Please Help: Potential Returned of MBS after Being Healed

Hi everyone,

I am 25/M, I've always been physically active (into running and HIIT) and passionate about my work and business. I still need to work on managing stress, personality traits, but overall, life has been okay despite all the ups and downs until this latest round of MBS! (Please excuse my English as I am not a native speaker). I am not sure this is the right sub to share my story and seek for questions.

Success Story 1.0 (2022 - 2024)

I was delighted to overcome the first round of mindbody syndrome, which started in November 2022 after a stressful period (switching to a high finance job, surgery, moving, etc.). I experienced the following symptoms: burning and pain in the scrotum, burning / tingling foot, sciatica-like symptoms, and tension in my hip. It all happened on the right side.

In early 2024, I was able to come across the masterpieces by Alan Gordon and Dr. Howard Schubiner, "The Way Out" and "Unlearn Your Pain", which I was able to make a complete turnaround of all my symptoms and regain my life within 4 - 5 months of actively using the strategies suggested in those books. I was able to get back to work, see friends, travel, and live life to the fullest. This journey taught me to set clear boundaries and respect myself even more.

Here are the simple, but core components that led to a full recovery that took away nearly 1.5 years of my life:

1. Education / Evidence - understanding that the sensations are very real, but it was activated by the danger neural circuit in the brain because it perceived that I was in danger from the initial stress. It was the fear and focus reactions to the sensations that kept the circuit from deactivating. I also created an evidence sheet to reinforce belief, which was very helpful.
2. Outcome independence - Re-engaging and re-living my life despite the sensations, knowing that my body was safe to be re-engaged in all activities. It was hard to rewire my brain at first, but gradually I felt more confident in my body and expanded my world.
3. Expressive therapy - it was not the major component, but it helped me to learn how to be more expressive of my emotions via journaling/communication. I was able to learn more about my repressed emotions, but re-engaging in life despite the sensations was what helped me to get through it.

New Journey in Early 2025

During mid-January 2025, I started an extreme diet regimen for 4 weeks, including a strict calorie deficit of 1,000 - 1,100 per day for 2 weeks and low carbs for another 2 weeks to lose a few kg within a few weeks (It was stupid, but I have learned my mistakes). After two weeks, I started to experience a few episodes of hypoglycemia and near-passing out, it was scary. Since then, I have decided to stop immediately and eat normally for the last 2 months, as my body went into a big shock, my brain was activating all the physical symptoms in response to the extreme diet and overworking. The stress from the restrictive diet was also compounded by other stressors from work and pressure to perform, which I did not have the energy to do.

I've been having the following symptoms for a little over 2 months (March and April):

- Dizziness/lightheadedness - not extremely intense, but disturbing (more in the morning)
- Fatigue/Breathlessness - originally was not able to walk and was constantly out of breath, but has been slowly improving.
- Faster Heartbeat - a higher/rapid heartbeat than my usual when taking on activities, started after 2 weeks of extreme dieting and overworking.
- Nasal congestion
- Pressure in my temple that comes and goes
- Insomnia - triggered by fear and stress from the restrictive dieting
- Others: sensations in both legs, tingling but no pain

I have made an appointment with an endocrinologist and ran a series of blood and hormonal tests, and the results came out perfect. There was no real concern from the endocrinologist, so I moved on. I have also met with a dietitian to be guided on how to diet properly so I won't mess up my diet anymore. Through the journey, I have been very stressed out because of the reckless situation that I've put myself through. I was on leave for a month, and I was in the middle of a big move with my mom and dad, which meant I did not have enough energy to help out my family. I was depressed.

Over the last week, I have slowly begun to believe that the persistent symptoms are MBS, which is caused by the immense stress from the extreme diet that I put myself through. I was fearing and focusing on the symptoms over the last 2 months because I was fearful that I had somehow damaged my body permanently, and the stress from work and life also compounded. I truly understand that the fixation on the sensations must have reinforced more danger to my brain, which makes these sensations persist. Over the last 10 days, I have decided to return to the MBS/TMS education and utilise my conscious mind to influence the unconsciousness to feel safe while returning to living life and not caring about the sensations. I was sick of limiting myself from returning and enjoying life because of these symptoms. I have been very motivated to believe that this is still MBS/TMS, but still not 100% sure how I should be proceeding with my healing.

Here is a list of evidence that I found over the recent days:
- Blood test results were clear – no clear hormonal / deficiency issues
- Re-eating a balanced diet for over 2 months, my body has regained a healthy weight, but symptoms persisted.
- More dizziness/weakness in the morning, but gets better in the evening (sometimes the other way around)
- Returned to hiking 3 days ago, did 7 km, on-and-off fatigued throughout the walk (inconsistent)
- Tension in the temple comes and goes, clearer when more fatigued.
- Nasal congestion comes and goes, with no consistency.
- Lack of sleep can cause stronger sensations and tension.

I am not sure where to start from here, and I am not sure whether I should continue to commit to THE TMS/MBS work 100%. It has been a little over two months, and I truly believe my body has healed from the extreme diet, and it is the brain that is creating these symptoms because I have been fearing it so much. I just truly want to fully believe that this is TMS/MBS so that I can rewire my brain to believe that I am perfectly healthy and go out there and relive my life.

On the other hand, I am still worried that I have done something wrong to my body. I am tired of being depressed over this, I just want to have my life back and move forward from this. I would be extremely appreciative of your opinions and guidance on this.

Thank you.