Syl
Peer Supporter
Every time I read Dr Sarno's "The MindBody Prescription" I pick up many snippets and insights of important information, which I later forget because I'm in the middle of doing battle with a TMS condition or conditions, and right now I'm going through the same thing with a new condition. As a result, I've been re-reading Dr Sarno's book, Dr Schubiner's book "Unlearn your pain" plus I've been absorbing all kinds of information on TMS via video and podcasts, etc.
Anyway, the following snippets come from Dr Sarno's book, and the one question that comes to mind is "WHY IS THE BRAIN SO AFRAID TO EXPERIENCE REPRESSED THOUGHTS?" Did I miss something? I mean, instead of the brain bombarding us with all sorts of TMS conditions, including anxiety, depression, and fear, why not just allow us--who are trapped in our bodies--simply deal with this?
I've had many conversations with my brain, and I still do, plus I give it reassurance, trying to make it feel safe, etc, but unfortunately my brain seems to be as stubborn as my cat!
Any feedback from anyone about the above question?
Here are the snippets from Dr Sarno's book:
The Fear Factor
Fear is another important equivalent of pain that may be more effective than the pain itself to achieve the mind’s goal of distracting attention from repressed rage.
The fear of pain, physical activity, injury, or other health conditions is enough to perpetuate TMS, even in the absence of pain. The mind is interested only in keeping our attention on the body; the fear of any of these phenomena will accomplish that as well as the reality of pain itself.
This is why the therapeutic program to eradicate TMS requires not only the cessation of pain but also the elimination of fear.
Both anxiety and depression are TMS equivalents. They, too, may serve to distract us from underlying, threatening emotions.
The psyche is eclectic in its choice of distractors.
The Rage/Soothe Ratio
Dr Sarno believed in a kind of rage/soothe ratio that could play a role in determining when physical symptoms would occur. So “why did the pain start now?” Sarno said, “Because your rage has reached a critical level, and because it now threatens to erupt into consciousness.”
Further, suppose there is another element in the equation; that it is not simply the quantity of rage that brings on symptoms but the presence or absence of counterbalancing soothing factors. Theoretically, these pleasant elements in one’s life would modify the threat posed by the rage and make symptoms unnecessary.
Dr Sarno believed something like this went on, and that the occurrence of symptoms reflects too much rage and not enough counterbalancing soothing elements in one’s life.
The Concept of Equivalency
TMS is one of a group of interchangeable physical disorders. They all serve the same mind/body purpose and are, therefore, equivalents of each other. Indeed, any physical disorder that attracts a person’s attention—for example, a fracture or severe respiratory infection—may replace the mind/body process temporarily. The pain syndrome frequently disappears with the advent of some new conditions, only to recur when it is gone.
In a survey done in 1975 it was found that 88 percent of patients with TMS had histories of up to five common mind-body disorders, including a variety of stomach symptoms, such as heartburn, acid indigestion, gastritis and hiatus hernia; problems lower in the gastrointestinal tract, such as spastic colon, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation; common allergic conditions, such as hay fever and asthma; a variety of skin disorders, such as eczema, acne, hives and psoriasis; tension or migraine headache; frequent urinary tract or respiratory infections; and dizziness or ringing in the ears (not associated with neurologic or ear disease).
Not everyone agreed that these were mind/body disorders, but Dr Sarno found them to be so. They usually occurred in tandem, suggesting that they all served the same psychological purpose. The fact that they were so common in TMS patients is what inclined Dr Sarno to conclude that TMS was a mind/body malady, too.
Anyway, the following snippets come from Dr Sarno's book, and the one question that comes to mind is "WHY IS THE BRAIN SO AFRAID TO EXPERIENCE REPRESSED THOUGHTS?" Did I miss something? I mean, instead of the brain bombarding us with all sorts of TMS conditions, including anxiety, depression, and fear, why not just allow us--who are trapped in our bodies--simply deal with this?
I've had many conversations with my brain, and I still do, plus I give it reassurance, trying to make it feel safe, etc, but unfortunately my brain seems to be as stubborn as my cat!
Any feedback from anyone about the above question?
Here are the snippets from Dr Sarno's book:
The Fear Factor
Fear is another important equivalent of pain that may be more effective than the pain itself to achieve the mind’s goal of distracting attention from repressed rage.
The fear of pain, physical activity, injury, or other health conditions is enough to perpetuate TMS, even in the absence of pain. The mind is interested only in keeping our attention on the body; the fear of any of these phenomena will accomplish that as well as the reality of pain itself.
This is why the therapeutic program to eradicate TMS requires not only the cessation of pain but also the elimination of fear.
Both anxiety and depression are TMS equivalents. They, too, may serve to distract us from underlying, threatening emotions.
The psyche is eclectic in its choice of distractors.
The Rage/Soothe Ratio
Dr Sarno believed in a kind of rage/soothe ratio that could play a role in determining when physical symptoms would occur. So “why did the pain start now?” Sarno said, “Because your rage has reached a critical level, and because it now threatens to erupt into consciousness.”
Further, suppose there is another element in the equation; that it is not simply the quantity of rage that brings on symptoms but the presence or absence of counterbalancing soothing factors. Theoretically, these pleasant elements in one’s life would modify the threat posed by the rage and make symptoms unnecessary.
Dr Sarno believed something like this went on, and that the occurrence of symptoms reflects too much rage and not enough counterbalancing soothing elements in one’s life.
The Concept of Equivalency
TMS is one of a group of interchangeable physical disorders. They all serve the same mind/body purpose and are, therefore, equivalents of each other. Indeed, any physical disorder that attracts a person’s attention—for example, a fracture or severe respiratory infection—may replace the mind/body process temporarily. The pain syndrome frequently disappears with the advent of some new conditions, only to recur when it is gone.
In a survey done in 1975 it was found that 88 percent of patients with TMS had histories of up to five common mind-body disorders, including a variety of stomach symptoms, such as heartburn, acid indigestion, gastritis and hiatus hernia; problems lower in the gastrointestinal tract, such as spastic colon, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation; common allergic conditions, such as hay fever and asthma; a variety of skin disorders, such as eczema, acne, hives and psoriasis; tension or migraine headache; frequent urinary tract or respiratory infections; and dizziness or ringing in the ears (not associated with neurologic or ear disease).
Not everyone agreed that these were mind/body disorders, but Dr Sarno found them to be so. They usually occurred in tandem, suggesting that they all served the same psychological purpose. The fact that they were so common in TMS patients is what inclined Dr Sarno to conclude that TMS was a mind/body malady, too.
I guess it's the Latin blood that runs through my veins.
