I know I’ve only been practicing this for a short time—trying to live my life and not respond to sym

I know I’ve only been practicing this for a short time—trying to live my life and not respond to symptoms with fear. I do what I can: I breathe, I remind myself that I’m safe. Sometimes it feels like that’s all I’m doing, and I wonder if it’s enough.
At the core, doesn’t this work revolve around fear and pain? The idea that each time we don’t react with fear to symptoms, we weaken that learned connection, and the brain gradually understands that there is no real emergency. I understand that intellectually, but emotionally it can be very hard.
I know I have central sensitization, and that’s discouraging at times. I don’t fully understand why some people experience one main symptom that moves around and then settles, while others—like me—feel overwhelmed by many symptoms at once. Some seem to have very localized symptoms, while others have symptoms that are widespread and constantly changing.
I know these thoughts don’t really solve anything, but I still wonder: does this path truly lead to improvement? I’ve seen a few people who seem to have improved, but it often appears to take years. Even then, it sometimes feels like the brain never fully gets the message that the danger has passed and that it no longer needs to keep producing symptoms.
It seems that for some people, the brain accepts the message more easily and returns closer to normal, with relapses being rare or situational. For others, symptoms keep changing, substituting each other, and never fully settling. In my case, the symptoms are always present—especially in my arms and body—only their form changes. Today, for example, is a difficult day, and the heat certainly doesn’t help.
What I really want to know is whether, even if the process is slow, this work leads to real improvement. When did improvement begin for you? Did your symptoms gradually become less frightening or less intense? Did you reach a point where they felt more manageable, even if they didn’t disappear completely?
I’ve read stories of people who went from severe, overwhelming symptoms to a stage where the symptoms were still there but no longer as threatening—almost as if the brain’s fear threshold slowly lowered. I know recovery isn’t the same for everyone, but I’m curious whether those who have been here longer experienced that kind of shift.
For those with more time in this process: did you move from intense, disabling symptoms to something more manageable, less frequent, or even almost absent? Did the symptoms space themselves out over time? All brains are plastic, but it seems that some take longer to relearn safety than others.
I often read other people’s stories because seeing progress in others brings hope, yet many people don’t share updates. I also believe there’s an important difference between having one localized symptom and having multiple, widespread symptoms. Those of us with many symptoms often deal with central sensitization, which feels like a different experience altogether.
I know a few people who are working through this alongside me, and I’m also aware of people who recovered from neuropathic and multiple symptoms. Their message—that living is about being happy without obsession or fear—makes sense, but it can feel very distant when symptoms are severe and present almost daily.