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Day 2 Ick

Discussion in 'Structured Educational Program' started by Cara, Jul 19, 2016.

  1. Cara

    Cara Peer Supporter

    I wasn't sure what I was going to journal about. As I did, though, I felt pretty icky. Please tell me that focusing on what makes me feel so terrible (and it's not like abuse or anything like that) is going to help. It's not repressed stuff, really. I know it's there. I just don't have any solutions for it and it makes me feel horrible.
     
  2. plum

    plum Beloved Grand Eagle

    Then leave it be. There is no need to focus on the bad stuff. Journalling helps some people work through their emotions and make connections between their pain and their feelings but it doesn't work for everyone. You can journal about good things and focus on that instead if you like.

    TMS healing is very much about getting to know ourselves better and learning how to relax into being who we are.

    Hope this helps a bit Cara.
     
    hecate105 likes this.
  3. Ellen

    Ellen Beloved Grand Eagle

    I think there is some value in looking at the icky stuff and just sitting with it awhile. It's demonstrating to our unconscious brain that we aren't afraid of the bad stuff, and therefore there is no need to repress it.

    But don't dwell on it. Just sit with it awhile and tell yourself "I ain't afraid of no icky stuff" :)
     
    plum likes this.
  4. plum

    plum Beloved Grand Eagle

    Cara,

    I love this advice from Ellen. You can also come back to icky stuff later, once you feel you've made some progress. It gets easier with time to face all manner of things but in the beginning it can be a challenge. Ellen's suggestion to simply sit with it is excellent in this regard.
     
  5. Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021)

    Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021) Beloved Grand Eagle

    Hi, Cara. I totally agree with Plum. I found it counter-productive in TMS healing to dwell on the repressed emotions. I journaled and found them, from my boyhood, and my subconscious must have been satisfied because my back pain stopped. I mentally forgave those who caused me stress (they were long dead), then I focused on the positive... the good things in my life. They're in yours, I'm sure.

    It helps to clear the mind of anything stressful by practicing meditation. The Relaxation Response really works for me.

    Meditation is a time-honored way of relaxing the mind and relieving anxiety, mental stress, headaches, and even physical pain. There are many ways to practice meditation, but many consider the most successful to be a technique called the Relaxation Response (RR).

    It is a wonderful way to practice TMS Mindbody Healing because it changes harmful thinking in the subconscious mind which Dr. John Sarno says causes pain that is not caused by anything structural.

    The RR, practiced once or twice a day for 10, 15, or 20 minutes has a profound positive effect on the subconscious mind, relieving or curing everything from anxiety, hypertension, headaches, fatigue, nervousness, dizziness, high blood pressure, insomnia, stomach problems, all forms of pain including backaches, abdominal pain, muscle pain, neck, arm, and leg pain, and relieves side affects from cancer and AIDS.

    RR is like Transcendental Meditation which is taught by TM specialists who charge hundreds or thousands of dollars. But the RR is free and you can do it yourself.

    It is practiced, before a meal, and works best if not practiced within two hours after a meal. I do it in bed before arising in the morning and again in bed before falling sleep. Often, I only do it 5 or 10 minutes and it works to calm me and put me to sleep.
    I also do it before getting out of bed in the morning.

    Just sit in a chair (or lie in bed in the morning or at bedtime), close your eyes, don’t listen to any music, and try to avoid outside noises. Let your mind think of a word such as

    "One " which has no real meaning or association. Or say a calming word such as “Calm” or “Peace,” or add the faith or spiritual element by saying a favorite religious word or prayer. Breathe naturally or incorporate Deep Breathing by breathing in through the mouth to inflate the stomach, suck in the stomach while holding the breath for a few seconds, then say the word when you exhale through the mouth.

    Say the word silently over and over. At the end of the 10 to 20 minutes, picture and feel yourself as you were when you felt your best, and in a place where you felt that way.

    When distracting thoughts arise during the RR, as they will, just tell yourself, “Oh, well,” and go back to repeating your chosen word.

    My "word" is a prayer: "God loves me and is protecting me." I say it a few times and go right to sleep. If my mind wanders onto other things, I tell myself"Oh, well," and repeat my mantra silently while deep breathing.

    There are several free videos on Youtube about the Relaxation Response. I especially recommend these two by Dr. Benson:





    and this one which can put you to sleep:



    and

     
  6. Cara

    Cara Peer Supporter

    Thank you so much, Walt! I have long thought I should learn to meditate, but all of my attempts have been spectacularly unsuccessful, and then, to be honest, I just quit and said, "I can't meditate." I have known this was a cop-out, but it never becomes as much of a priority as other things. One thing that occurred to me as I've been thinking about TMS is that it could be a good thing for me in so many ways. If I can get rid of pain and get back to exercise that would be an obvious benefit, but maybe it will be better to have TMS than if I never had pain at all because it will serve as a bodily reminder to make time for peace. I will watch these videos and give RR a better try than my half-hearted attempts to sit and be quiet in the past.
     

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