Hi - I'm starting to do this work with a little more attention - I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia a few years ago which at last explained more than 5 decades of chronic pain that started as a little kid. When I was 17 I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis - purely by symptoms because the blood tests were negative. After that I struggled for years with intermittent chronic fatigue, tendonitis in my wrists, ankles and arms, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, chronic stomach issues - the list really does go on, so I will spare you. 
In between, though, I would also have stretches of good health and incredible energy - it was sort of like a physical form of manic depression.
When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I suddenly had an explanation as to why there were so many different symptoms and no blood tests or injuries that corroborated or explained what was going on. Unfortunately, I was also told that there was no cure and that I would probably have to be on strong antidepressants to help deal with the pain and sleeplessness. I started to research fibromyalgia and saw that it was related to trauma and fight or flight. I had already been in therapy with a wonderful therapist for several years - and for her, there was no problem that was not solvable. I decided to take that attitude with me. One sleepless, painful night I was scrolling online for alternative therapies for fibromyalgia and that's when I stumbled on a YouTube lecture by Howard Shubiner. It was instant recognition for me - and once I knew about it, I felt better almost instantly. I figured I was cured!
I did a little bit of work on Curable. I listened to some lectures. I did a couple of journal entries and I started to change the language in my head - substituting positive messages for negative ones and telling myself that pain was no big deal. After that, I just stopped working on it and for the most part I felt better.
But during the last three years I've been dealing with so much stress (death of a brother, then death of a long-time partner, moving from my home and community to be close to my mom, lots of other stressors - both good and bad) - and suddenly I was getting sick a lot and having all this old, terrifying thoughts. I literally forgot about TMS in a pretty fundamental way. More accurately - I was suffering from some different symptoms, new pains - my brain had cleverly figured out how to bypass my defenses.
It has taken me close to a year to realize that the only way out of this is to go through the program. So here I am.
In between, though, I would also have stretches of good health and incredible energy - it was sort of like a physical form of manic depression. When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I suddenly had an explanation as to why there were so many different symptoms and no blood tests or injuries that corroborated or explained what was going on. Unfortunately, I was also told that there was no cure and that I would probably have to be on strong antidepressants to help deal with the pain and sleeplessness. I started to research fibromyalgia and saw that it was related to trauma and fight or flight. I had already been in therapy with a wonderful therapist for several years - and for her, there was no problem that was not solvable. I decided to take that attitude with me. One sleepless, painful night I was scrolling online for alternative therapies for fibromyalgia and that's when I stumbled on a YouTube lecture by Howard Shubiner. It was instant recognition for me - and once I knew about it, I felt better almost instantly. I figured I was cured!
I did a little bit of work on Curable. I listened to some lectures. I did a couple of journal entries and I started to change the language in my head - substituting positive messages for negative ones and telling myself that pain was no big deal. After that, I just stopped working on it and for the most part I felt better.
But during the last three years I've been dealing with so much stress (death of a brother, then death of a long-time partner, moving from my home and community to be close to my mom, lots of other stressors - both good and bad) - and suddenly I was getting sick a lot and having all this old, terrifying thoughts. I literally forgot about TMS in a pretty fundamental way. More accurately - I was suffering from some different symptoms, new pains - my brain had cleverly figured out how to bypass my defenses.
It has taken me close to a year to realize that the only way out of this is to go through the program. So here I am.
