Hi Layne
Your previous post mentions a violent, traumatic event that you are quite aware of from your past. I can't even imagine the pain and devastation you've experience from that event, I am so sorry. I was actually given the PTSD diagnosis 11 years ago and received professional treatment for it. While I certainly am in no position to tell you one way or another whether you should continue the program or not, I can tell you what I've found to be true for myself so far and possibly that will help you.
As I mentioned previously, I've received all the "official" depression and anxiety diagnoses in addition to the PTSD (and I share your feeling about western medicine). I can't quite make a connection between the depression and TMS and I hadn't even thought about a relationship between TMS and PTSD until you mentioned it here. I can see a connection between anxiety and TMS and they look to me like the mind taking different routes to the same destination. I've read so much lately that I can't pinpoint where I saw this to give proper credit to its source, but it was making reference to anxiety and TMS - and I believe depression was also included there as well- as signposts or alarms to our conscious that there's a problem.
Dr Sarno used the analogy of the subconscious mind being a maximum security prison in his book. All the most dangerous criminals (thoughts) are locked in there, they're all full of rage, and they're all constantly trying to escape. Something about this analogy struck me and I was thinking about it in terms of my self and the depression, anxiety, and TMS. If they all share the same intended outcome - keeping the prisoners locked in - maybe my mind decides which one to employ based on the threat level, so to speak. Possibly one of these guys in the "plotting" stages of escape isn't deemed as much of a threat as the one that has made it to the top of the outermost fence & is ready to jump so the necessary force to prevent the escape is different.
I have actually noticed more improvement in my anxiety and depression levels from this education so far than a reduction in the pain in my neck and shoulder. Depression, anxiety, and PTSD are all extremely painful and frightening in their own ways. Anything I can learn to lessen pain from any one of these disorders is worth its weight in gold to me. I can also tell you that the supervised "professional" therapy I received for the PTSD diagnosis was very similar to the education program found here. Journaling, education, breathing and relaxation techniques, confronting fear, and talk therapy (which we get here in the forums without a bill!). The only things I got during treatment that I'm not getting here are office visits and a prescription for medication.
I hope this made sense & maybe helps you in some small way.
