How do people deal with symptoms getting worse at the start and no progress in the first months?

[Mani]

I'm starting this journey again and the last time I tried, things just did not get better within a month which made me stop once i had too many other stressors. How do you lovely folks go about that?

 

[Rusty Red]

I'm back and forth on TMS, but giving it my best efforts again now. I try to frame the worsening of symptoms as a positive - it means my brain knows I'm on to it and it's fighting back. I didn't end up in pain in just a few days, all of this took a build up of years, so I tell myself it's not realistic to assume I'll be out of pain that quickly. There are people who have book cures and never look back, but that's more the exception anymore than the rule. More often than not, some end up back in pain because they never truly worked through the issues.

 

[BloodMoon]

I'm starting this journey again and the last time I tried, things just did not get better within a month which made me stop once i had too many other stressors. How do you lovely folks go about that?

By fostering an attitude of dogged determination to keep going. @Cactusflower suggested a plan to follow in her posting to you in this thread https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/seeking-guidance-for-hyperacusis.33075/#post-167893 and Cactus knows what she's talking about as she's gone from being bedridden with TMS symptoms to functioning really well.

Key Strategies for Persistence

• Commit to daily brain retraining exercises like journaling emotions, gentle movement (e.g., walking or stretches), and stress reduction techniques such as meditation or breathwork to build resilience against triggers.
  
• Accept fluctuations without fixating on timelines; focus on feeling emotions in real-time and resuming activities you enjoy to reinforce safety in your body.
  
• Offload stressors by simplifying life—say no to non-essentials, prioritize self-care, and use tools like expressive writing to process repressed feelings.
  

 

[Joulegirl]

You will not be able to put a timeframe on healing. In fact, that will guarantee that you will not heal if you keep watching the calendar. Both Bloodmoon and Cactus have given you excellent advice to start healing. Take baby steps and refuse to set a date on your healing! You can do this!

 

[Diana-M]

I didn't end up in pain in just a few days, all of this took a build up of years, so I tell myself it's not realistic to assume I'll be out of pain that quickly.

I agree with what Rusty says here.

 

[Cactusflower]

Thinking you could be “completely healed” in one month is a perfectionist mindset and it means you are probably being very hard on yourself if you set up such strict expectations.
Following the Structured Educational Program is 42 days which are the days you learn the skills to get better. It’s not the number of days until you are “well”.. it takes time for your brain to flip the switch and to accept what it is learning.
There are many reasons symptoms can get worse, which is very common - the brain simply resists you deciding on a new way to be.
For years you have used a set of habits to get through life, but that old way just isn’t working for you anymore. You have to work through your psychological stuff which takes time - that amount of time is unique to you. “Feel Better” psychologically before physically, some the symptoms just all go away as they resume life.. you can’t force it, you just need to go with whatever happens and have faith that it is happening and you are doing the right thing.

 

[Bonnard]

I'm starting this journey again and the last time I tried, things just did not get better within a month which made me stop once i had too many other stressors. How do you lovely folks go about that?

I think the issue gets forced because the symptoms get too hard to deal with/live with. Getting back to the TMS work often becomes the only real option.