How can I come to terms with TMS/MBS with such loud tinnitus?

[Mr. Wimbleton]

Hello, I am a 25-year-old who had recurring pain in my knees and back for several years. However, about six months ago, I started to develop tinnitus in my right ear. This started around an emotionally intense time, shortly after the death of my Cousin and the referendum in the UK which has made me nervous and uncertain about the future of my relationship (I currently live in Brazil with my partner and had plans to move there).

My girfriend also has chronic pain, and is treating it using the TMS method. She actually recommended Dr. Sarno's book to me, stating that my pain and tinnitus could be caused by TMS.

I originally thought it was caused by a severe bout if sinusitus that I developed around July. I went to an otolaryngologist who gave me nasal spray and took a look at my ears. He said they looked fine, and that some swelling behind the eardrum had gone down by my follow-up appointment. When I heard that ringing in the ears was also a symptom of TMS/MBS, I decided to begin the programme and see if it can be treated.

I'm only on day 4 of the programme, but have read Healing Back Pain, and more pieces on emotions and physical symptoms. Though the method is indeed helping me with my pain, the tinnitus is strong as ever, as is some swelling above my right eye which came around the same time as the sinus problems.

I'm terrified. I woke up at 3 am today with the loudest ringing I've had so far. All I can think of is the question that came to me: how can I completely accept the treatment with such loud ringing? Trying to deal with it by "talking" to the brain seems totally futile, as are the writing exercizes. I can't even stop for long enough to concentrate on the journaling exercizes without panicking.

Any help would be seriously appreciated right about now.

 

[Tennis Tom]

Daniel Lyman, a TMS therapist made some GREAT points in his post that I'll repeat :

Answer

* The honest truth: you actually don’t need 100% confidence to get better,

*... you just have to find a way to soothe your scared brain.

*... confidence reduces the symptoms ... because it is soothing to your brain to know that it’s just TMS and not something else going on (“a broken arm!” “A scary disease that no one has heard of!”).

* It’s nothing more than your brain acting up, and it will calm back down.

*If you’re able to soothe your brain even while experiencing symptoms, then you actually don’t need that confidence.

* It may take longer, and a bit more work...

* As long as you’re able to soothe yourself (even if you’re not 100% confident in the diagnosis), then you can overcome the symptoms.

* Your symptoms are just your brain’s way of saying “I’m scared.”

* And the only way to not be scared is to comfort yourself!

* Most of us that develop TMS are not very good at comforting ourselves, so we have to make a conscious effort to practice it.

* It’s important to be confident in the diagnosis, but it’s equally important to take care of yourself and try and comfort your brain.

* Do that and your symptoms will decrease.

---

Any advice or information provided here does not and is not intended to be and should not be taken to constitute specific professional or psychological advice given to any group or individual. This general advice is provided with the guidance that any person who believes that they may be suffering from any medical, psychological, or mindbody condition should seek professional advice from a qualified, registered/licensed physician and/or psychotherapist who has the opportunity to meet with the patient, take a history, possibly examine the patient, review medical and/or mental health records, and provide specific advice and/or treatment based on their experience diagnosing and treating that condition or range of conditions. No general advice provided here should be taken to replace or in any way contradict advice provided by a qualified, registered/licensed physician and/or psychotherapist who has the opportunity to meet with the patient, take a history, possibly examine the patient, review medical and/or mental health records, and provide specific advice and/or treatment based on their experience diagnosing and treating that condition or range of conditions.

The general advice and information provided in this format is for informational purposes only and cannot serve as a way to screen for, identify, or diagnose depression, anxiety, or other psychological conditions. If you feel you may be suffering from any of these conditions please contact a licensed mental health practitioner for an in-person consultation.

Questions may be edited for brevity and/or readability.

Also do a "SEARCH" here and at the TMS Help site for your symptom and you will find many threads about it and that it can very well be TMS.

 

[Mermaid]

I don't mean to sound flippant, I have occasional bad tinnitus so I know how awful it can be. This might sound silly but have you tried telling it to "Shut the f**k up, I'm not listening to you so p**s off!!" Lose the fear, lose the symptom, basic but true.