Overcoming Fear of a Structural Diagnosis

[Forest]

A lot of people who are just starting out struggle with overcoming fear that they have a structural problem. However, learning how to do this is imperative in order to recover. Below is a old article in the Q&A with an Expert program answered by TMS therapist Audrey Berdeski. You can also find the article at http://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/Q&A:_Overcoming_fear_of_a_structural_diagnosis

I can't get the structural diagnosis out of my head. What do you suggest to help me overcome this problem?

Your mind is very cleverly disguising the TMS pain by having it show up where there is a structural abnormality. You now need to bring reason to the process by applying conscious thought processes to influence the unconscious mind. Begin to think about the anger and rage, instead of the physical pain. Thinking about the rage is what is required for the unconscious mind to let go of its attempt at distracting you from the rage, and manifesting TMS in your body.

Talking to your unconscious mind, telling it you know what its doing and you know the physical pain is a distraction from the repressed rage, and you are not going to be diverted and intimidated by it any longer. Try to remember that as the pain begins to decrease, because there is the possibility that TMS may target another site in your body where you have a normal abnormality--and then you will repeat the process. Journaling, fast writing, and meditation, are all ways of getting in touch with the anger and rage. Dr. Sarno says that for some people simply focusing attention from the physical to the psychological will be their cure.

For more info on Audrey Berkeski check out her Survey Response Form.

 

[Lori]

It is true that your pain may not be due to a structural diagnosis. I was told I had sciatica, degenerative disc disease, and 2 largely herniated discs. Scary. I learned about Dr. Sarno and felt hopeful that I would be one of those healed. I also read Dr. Weil's Spontaneous Healing and was impressed by the story of the person who had multiple shattered discs and no longer had back pain after seeing Dr. Sarno. Those shattered discs surely sounded worse than anything I had!

So those are truly structural issues, but were not the cause of physical pain.