I got to know about dr Sarno's book healing back pain around 20 days ago and Alan Gordan's book the way out two weeks ago. I have been working to approach my pain the way Alan has described in his book and also in the tms recovery program here. but rather than getting even a bit of relief my symptoms have become worse to the extent that I can't sit, stand, walk and sleep. Every position is painful. I am trying to not freak out and ignore the fear that comes with pain but with such excruciating pain it's getting hard. I don't understand why it's happening. I am convinced it's tms but why my symptoms are getting worse ? I don't understand what am I doing wrong. Any suggestion would mean a lot to me.
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Severe symptoms after starting tms healing work
- Thread starter Puja
- Start date
Scanh
Peer Supporter
There is a concept called "extinction burst" in which pain intensifies after starting a TMS program. It happens because the brain resists addressing repressed emotions, so it ramps up the pain to get your attention back on the physical, hoping to distract you from those emotions. Alan Gordon's program talks about it here.
I don't know your story, but assuming you've been checked to rule out any serious issues, it sounds like you're doing everything right! Keep up the good work; I can't wait to hear your success story!
I don't know your story, but assuming you've been checked to rule out any serious issues, it sounds like you're doing everything right! Keep up the good work; I can't wait to hear your success story!
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HealingMe
Beloved Grand Eagle
Hi, Puja. You’re on the right track!
It’s common for symptoms to increase as you do the work. Search around on the forum and you’ll find everyone experiences this.
I understand how scary it is to have your pain increase when you just want it to go down. I would have to look back, but when I started the SEP program, within the first few days my symptoms became unbearable (I’m pretty sure I posted a thread that’s floating around here the day it happened and I theorized it was an extinction burst, ha!). Keep going, you’ve got this!
It’s common for symptoms to increase as you do the work. Search around on the forum and you’ll find everyone experiences this.
I understand how scary it is to have your pain increase when you just want it to go down. I would have to look back, but when I started the SEP program, within the first few days my symptoms became unbearable (I’m pretty sure I posted a thread that’s floating around here the day it happened and I theorized it was an extinction burst, ha!). Keep going, you’ve got this!
Thank you for your response. Since I have started the work I have only experienced increase in pain. Still I continued without fear and gave message of safety to my brain. But yesterday pain crossed all limits of my tolerance. I am not able to walk without support right now and also I couldn't sleep whole night even for a minute due to unbearable sciatica pain the intensity that I never experienced in past one year since my low back pain and sciatica started. Even while I am typing this I am in extreme pain. All this has made me very fearful
Also doesn't extinction burst happen once the pain has reduced and then after few days pain comes back? But in my case there has been no reduction in pain, rather it just kept increasing. Thats what I understood of extinction burst. Please correct me if i am wrong.
You are so kind to say that. Really means a lot to hear words of encouragement specially in times of despair when my pain has crossed all my tolerance limit. I can't walk without support right now and i couldn't sleep for a minute the whole night yesterday due to unbearable sciatica pain something that I never experienced since my low back pain and sciatica started one year back. Since I have started the work I have only experienced increase in pain without going it down even a bit. Doesn't extinction burst happen once the pain has gone down and then few days later it comes back with high intensity? In my case there has been no reduction in pain only increment. I have asked this question from the other member too and I am repeating myself again that if I have understood the extinction burst wrong? Pls correct me if I got it wrong
JanAtheCPA
Beloved Grand Eagle
@Puja, there is one constant truth to doing this work, which is that everyone experiences it differently. This is the only way that we can answer your question.
This is good news, but your terrified TMS brain mechanism is in full-blown panic right now, and it's doing everything it can to cause you to freak out and to create doubt. Therefore it will do its best to come up with a reason to not believe what I just told you. For your own sake, you cannot let it do that.
I have read many Success Stories over the years, and many of them include descriptions of immense amounts of pain - which resolved by doing the work. This means taking emotional risks, being emotionally vulnerable, and also fighting back against your TMS brain.
What kind of self-talk phrases do you think you can employ when the pain is so bad? Remember, you are trying to talk sense into your irrational terrified brain. You need to be able to come up with logical statements of truth, and you need to be firm about repeating them until both you (rational you) and your irrational TMS brain both believe them.
This is good news, but your terrified TMS brain mechanism is in full-blown panic right now, and it's doing everything it can to cause you to freak out and to create doubt. Therefore it will do its best to come up with a reason to not believe what I just told you. For your own sake, you cannot let it do that.
I have read many Success Stories over the years, and many of them include descriptions of immense amounts of pain - which resolved by doing the work. This means taking emotional risks, being emotionally vulnerable, and also fighting back against your TMS brain.
What kind of self-talk phrases do you think you can employ when the pain is so bad? Remember, you are trying to talk sense into your irrational terrified brain. You need to be able to come up with logical statements of truth, and you need to be firm about repeating them until both you (rational you) and your irrational TMS brain both believe them.
Wow! You perfectly described my panic ridden tms brain thats driving me nuts rn for increase in pain intensity. My previous responses to above two replies on this post clearly shows how my tms brain has gripped me in a sneaky way by creating fear and doubts.
Also my self talk was majorly negative due to full blown symptoms last night due to which I couldn't catch sleep even for a minute. I'll remind myself of verbalising positive statements of truth when I am in the grip of fear and doubt in my healing journey. Thank you for making me see things clearly.
HealingMe
Beloved Grand Eagle
So it sounds like your fear decreased and so the pain increased. This also happened when I caught onto what my brain was doing. I sympathize with how you feel. All I can say is that it sounds like you are on the right track.
Please be gentle with yourself and become your best friend as you are doing the work. One thing that stuck with me throughout this is your brain is not your enemy; it’s just trying to protect you but sometimes it can be wrong. Redirect it and soothe it. Sending love.