Looking for input for TMS book from layperson

[samthefish]

I have suffered from severe TMS since 1997, and recently thought I would put the symptoms "on trial" in a short story length memoir I wrote for myself. I found it very therapeutic to write this and was wondering if others would find it helpful. Recently my eyes finally "opened" and I would say the pain is 90% gone. I am entering therapy next week and hope that will help.

The premise of the book (my symptoms started in the Navy) is that the sailor, the afflicted, had unintentional crimes committed by well meaning practitioners giving him bad advice that didn't treat his underlying fear and anger. He finally sees a TMS doctor, who said "well these criminals are continuing to rob your body on a daily basis, I am also an JAG and can refer these for Courts-Martial. First talk to Lt. Pellegrino to see if you can catch the culprits and I'll bring them up on charges.

Lt. Pellegrino is a female therapist who over many sessions gathers evidence against the culprits, and the JAG officer sends them to Courts-Martial.

I don't want to spoil the story but it has a good ending!

 

[Volcano1963]

JAG

What is a JAG?

 

[samthefish]

Judge Advocate General - maybe i should write without the navy terms lol

 

[JanAtheCPA]

What is a JAG?

A Few Good Men, baby!

"You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!"

Very apropos for TMS!

I'd like to read it, @samthefish, and as a moderator, I am also curious about thoughts you've had about how you would make it available. Length/file size? On the forum or via private messaging or maybe Google docs?

 

[samthefish]

Ok, I can put it on branchwright for free - I'm thinking of publishing if it has good reviews. I don't want to make money would just put it on Amazon to get the word out and maybe pay for a professional illustrator. Standby for a link and let me know what you think.

 

[samthefish]

https://branchwright.itch.io/the-courts-martial-of-the-body (The Courts-Martial of the Body by Branchwright)

maybe I'll start a new thread. Once you read it please give it a plug if you like it!

 

[davidmurphy]

I have suffered from severe TMS since 1997, and recently thought I would put the symptoms "on trial" in a short story length memoir I wrote for myself. I found it very therapeutic to write this and was wondering if others would find it helpful. Recently my eyes finally "opened" and I would say the pain is 90% gone. I am entering therapy next week and hope that will help.

The premise of the book (my symptoms started in the Navy) is that the sailor, the afflicted, had unintentional crimes committed by well meaning practitioners giving him bad advice that didn't treat his underlying fear and anger. He finally sees a TMS doctor, who said "well these criminals are continuing to rob your body on a daily basis, I am also an JAG and can refer these for Courts-Martial. First talk to Lt. Pellegrino to see if you can catch the culprits and I'll bring them up on charges.

Lt. Pellegrino is a female therapist who over many sessions gathers evidence against the culprits, and the JAG officer sends them to Courts-Martial.

I don't want to spoil the story but it has a good ending!essay revision

Interesting concept for a memoir the courtroom framing is a pretty powerful metaphor for what a lot of people go through when they start questioning long-term pain narratives.

Good to hear you’re getting real relief too, that’s probably the most important part of it. Therapy should help you keep unpacking the anger/fear side without needing to turn it into “culprits,” but I get why that structure made it easier to write.