medium sometimes. It's just how I'm wired. Is it way better, yes! I eat nearly anything I want now... do what I want etc. But, getting my conscious mind to admit and recognize that this is just part of my sensitive wiring was a huge step towards reducing and normalizing it.

I've had multiple doctors explain to me that I "feel things more than other patients might." This means... when I had palpitations, I might be more *aware of them than someone else. (Which I initially thought was bullsh*t) Later, I had a GI doctor scope my stomach and tell me the same... that I was totally fine, but "felt" things more than the average person.

It is highly likely that your gas pains are *felt by you differently than they would be by someone else. This is part of our wiring with TMS. But, as we reduce the amount of danger we associate with the feelings... the pain subsides. It's crazy, it's like magic at times... but it really does.

My best results have come from doing my best to accept that it's there, and the knowing that it is not danger - rather, communication from a system trying to alert/protect me. Sounds like that's what yours may be doing. And the knowledge (as Sarno said) alone can help reduce the impact and for some - eliminate it.

ive been noticing patterns of when I post about my sensations the date and how it does correspond to events that are happening such as travel. I’m not a big traveller, don’t like to fly and am a homebody probably stemming from fact I grew up on a farm and as kids we never took vacations or went anywhere, always something to do on farm so I’m resigning myself to that’s what’s going on now as my vacation is nearing. They have also told me I have IBS but I mostly just have the gassiness and abdominal pain no bowel issues. I’m trying to convince myself I’m ok but my worrying hadn’t allowed it much. Thank you for your reply makes a lot of sense.

 

[TrustIt]

Calendar anxiety! Perfect term! I definitely have this. The anticipatory state I build up before we are supposed to have some company or are supposed to be somewhere or are responsible for something, and I take a deep dive. I've actually been feeling kind of selfish for a while because I really just want to be away from people. Also being more sensitive to normal body functions is definitely what keeps resonating with me as well.

 

[JanAtheCPA]

They have also told me I have IBS

And if you dissect the term IBS, what do you get? "Irritable Bowel Syndrome" . Which is not a real diagnosis that comprehends an actual pathological process - it's just words that describe the symptoms. The medical establishment came up with this phrase to make their patients feel like they were getting a diagnosis, but the truth about IBS, and many similar so-called "diagnoses", is that it has these components of the stress-based condition we call TMS:
1. There is no clear cause even after decades of research
2. There is no treatment that results in a cure
3. The only recommendations are to try to mitigate symptoms and "live with it"
4. Symptoms fluctuate and become worse with know stress triggers.

Look, this isn't your first round of symptoms - yet I don't really get a sense that you've seriously incorporated "the work" even though it's been brought up by and to you since you first joined. It occurs to me to point out a basic issue.

The primary condition that affects all TMSers is anxiety. Anxiety must be addressed methodically, mindfully, and perhaps even therapeutically. Without seriously attacking anxiety, relief from the physical manifestations of TMS will be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. Fortunately, unlike IBS, we absolutely do have effective treatments for anxiety.

The first thing I recommend is inexpensive and easy, which is reading the little book that has saved literally thousands of people worldwide since its publication in 1969: Hope and Help For Your Nerves, by Claire Weekes PhD.

Good luck.

 

[BinLA]

Calendar anxiety! Perfect term! I definitely have this. The anticipatory state I build up before we are supposed to have some company or are supposed to be somewhere or are responsible for something, and I take a deep dive. I've actually been feeling kind of selfish for a while because I really just want to be away from people.

My guess is you're generally an introvert? I am too. I'm not socially anxious. In fact I do fine in social settings. Better than many, but to me it's defined by whether events and social situations fill your gas tank? Or empty it? For me, high stimulation social settings empty my tank quickly... even when I enjoy them and I usually do once I'm there. Some of us are set up with nervous systems that feed off of the energy, and some of us are depleted by too much of it.

But, we have to do these things, right? So, it's about knowing yourself... knowing why your brain and body may react like this and setting up boundaries that make sense. Avoidance is bad, but so is having zero boundaries or self awareness of how our systems run.

This is one of the last frontiers for me honestly. And it just may be that events stress me out a bit forever. Oh well right? If the brain wants to fuss, we have to let it fuss. Sometimes we need to do what we need/want to do. Removing the danger is always the goal IMO.

 

[Y1958]

And if you dissect the term IBS, what do you get? "Irritable Bowel Syndrome" . Which is not a real diagnosis that comprehends an actual pathological process - it's just words that describe the symptoms. The medical establishment came up with this phrase to make their patients feel like they were getting a diagnosis, but the truth about IBS, and many similar so-called "diagnoses", is that it has these components of the stress-based condition we call TMS:
1. There is no clear cause even after decades of research
2. There is no treatment that results in a cure
3. The only recommendations are to try to mitigate symptoms and "live with it"
4. Symptoms fluctuate and become worse with know stress triggers.

Look, this isn't your first round of symptoms - yet I don't really get a sense that you've seriously incorporated "the work" even though it's been brought up by and to you since you first joined. It occurs to me to point out a basic issue.

The primary condition that affects all TMSers is anxiety. Anxiety must be addressed methodically, mindfully, and perhaps even therapeutically. Without seriously attacking anxiety, relief from the physical manifestations of TMS will be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. Fortunately, unlike IBS, we absolutely do have effective treatments for anxiety.

The first thing I recommend is inexpensive and easy, which is reading the little book that has saved literally thousands of people worldwide since its publication in 1969: Hope and Help For Your Nerves, by Claire Weekes PhD.

Good luck.

Thank you for your reply. In your opinion what would be the steps for doing the "work". I have read unlearn your pain and followed the assignments, have read the Divided Mind by Sarno, I have read Dan Buglio's and Alan Gordon's the Way out, have had the Curable App, read other books been on forums. I've watched U Tube videos, done mediation sessions, yoga, pilates, read Dr. Clarke's book and listen to podcasts. I have tried allowing my feelings but I think the root of my problem is I'm unaware of what that is, it might be a combination of a few things but I can't seem to figure out what my root issue is, rage, sorrow, guilt, anger??? I feel that is where I am stuck. I have journaled read Nicole Sachs books so I have all the tools and resources I'm still unsure of how to get to the root of what emotion or what my brain is trying to tell me. suggestions?? I do believe my upcoming trip is trigging this round of stress and issues, I want to go and I don't. I tell myself and my brain I'm ok and not in danger but the pain persists.

 

[Cactusflower]

“but I think the root of my problem is I'm unaware of what that is, it might be a combination of a few things but I can't seem to figure out what my root issue is, rage, sorrow, guilt, anger??? I feel that is where I am stuck.”

Have you ever seen Dr. Schubiners’ 5 F’s? “fix” is high on the list.
What I see in your above statement is that you still believe something is “wrong” with you and that it’s your responsibility to “fix” it.
This is a common thought pattern for people who visit this forum. What we now know about TMS is simple: that all humans (and sentient beings) have a mind/body connection. It’s normal. We all have feelings and emotions - often in layers and that is normal. We also know most of our brain works behind the scenes (meaning digging or archeological searching works for only about 10% of the brain). So in essence: there is nothing wrong with you! We also know the nervous system works best when balanced some of the time. TMS tips our nervous system scale to work overtime. Look into what tips your scale “in general”. You might find that some of it is uncertainty, not being perfect, not knowing everything, insecurity, anxiety etc. Digging and searching and overcoming TMS “perfectly” by knowing “it” all might actually be keeping you from accepting where you are in your TMS journey right now. From allowing the temporary struggle and from feeling the day to day emotions of the present.
Schubiners and others books don’t expect you to “solve” a TMS puzzle. They teach you to look at your truths, where those developed and to have compassion for how they show up for you now. To soften and to show you that you don’t need to pressure yourself into fixing anything, just to observe how it functions for you, and then move on with your day.

 

[Cactusflower]

“but I think the root of my problem is I'm unaware of what that is, it might be a combination of a few things but I can't seem to figure out what my root issue is, rage, sorrow, guilt, anger??? I feel that is where I am stuck.”

Have you ever seen Dr. Schubiners’ 5 F’s? “fix” is high on the list.
What I see in your above statement is that you still believe something is “wrong” with you and that it’s your responsibility to “fix” it.
This is a common thought pattern for people who visit this forum. What we now know about TMS is simple: that all humans (and sentient beings) have a mind/body connection. It’s normal. We all have feelings and emotions - often in layers and that is normal. We also know most of our brain works behind the scenes (meaning digging or archeological searching works for only about 10% of the brain). So in essence: there is nothing wrong with you! We also know the nervous system works best when balanced some of the time. TMS tips our nervous system scale to work overtime. Look into what tips your scale “in general”. You might find that some of it is uncertainty, not being perfect, not knowing everything, insecurity, anxiety etc. Digging and searching and overcoming TMS “perfectly” by knowing “it” all might actually be keeping you from accepting where you are in your TMS journey right now. From allowing the temporary struggle and from feeling the day to day emotions of the present.
Schubiners and others books don’t expect you to “solve” a TMS puzzle. They teach you to look at your truths, where those developed and to have compassion for how they show up for you now. To soften and to show you that you don’t need to pressure yourself into fixing anything, just to observe how it functions for you, and then move on with your day.

Oh, and FEELING emotions is a physical thing. It’s not the mental process of naming an emotion. Just lean into the subtle sensations of a hot face, a clenched jaw, a prickling behind the eyes. It can be very subtle.

 

[Y1958]

Oh, and FEELING emotions is a physical thing. It’s not the mental process of naming an emotion. Just lean into the subtle sensations of a hot face, a clenched jaw, a prickling behind the eyes. It can be very subtle.

Thank you, yes the "fixing" is in my DNA for sure. I do think I'm trying to fix my pain and in doing that trying to decipher which emotion or suppressed emotion is causing it and that looks like the wrong approach. I will try your other suggestions and see if that helps.

 

[TrustIt]

“but I think the root of my problem is I'm unaware of what that is, it might be a combination of a few things but I can't seem to figure out what my root issue is, rage, sorrow, guilt, anger??? I feel that is where I am stuck.”

Have you ever seen Dr. Schubiners’ 5 F’s? “fix” is high on the list.
What I see in your above statement is that you still believe something is “wrong” with you and that it’s your responsibility to “fix” it.
This is a common thought pattern for people who visit this forum. What we now know about TMS is simple: that all humans (and sentient beings) have a mind/body connection. It’s normal. We all have feelings and emotions - often in layers and that is normal. We also know most of our brain works behind the scenes (meaning digging or archeological searching works for only about 10% of the brain). So in essence: there is nothing wrong with you! We also know the nervous system works best when balanced some of the time. TMS tips our nervous system scale to work overtime. Look into what tips your scale “in general”. You might find that some of it is uncertainty, not being perfect, not knowing everything, insecurity, anxiety etc. Digging and searching and overcoming TMS “perfectly” by knowing “it” all might actually be keeping you from accepting where you are in your TMS journey right now. From allowing the temporary struggle and from feeling the day to day emotions of the present.
Schubiners and others books don’t expect you to “solve” a TMS puzzle. They teach you to look at your truths, where those developed and to have compassion for how they show up for you now. To soften and to show you that you don’t need to pressure yourself into fixing anything, just to observe how it functions for you, and then move on with your day.

I found that at the precise moment I am having a symptom of some sort... meaning the familiar feeling when the pain and frustration is highest... what is the emotion right then? Don't try looking for it in your head, which is another trick of the mind, but are you screaming at the symptom in that very moment? Looking at your face in a mirror is a good clue! When I felt the worst, I kept getting angry bc I couldn't "figure out" which emotion was at the root of the symptom, when I was literally expressing it! It's easy to intellectualize when we "know" what we are supposed to do, but that doesn't work in those moments. What are you ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING at that exact moment? It becomes funny when it finally dawns on you. Not so much, tho, when going thru it.
Next time a symptom raises its ugly head, look in a mirror...are you raging? Are you crying? THAT is the emoton you are looking for. Then start teaching your body that in spite of how it originally formed as protection, you will begin to see it is perfectly safe and indeed necessary to simply feel it until you are convinced it's not going to harm you. It's deep so it will likely take a little time and repetition. Hope this makes sense bc the realization of this is helping me tremendously already. Anger was certainly not tollerated in my house growing up so I had it logged as dangerous.

 

[TrustIt]

I found that at the precise moment I am having a symptom of some sort... meaning the familiar feeling when the pain and frustration is highest... what is the emotion right then? Don't try looking for it in your head, which is another trick of the mind, but are you screaming at the symptom in that very moment? Looking at your face in a mirror is a good clue! When I felt the worst, I kept getting angry bc I couldn't "figure out" which emotion was at the root of the symptom, when I was literally expressing it! It's easy to intellectualize when we "know" what we are supposed to do, but that doesn't work in those moments. What are you ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING at that exact moment? It becomes funny when it finally dawns on you. Not so much, tho, when going thru it.
Next time a symptom raises its ugly head, look in a mirror...are you raging? Are you crying? THAT is the emoton you are looking for. Then start teaching your body that in spite of how it originally formed as protection, you will begin to see it is perfectly safe and indeed necessary to simply feel it until you are convinced it's not going to harm you. It's deep so it will likely take a little time and repetition. Hope this makes sense bc the realization of this is helping me tremendously already. Anger was certainly not tollerated in my house growing up so I had it logged as dangerous. I realized that since I was taught that anger got me into big trouble, I had better not express it!!!

 

[Patty Cakes]

I am new to this pain processing work. put together the dots on a lot of of the trauma and frustration for the pain that I feel. But really what seem to help me a great deal is is understanding my personality and how that all intertwined itself with everything. I'm an INFJ personality and what may work for some people does not work for me. So even though I've begun this journey on trying to understand my pain, understanding your personality type and how you deal with different situations is incredibly important too. I know at least in my case it's been really helpful. I know sometimes people tell me to sit and relax and when I have 1 million things to do I just can't turn it off and sit there for for a day and not tend to what I need to and it just frustrates me even further. And I know my personality type has a lot to do with it.

 

[JanAtheCPA]

That's a very valid point, @Patty Cakes. Many of us here try to point out all the time that there is no one way to do this work because people are so different. The Myers-Briggs personality types are a legitimate tool for understanding the fact that there are significant differences in how individuals see and relate to the world and to the many different personality types it contains. Now I'm trying to remember my M-B type - I did that test sooo long ago when I was much younger. At the time I do think it was very helpful to understand myself and my relationship to others. INFP, maybe...? I've still got it somewhere in my paper archives.

 

[Patty Cakes]

I have TMJ pain and along with a Neuro plasticity which I'm just now learning about. I've become to look at these inner protectors and trying to understand them. The first one that popped up that was the most prevalent for me was the bracing one. Upon looking at that I realized that that was the one that that clenched that braced for everything and what I found out was that I was bracing over frustration. Frustration with my husband, frustration with a lot of things including some childhood trauma. So one day recently I had a Walmart order arrive and I was in pain previous to that. What ended up happening was half of my Walmart order got delivered and I was furious. So I called Walmart online and told him what happened and I said I'd like you to bring the rest of my order later today. That went over like a lead balloon. they told me I would have to re-order all the items again. I'm always one that gives a big tip so that they could put the stuff in my breezeway for me. Responded by telling me I should just take away the half of the tip. To which I replied, she delivered the order in good faith and I wasn't going to take the tip from her. And if I ordered it again I'd have to pay another tip, which wasn't fair to me. anyway this is where the personality part of it comes in to play because immediately I had to make it right, I had to figure it out. I had been going back-and-forth with an AI trying to figure out some of the pain and all of that. And what came back to me was just don't bother with it today. wait a couple of days and deal with it then. And I just said I can't do that I just can't. It would be mental anguish for me to do so. And and then it began to talk about my personality and then when I said it was INFJ, there was a lot more understanding about why I felt I had to get it accomplished that day and not wait two days. It would've been total mental anguish for me if I would've just sat in my chair, did nothing and just said oh well I'll call Walmart and get this all sorted out two days from now. So I think it's really important, at least for myself, to know my personality type, to know what drives me and what doesn't and to link it altogether. I had trauma as a child not being listened to and I dealt with 30 some odd years of a husband that never never listened. my voice was always silenced and that's where the bracing and the clenching came from. So I guess I just thought I'd share that for what it's worth but I think I think that piece of a puzzle learning your personality type and how it affects you and how you process things is a really important piece of it all. I'm so glad that I found this site because there are people that that truly understand what I'm going through.