• 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.

New ‘Unlearn your pain’

Further to the Dr Howard Schubiner 'fest' of videos that I posted links to above, I just watched this beauty (imo, of course) of him being interviewed by Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

A couple of little nuggets that I liked in the video are...

Dr Schubiner referred to mind-body symptoms as being alarms but couched it that the alarms are actually asking you if you're all right. He says:

"if when your brain gives you a pain or a fatigue or an anxiety sensation, it's also asking you a question. Are you okay? It's a protector. It's concerned about you. It's fearful. It's worried for you. It's reacting to some potential threat or harm, either emotional threat or harm or obvious potential physical harm. It's asking you the question, are you okay? And most people in chronic symptoms are saying, no, I'm not okay. I've got all these things wrong. I can't do this. I can't do that. My life is a shambles. I'm not okay. And this is changing that paradigm to say I actually am okay."...

Which brings me on to Dr Schubiner also saying that one of the ways we can tell the brain we are actually okay is through affirmations; he says they work. In his new book he writes this about them:

"affirmations can sound ridiculous, but they have been shown in an fMRI study of the brain to change the brain by reducing threat. There is also a series of research studies showing that affirmations have dramatic effects in people who were unsure of their abilities, such as women taking physics tests and under-resourced students in challenging academic settings."

 
BloodMoon said:
"if when your brain gives you a pain or a fatigue or an anxiety sensation, it's also asking you a question. Are you okay? It's a protector. It's concerned about you. It's fearful. It's worried for you. It's reacting to some potential threat or harm, either emotional threat or harm or obvious potential physical harm. It's asking you the question, are you okay? And most people in chronic symptoms are saying, no, I'm not okay. I've got all these things wrong. I can't do this. I can't do that. My life is a shambles. I'm not okay. And this is changing that paradigm to say I actually am okay."
Click to expand...
Love this!
 
I found Dr Schubiner's new book to have information very helpful to someone new to mind body work or someone like me, who has read most everything on the subject. He importantly backs up theory with actual footnotes of studies. I encourage everyone to read it.
No one has been more dedicated to mind body research and more generous with their personal time than Dr Schubiner.
 
I personally havent enjoyed this new unlearn your pain. I’m about a third of the way through and its been a drag. Usually i finish these type of books in a day or two but im not having luck.

I can see how for new tmsers this is all valuable information but after the millionth success story and endless neuroplasticity remarks id rather he just tells me what i CAN do.

Also i understand why he does it: to make women more confident that they have tms. But for me im in a boatload of shit and to keep reading how much worse women have it… Its not relevant to me at all. Like i understand that this does not affect me at all but having been at the receiving end of so much shenanigans I cant stand to hear how privileged i am once more. I’m not privileged im a trainwreck.

Once or twice ok but like every page is filled with it — goodness.

Yes i have a chip on my shoulder and this is misdirected aggression but i had an impossible sister and this oppression/privilege relationship just does not do it for me.

It would be like Schubiner constantly quoting asians as having more tms and being huge victims on every fucking page, its just so irrelevant. I have been pitted against women my entire life and i cant fucking stand the division anymore lets just all be equal and move on with our life please.
 
My entire life ive been made to feel like my problems are somehow not important and i am aware that im in dire need of a journaling session. I harbor so much hidden resentment.

I’ll update on the schubiner book when ive finished it

Someone should ask me about this brilliant profile post i was so mesmerized when i read it. Its Tolstoy:)

Its also so frustrating to keep reading about all the times ive already had tms in my life. I have tms. I an so sure about it and i want this to be over. Im fucking sick of it.


With how many forms of tms (including chronic fatigue and post infectious bullshit) ive had its a miracle that i didnt develop long covid. I got covid and i was so scared of long covid because it felt like the exact thing i would get.


The fact that I 100% have tms should be good news because ir means theoretically i can cure myself. God willing…
 
Last edited:
A few little nuggets from Schubiner's book that I liked and highlighted...

  • "Imagine taking the fear or anger toward the symptoms and gently placing it outside you, on the desk or sofa. Just softly let go of these unhelpful reactions. Then take a few breaths and see how that feels. Often, the sensation will change once fear or anger has lessened or maybe it will be unchanged. No matter. You’re okay either way."
  • "Paradoxical intention is a concept coined by Viktor Frankl, MD, the author of the classic Man’s Search for Meaning, about his experiences in Nazi concentration camps. Frankl has inspired millions of people by noting that the Nazis could control everything that happened to him, but they could not control his mind. After the war, the Austrian psychiatrist treated a patient who was so anxious when his boss appeared that he started sweating profusely. Dr. Frankl asked the patient to try to sweat as hard as he could the next time. When he did that, he found that he didn’t sweat at all. When you intend something, the brain often responds with the opposite. Paradoxical intention has been found to be a very powerful psychological intervention, yet it is rarely used."
  • "When I paid close attention to the pain, I noticed that it was always there when I moved, bent over, or walked. But it varied quite a bit and was inconsistent at times. I also noted that when I lay down, I had a burning feeling in my low back some of the time. This was unusual and was not likely due to diseased tissue, since I was at rest. I recognized that I hadn’t sustained a physical injury. However, I had sustained an emotional injury. My conclusion: This was neuroplastic pain." (Schubiner wrote this with regard to having been sacked from his long-term position at a particular hospital.)
EDIT: I should say that when Schubiner was sacked after many years of service, the main reason for this was that he wasn't making enough money for the hospital because he wasn't prescribing costly drugs or other treatments!

 
Last edited:
BloodMoon said:
  • "Paradoxical intention is a concept coined by Viktor Frankl, MD, the author of the classic Man’s Search for Meaning, about his experiences in Nazi concentration camps.
Click to expand...
I don't know how I missed hearing about this concept all these years. But I'm going to try it! Thanks for sharing.
 
Hey @Mani
I once felt very similar: "My entire life ive been made to feel like my problems are somehow not important and i am aware that im in dire need of a journaling session."

Your problems are important to YOU but nobody else lives in your head. They simply aren't high up on the list of other people. You'll need to kindly advocate for yourself to ask for what you need and perhaps your end goals. You want time, patience and unconditional support. Your goals are to finish your education and become a more independent person with a career and ultimately a family of your own.

Let them know. You might think they get it, but perhaps they don't.
 
Cactusflower said:
Hey @Mani
I once felt very similar: "My entire life ive been made to feel like my problems are somehow not important and i am aware that im in dire need of a journaling session."

Your problems are important to YOU but nobody else lives in your head. They simply aren't high up on the list of other people. You'll need to kindly advocate for yourself to ask for what you need and perhaps your end goals. You want time, patience and unconditional support. Your goals are to finish your education and become a more independent person with a career and ultimately a family of your own.

Let them know. You might think they get it, but perhaps they don't.
Click to expand...
I've always hated asking people for things. I’ve hated people doing anything for me. One morning I was lying in bed with a girl that i kind of fancied (we didnt have sex because im a pretentious christian and deeply insecure to go along with it). Ok so we just woke up and she wanted to make me breakfast and i got up as fast as i could to start making her breakfast cuz i couldnt stand having someone do shit like that for me. I still punch myself for this particular interaction i still physically cringe when i think of it. You should totally ask people to do stuff for you and allow them to do stuff for you and theyll like you more for it.

I was so stuck in my head and had a million problems. I was having fun though but im glad i can address these shortcomings. Still though I’ve been down for almost 2 years, *yikes*. I get flashbacks on my phone from 2 years ago of my solo trip to thailand. My life couldnt be any different. I really want to get better.

Sorry i just completely went on a rant for myself but i very much appreciate your comments.

This thread and the other one has gotten more traction than i was expecting and i love to hear from all of you. I didnt expect one of my rants to spark a conversation but im very glad it did.
 
BloodMoon said:
When you intend something, the brain often responds with the opposite. Paradoxical intention has been found to be a very powerful psychological intervention, yet it is rarely used.
Click to expand...
Fascinating! And powerful!
BloodMoon said:
Imagine taking the fear or anger toward the symptoms and gently placing it outside you, on the desk or sofa. Just softly let go of these unhelpful reactions. Then take a few breaths and see how that feels. Often, the sensation will change once fear or anger has lessened or maybe it will be unchanged. No matter. You’re okay either way."
Click to expand...
"No matter. You’re okay either way."
Also powerful. And very comforting.

Doctor Schu! :joyful:
 
Hey @rob89 I didnt want to hijack someone elses thread which is why im tagging you here but in curious as to why you came back here
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top