Day 15 Lack of Symptom Shifting

[wellnessBound]

So far, the program hasn't seemed to do much for my fatigue.

Reading Hope and Help for your Nerves has provided some temporary relief to my gastrointestinal issues, but my fatigue hasn't improved at all since I began the program. I'm going to continue with it, because I do genuinely believe that TMS is real, but this does introduce doubt as to whether I specifically have TMS.

Considering the majority of TMS sufferers experience chronic pain rather than chronic fatigue, I do wonder whether there's a difference in how the symptom imperative behaves for those with symptoms other than chronic pain.

 

[dlane2530]

SO many TMS sufferers experience serious fatigue. Don't be tricked by your TMS brain!

 

[JanAtheCPA]

I do wonder whether there's a difference in how the symptom imperative behaves for those with symptoms other than chronic pain

No. The differences in experiences are influenced by the amount of internal repression, emotional conflict, and childhood adversity that an individual is suffering from.

Have you come across references to the "ACEs" questionnaire? It's helpful for seeing what you might be actually dealing with. To be effective, you have to answer the questions from the point of view of yourself as a very young child. It's only ten yes-or-no questions. Access it from this thread: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/aces-quiz-online-printable-versions.27061 (ACEs "quiz" - online & printable versions)

 

[JanAtheCPA]

So far, the program hasn't seemed to do much for my fatigue.

In addition to doing the ACEs questions, you need to figure out how to let go of any rigid expectations you have about your progress. Progress is different for everyone. There is no straight path. There are no black and white expectations. There is no set timeline. Watching the calendar is practically guaranteed to impede progress.

Outcome Independence is a key concept here (an auto-link should attach to that phrase).

Progress occurs when you are emotionally vulnerable to the work - this means being completely honest and facing things you would rather avoid when you are completing the suggested exercises. Those who are able to be open and vulnerable to the work frequently experience wild fluctuations in symptoms, or experience new ones, or re-experience old ones. It's scary, but it's actually a sign of progress.

this does introduce doubt as to whether I specifically have TMS.

Doubt is the #1 weapon in the arsenal of the TMS brain mechanism. This IS your brain on TMS.

If your brain is in control and encouraging you to avoid anything which makes you uncomfortable or fearful, you're more likely to just keep experiencing your status quo even as you convince yourself that you're doing the work. It's certainly possible to complete the program by skating across the surface. It's educational, but not life-changing. You have to break through and plunge into the icy water to make real change.