I realized it was gone...

Hi friends, I wanted to share an update. I devoured the structured educational program a few months ago and while I was very much into the content, I dropped off the forum/wiki for a while. I had been dealing with acute back pain for over 3 years coming back in acute episodes making it extremely difficult to bend over and lift my daughter from her crib. I explored more on the topic by reading Alan Gordon's "The Way Out" and doing a self-compassion workbook from Kristin Neff. I felt so confident that my symptoms were TMS that I gained courage to stop my back pain specific exercise program and start doing exercise that I really had loved before. For a little while my symptoms moved from my back to my left shoulder. And now even that is infrequent. I've only had one moment in the last two months when I went to pick up my baby at night where the back pain surfaced for a brief moment but in my mind I went "Oh that's interesting, haven't seen you for a while, I'm gonna be just fine and I'm going back to bed". It didn't come back. I think the biggest thing has been my attitude change toward the pain. I feel capable of the sensations my body can feel and I don't feel scared about them. I understand that my emotional state is worth attending to. I am beyond grateful I stumbled upon this dedicated community and I wish more people could discover it too. I now exercise the way I want to, lift my daughter every day, and have the blessed discovery that the pain that took up so much of my attention gradually just faded away from importance. What a gift to have.

 

You have just summarised the healing process perfectly in three sentences (put this up in lights). Less fear in the body (knowing there's nothing wrong), replaced with attending to your emotional state which you feel is worth it. Congratulations!