• Alan has completed the new Pain Recovery Program. To read or share it, use this updated link: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/painrecovery/
  • Welcome to the new TMS Wiki server! Things aren't finished yet: email is not set up, so notification and password-reset emails don't go out, and new registrations are paused until email is installed. Details and updates are in this thread (click here). Locked out? Email tmswikisignups@gmail.com from the address where you receive TMS Wiki notifications.

Day 42 Last day of SEP but continuing the journey

B

berlinale

Peer Supporter
hi all,

I just want to report that I have finished the SEP at the weekend. I have learned a lot during this time and I am so grateful for all the support that you provided for me. This is really an amazing place and I am really happy I found you all. Thanks again a lot to all of you!

I am a bit disappointed though that I have to report that I have not really improved since starting the work 3 months ago. I try to stay positive and do not care about the outcome but I have to admit that I still struggle with it from time to time. There are good times and there are bad times.

Nevertheless I will not give up, continue the TMS work and stay around. I am currently reading the Self Compassion Workbook by Kerstin Neff and the next book I want to read is Feeling Great by David Burns. I also use the Curable App and do daily meditations. I will continue to stop by here every day as well and get your valuable insights . I have reduced the journaling exercises at the moment as I feel I have journaled already about erverything and I am fully aware of all my “problems”.

I hope I will be able to report some more positive news soon. See you around!
 
berlinale said:
next book I want to read is Feeling Great by David Burns.
Click to expand...
So glad you’re going to stick around! Don’t worry if you still have more symptoms it’s going to get better. Everybody has a different time frame. This book by David Burns, you’re going to love! I read the one he wrote before this called, Feeling Good. It has had the biggest impact on me! I was able to make huge corrections in the way I think. And how you think is what causes you to feel certain ways.

At any rate, Journaling can be helpful just to vent your daily junk onto a piece of paper. It doesn’t have to be a digging expedition. I noticed when I started writing every day just to unload things it really has helped.

Congrats on finishing the SEP!!! That’s a big achievement!
 
Diana-M said:
So glad you’re going to stick around! Don’t worry if you still have more symptoms it’s going to get better. Everybody has a different time frame. This book by David Burns, you’re going to love! I read the one he wrote before this called, Feeling Good. It has had the biggest impact on me! I was able to make huge corrections in the way I think. And how you think is what causes you to feel certain ways.

At any rate, Journaling can be helpful just to vent your daily junk onto a piece of paper. It doesn’t have to be a digging expedition. I noticed when I started writing every day just to unload things it really has helped.

Congrats on finishing the SEP!!! That’s a big achievement!
Click to expand...

thanks a lot; Diana. I actually bought the book Feeling Great based on your recommendation of Feeling Good. :-)
 
berlinale said:
thanks a lot; Diana. I actually bought the book Feeling Great based on your recommendation of Feeling Good. :)
Click to expand...
Yay!!!!! Let me know what you think! I took his homework seriously, and for the last three months every day, I analyze my thinking according to how he teaches. And I think that’s what really did the trick.
 
Do you like Curable? I bought a year membership and then realized after a few days it just wasn't for me. My OCD personality really likes having a specific plan to follow, hence what drew me to the SEP. To a lesser extent, even doing Nicole's JournalSpeak and meditation still tells me every day I have to do these two things. I didn't like "picking" what I had to do each day for Curable!

Congrats on finishing SEP!
 
Congratulations, @berlinale!

The SEP forms the basis of your self-knowledge and the tools you need to keep going and keep improving. It's like any skill or knowledge that you learn - there are the basics, and then there is the daily experience, the new challenges, the application of what you've learned, adding new skills, abandoning ones that don't really work for you, and gradually getting better all the time.

I look back on when I decided that I wanted to be an accountant, with my bachelor's degree in theater and a small amount of office experience. I spent two years earning a master's degree in business, spent four months studying for the 2-1/2 day CPA exam, and spent two more years in apprenticeship before finally earning my professional license - yet I still had SO much to learn when I decided three years later to start my own tax practice. Like someone finishing the SEP, or like any new life skill that we apply ourselves to, the new skills I needed came with more education, practice, mistakes, practice, accountability, more practice - and Time.

Diana-M said:
At any rate, Journaling can be helpful just to vent your daily junk onto a piece of paper. It doesn’t have to be a digging expedition. I noticed when I started writing every day just to unload things it really has helped.
Click to expand...
It really can be this simple. I recall reading about a university research study in which a group of students were asked to simply list the things they did that day along with things that worried or bothered them. Just a list, no deep diving. I can't remember what the control group did (something like breathing techniques maybe) but the list group reported significantly less anxiety within a short period of time.

I also like to write down at least one thing from my day that brought me pleasure, no matter how small or simple. Or else, one thing I accomplished that made me feel good about myself. Finding both is awesome.
 
JanAtheCPA said:
It really can be this simple. I recall reading about a university research study in which a group of students were asked to simply list the things they did that day along with things that worried or bothered them. Just a list, no deep diving. I can't remember what the control group did (something like breathing techniques maybe) but the list group reported significantly less anxiety within a short period of time.

I also like to write down at least one thing from my day that brought me pleasure, no matter how small or simple. Or else, one thing I accomplished that made me feel good about myself. Finding both is awesome.
Click to expand...

So much yes to this!!
 
Diana-M said:
This is a fun little lesser known detail about you, Jan!
Click to expand...
You bet it is!:p I was, however, a lighting technician and designer. So the numbers and the techno nerdy stuff actually fit with accounting, especially tax accounting.
 
Rusty Red said:
Do you like Curable? I bought a year membership and then realized after a few days it just wasn't for me. My OCD personality really likes having a specific plan to follow, hence what drew me to the SEP. To a lesser extent, even doing Nicole's JournalSpeak and meditation still tells me every day I have to do these two things. I didn't like "picking" what I had to do each day for Curable!

Congrats on finishing SEP!
Click to expand...

Hi Rusty. I also do not like the fact that I have to pick something. I would strongly prefer that the app would propose specific exercises for each day based on what I have done the previous days, my actual mood etc.. Nevertheless, the exercises itself are quite good and since I also paid for an annual membership I am continuing to use the app. I mainly use the meditations now and sometimes repeat an educational exercise. I guess I would not pay again for the app but I do not regret to have paid either.
 
JanAtheCPA said:
Congratulations, @berlinale!

The SEP forms the basis of your self-knowledge and the tools you need to keep going and keep improving. It's like any skill or knowledge that you learn - there are the basics, and then there is the daily experience, the new challenges, the application of what you've learned, adding new skills, abandoning ones that don't really work for you, and gradually getting better all the time.

I look back on when I decided that I wanted to be an accountant, with my bachelor's degree in theater and a small amount of office experience. I spent two years earning a master's degree in business, spent four months studying for the 2-1/2 day CPA exam, and spent two more years in apprenticeship before finally earning my professional license - yet I still had SO much to learn when I decided three years later to start my own tax practice. Like someone finishing the SEP, or like any new life skill that we apply ourselves to, the new skills I needed came with more education, practice, mistakes, practice, accountability, more practice - and Time.


It really can be this simple. I recall reading about a university research study in which a group of students were asked to simply list the things they did that day along with things that worried or bothered them. Just a list, no deep diving. I can't remember what the control group did (something like breathing techniques maybe) but the list group reported significantly less anxiety within a short period of time.

I also like to write down at least one thing from my day that brought me pleasure, no matter how small or simple. Or else, one thing I accomplished that made me feel good about myself. Finding both is awesome.
Click to expand...


thanks a lot, Jan. I will definitely try to incorporate the habit into my day. I guess writing down is much more effective than just thinking about it before you go to bed etc., right?
 
berlinale said:
I guess writing down is much more effective than just thinking about it before you go to bed etc., right?
Click to expand...
That's what all the experts say! As with everything in this work, it's a generalization. It might also work to engage in a meditation in which you contemplate your day. Go back to the paper and pen during times of additional stress.
 
JanAtheCPA said:
That's what all the experts say! As with everything in this work, it's a generalization. It might also work to engage in a meditation in which you contemplate your day. Go back to the paper and pen during times of additional stress.
Click to expand...
Dr. Hanscom cites 3000 studies That have verified That journaling is good for your well-being and mental health and physical health.
 
feduccini said:
Hi Berlinale. Just to point out you have improved. It just didn't come in the form of great symptoms reduction, but your brain might have changed a lot and you are 3 months closer to healing now.
Click to expand...
oh my goodness yes yes yes!!! I am so keenly aware that you have to heal the inside first before the outside will heal. there’s a lot of work to do in the background before the physical participates. I feel like I needed to improve self-esteem so I would allow myself to heal. You should not underestimate the internal work you’ve done at all! it’s all counted for progress!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top