Technology addiction, TMS, and ankylosing spondylitis

[wiz]

Hello, been reading the forums for 2 years now finally posting! 40/m
Timeline:
Years of hip pain, some back pain. Never bother going to doctor about it. Always came and went. Assuming it was bad running form.

Caught covid early 2020 (was one of the most stressful 3 weeks of my life) after recovering, I experienced debilitating hip, back pain and even full body pain. Months of doctors and tests... MRI showing SI joint inflammation, costochondritis, blood inflammation markers high, and hla-b27 gene positive, rheumatologist diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis.

Devastated, I turned to low starch diets, fasting, 100s of supplements, etc (The things we all have tried!) and made no progress. Depression and pain felt like the rest of my life. I refused to take a biologic medication. But then found the work of Sarno. which branched me off to others. Steve Ozanich, Peter Winslow, Eckhart Tolle, David Hawkins.. to name a few. Stopped all diets, supplements and anti-inflammatories. It took about 6-7 months of daily retraining of my thoughts and attitudes to go from not being able to walk to running 12 miles and squating/benching heavy, and little to no pain!! Which brings us to mid 2022.

I then went for 1 year without even a flair, but now the last 3-4 months, I have been having bad flairs again. I believe I have slipped back into my old thinking patterns again but not sure.. Earlier I came to terms with my problems with my parents, partner, and job and my people pleasing tendencies. Now I am confused about the nature of the pain (what is my body trying to tell me?) At least now that I have the knowledge of Sarno, and success in the past. "If I did it before I can do it again". Maybe I need to let go, there is nothing to "solve" or "figure out". Perhaps I had gotten lazy with rewiring the brain, and need to start relearning once again.

The one thing that has changed is now I feel like I am completely addicted to my phone and technology. It slowly crept to become a more and more consuming thing in my life. 5 hours daily scrolling through social media/twitter/youtube. I used to read books, watch movies, and play music with my free time. I recognize my addictive personality type, and am a recovered alcoholic (actually curing TMS is very much like applying the 12 step program to pain).

I am very curious if the smart phone is causing this current pain. I think so, my body is trying to tell me something. So right now I am going to digitally detox, (get a dumb phone, use my computer just for working and music)

Anyways I have digressed a lot with this post thanks for reading, I would really appreciate personal feedbacks and antidotes !

 

[Cactusflower]

Why on earth could a phone cause physical pain?
Does that make sense?
Now examine what you do on your phone.
“hours daily scrolling through social media/twitter/youtube”
What do you avoid when you are on your phone? Are you interacting with others? Are you aware of your body, your emotions?
Does mindless scrolling make you avoid things in your life?
Does what you see make you tense? Stressed?
Do you feel guilty, ashamed or other similar emotions you perhaps felt drinking?
Flair ups or new symptoms are common. It usually means old patterns of stress are still operating. It is important to recognize that we need to adopt tms practices for our lifetime. Journal maybe a few times a week to express our feelings, to let out stress or meditate.. or do whatever it is that you need.

 

[Baseball65]

I came to terms with my problems with my parents, partner, and job and my people pleasing tendencies.

Whenever I have been where you say you are, it is always something in that list and that I THINK I have 'solved'.
I recently had a relapse in my FOOT? I posted here and a fellow forum member gave me some great insight.
It was an issue with a GF...one I broke up with almost 2 years ago, BUT had remained friends with...and she did something to piss me off... but it didn't bug me (consciously) at all

Intellectually -"Not my problem, I was the one who left her, so it would be absurd to be angry"
Raging 3 year old selfish unconscious -"Even people who I have shunned need to act appropriately"

I have been cured so long I have zero patience for relapses, but they came anyways... The sum total of my experience is that whenever it seems to come out of nowhere , Look REALLY CLOSE... Anybody close to you that you don't think your pissed at? It's probably them...start brainstorming.

The internet crap? Yeah..maybe, especially if your reading news BUT since your aware of it, it is probably a factor, not the cause.

IMNSHO

 

[Sita]

Your mind is too stimulated, all the time scrolling on the phone. Different images, sounds, colors,lots of stimuli over and over again. For hours and hours a day. It needs more quiet time. When the mind is stimulated too much, the stress level increases, then the pain, then even more the stress and again the pain. Over and over again, they feed each other.

You need quiet time, to play music, to meditate, to go for a short 10 min walk or just stretch on your balcony outside. Use breathing exercises every 2 hours or so, just stop and breathe in and out deeply for one-two minutes.

F that phone and social media, it's a lot of noise and craziness anyway. Not beneficial. Do your best when you use it to be something positive, fun, or relaxing.

Take care.

 

[JanAtheCPA]

Hey there, @wiz, and welcome to the discussion! That's an awesome story of recovery which I think qualifies as a bona fide TMS success story even though you're struggling again. To which I say, Join the club, my friend!

I'm fascinated by the range of significant and comprehensive responses you've received from several experienced members of this community, because they show just how uniquely individual each of our journeys is.

My own methods for navigating these setbacks is to look at my perfectionism and self-judgement, identify the ways in which I put pressure on myself, and to engage instead in self compassion.

Also, as @Baseball65 said, it's a really good idea to examine the things that might be on your mind without being aware of them. After all, the need for our TMS brains to repress negative emotions is not something that can be cured - the repression must continue to be acknowledged, accepted, and managed throughout our lives. Sit down with your pen and paper, and just start writing down things that pop into your head. For me, that's when I discover things, big or small, that are lurking around in my subconscious.

I think that living in this decade is a huge factor in the current state of mental health. This certainly includes the pace of technology and our addiction to social media, entertainment, information overload, and worrying about security and misinformation. We must also acknowledge that there is probably an underlying existential crisis associated with our uncertainty and lack of control over an increasingly dysfunctional world. Another good topic to write about, because getting it out in the open frees your fearful brain from the need to cover it up with symptoms.

Acceptance is ultimately the path to peace.

 

[wiz]

Why on earth could a phone cause physical pain?
Does that make sense?
Now examine what you do on your phone.
“hours daily scrolling through social media/twitter/youtube”
What do you avoid when you are on your phone? Are you interacting with others? Are you aware of your body, your emotions?
Does mindless scrolling make you avoid things in your life?
Does what you see make you tense? Stressed?
Do you feel guilty, ashamed or other similar emotions you perhaps felt drinking?
Flair ups or new symptoms are common. It usually means old patterns of stress are still operating. It is important to recognize that we need to adopt tms practices for our lifetime. Journal maybe a few times a week to express our feelings, to let out stress or meditate.. or do whatever it is that you need.

Thanks for this response, I feel like definitely an avoidant activity. Started journaling right after I read your message, it helped me uncover a lot of what has been causing this current flair

Whenever I have been where you say you are, it is always something in that list and that I THINK I have 'solved'.
I recently had a relapse in my FOOT? I posted here and a fellow forum member gave me some great insight.
It was an issue with a GF...one I broke up with almost 2 years ago, BUT had remained friends with...and she did something to piss me off... but it didn't bug me (consciously) at all

Intellectually -"Not my problem, I was the one who left her, so it would be absurd to be angry"
Raging 3 year old selfish unconscious -"Even people who I have shunned need to act appropriately"

I have been cured so long I have zero patience for relapses, but they came anyways... The sum total of my experience is that whenever it seems to come out of nowhere , Look REALLY CLOSE... Anybody close to you that you don't think your pissed at? It's probably them...start brainstorming.

The internet crap? Yeah..maybe, especially if your reading news BUT since your aware of it, it is probably a factor, not the cause.

IMNSHO

Yep, youre 100% right, it was something that I thought I solved, the flairs coincided exactly when my parents were visiting, and I was expected to be their tour guide, and have everything planned for them (food, rented van for them and their friends, hotels, flights), and I was super resentful, although I was happy they were visiting, Can't believe how obvious it was yet I thought it was something else. Patience is the key, I think all of us former TMSers really have struggled with patience.

Your mind is too stimulated, all the time scrolling on the phone. Different images, sounds, colors,lots of stimuli over and over again. For hours and hours a day. It needs more quiet time. When the mind is stimulated too much, the stress level increases, then the pain, then even more the stress and again the pain. Over and over again, they feed each other.

You need quiet time, to play music, to meditate, to go for a short 10 min walk or just stretch on your balcony outside. Use breathing exercises every 2 hours or so, just stop and breathe in and out deeply for one-two minutes.

F that phone and social media, it's a lot of noise and craziness anyway. Not beneficial. Do your best when you use it to be something positive, fun, or relaxing.

Take care.

Yep, youre right, F the phone, F doom scrolling, appreciate the response friend

Hey there, @wiz, and welcome to the discussion! That's an awesome story of recovery which I think qualifies as a bona fide TMS success story even though you're struggling again. To which I say, Join the club, my friend!

I'm fascinated by the range of significant and comprehensive responses you've received from several experienced members of this community, because they show just how uniquely individual each of our journeys is.

My own methods for navigating these setbacks is to look at my perfectionism and self-judgement, identify the ways in which I put pressure on myself, and to engage instead in self compassion.

Also, as @Baseball65 said, it's a really good idea to examine the things that might be on your mind without being aware of them. After all, the need for our TMS brains to repress negative emotions is not something that can be cured - the repression must continue to be acknowledged, accepted, and managed throughout our lives. Sit down with your pen and paper, and just start writing down things that pop into your head. For me, that's when I discover things, big or small, that are lurking around in my subconscious.

I think that living in this decade is a huge factor in the current state of mental health. This certainly includes the pace of technology and our addiction to social media, entertainment, information overload, and worrying about security and misinformation. We must also acknowledge that there is probably an underlying existential crisis associated with our uncertainty and lack of control over an increasingly dysfunctional world. Another good topic to write about, because getting it out in the open frees your fearful brain from the need to cover it up with symptoms.

Acceptance is ultimately the path to peace.

Thanks! sometimes we forget how far we have come, and our recovery stories, that a few years ago I would never have imagined how much better my life is now...

Yes I agree, each person in this community give a different angle, sheds a little light in a different area of the "big picture" yourself included and I appreciate it. Self compassion and affirmations I started up again recently too, acceptance of all things... that is the mantra! I am ok with everything

 

[dh627]

Saving this thread - very relatable to me.

 

[wiz]

Got back into my daily affirmation, yoga and workouts. Regardless of how much "pain" there was. also did some coaching. Crazy how it just melts away , now that I'm feeling great need to keep up with the healthy mindbody practices. It is so easy in retrospect to see that it is all TMS... but when you are "in pain", you go into survival/panic mode.

 

[KeepGoing]

Got back into my daily affirmation, yoga and workouts. Regardless of how much "pain" there was. also did some coaching. Crazy how it just melts away , now that I'm feeling great need to keep up with the healthy mindbody practices. It is so easy in retrospect to see that it is all TMS... but when you are "in pain", you go into survival/panic mode.

Please tell us some ways you got rid of your pain.

 

[Cactusflower]

Please tell us some ways you got rid of your pain.

Following the “work” Dr. Sarno sets out in his book and/or the work in the SEP which is free here.. and finding what works best for you as an individual.
TMSWiki.org .. the “front” page of this website offers many free resources. Just scroll down and read free programs, success stories and more!

 

[JanAtheCPA]

Please tell us some ways you got rid of your pain.

I'll echo what @Cactusflower said, @KeepGoing!

I feel like @wiz has spent plenty of time in this thread telling us what works for him, and that he doesn't need to provide specifics unless he really wants to do so. Most people just want to get on with their lives, which is great!

The fact is that the specifics are very individual, and while I get that the options are pretty overwhelming, asking others to give you specifics, which may not be relevant to you, is actually your TMS brain getting you to spin your wheels and avoid doing the work on your own.

Don't worry, this is very common!

Doing a program allows you to learn techniques and choose what works for YOU. My advice is to start with the SEP. It's free and so easy - there's no registration or signup, you Just Do It.

Keep reading threads in the Success Stories subforum, and discover other resources like podcasts. I have a list of recommendations on my profile.

 

[Ellen]

Can't believe how obvious it was yet I thought it was something else.

I say this after every relapse. And only after I admit it, do I begin to recover.

 

[wiz]

Please tell us some ways you got rid of your pain.

Lot of different things, Used this amazing amazing website, got some more resources to explore, read through success stories, got motivated, journaled every day (using the artist's way technique), listened to these amazing podcasts, used this list of resources
Let go of fear, shut off my personal phone, it has been off for a week now, hope to make it a month (but I am lucky I have a rudimentary heavy duty work cell phone that I can still use but has none of the distractions! perhaps getting a "dumb phone" could help people here).

I'll echo what @Cactusflower said, @KeepGoing!

I feel like @wiz has spent plenty of time in this thread telling us what works for him, and that he doesn't need to provide specifics unless he really wants to do so. Most people just want to get on with their lives, which is great!

The fact is that the specifics are very individual, and while I get that the options are pretty overwhelming, asking others to give you specifics, which may not be relevant to you, is actually your TMS brain getting you to spin your wheels and avoid doing the work on your own.

Don't worry, this is very common!

Doing a program allows you to learn techniques and choose what works for YOU. My advice is to start with the SEP. It's free and so easy - there's no registration or signup, you Just Do It.

Keep reading threads in the Success Stories subforum, and discover other resources like podcasts. I have a list of recommendations on my profile.

JanAtheCPA, you have had the most encouraging thoughtful messages to all users, I tell all my friends to try the SEP, my friend hasnt had a chrons flair in a year... wow

I say this after every relapse. And only after I admit it, do I begin to recover.

hahah yep

 

[momar]

Hello, been reading the forums for 2 years now finally posting! 40/m
Timeline:
Years of hip pain, some back pain. Never bother going to doctor about it. Always came and went. Assuming it was bad running form.

Caught covid early 2020 (was one of the most stressful 3 weeks of my life) after recovering, I experienced debilitating hip, back pain and even full body pain. Months of doctors and tests... MRI showing SI joint inflammation, costochondritis, blood inflammation markers high, and hla-b27 gene positive, rheumatologist diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis.

Devastated, I turned to low starch diets, fasting, 100s of supplements, etc (The things we all have tried!) and made no progress. Depression and pain felt like the rest of my life. I refused to take a biologic medication. But then found the work of Sarno. which branched me off to others. Steve Ozanich, Peter Winslow, Eckhart Tolle, David Hawkins.. to name a few. Stopped all diets, supplements and anti-inflammatories. It took about 6-7 months of daily retraining of my thoughts and attitudes to go from not being able to walk to running 12 miles and squating/benching heavy, and little to no pain!! Which brings us to mid 2022.

I then went for 1 year without even a flair, but now the last 3-4 months, I have been having bad flairs again. I believe I have slipped back into my old thinking patterns again but not sure.. Earlier I came to terms with my problems with my parents, partner, and job and my people pleasing tendencies. Now I am confused about the nature of the pain (what is my body trying to tell me?) At least now that I have the knowledge of Sarno, and success in the past. "If I did it before I can do it again". Maybe I need to let go, there is nothing to "solve" or "figure out". Perhaps I had gotten lazy with rewiring the brain, and need to start relearning once again.

The one thing that has changed is now I feel like I am completely addicted to my phone and technology. It slowly crept to become a more and more consuming thing in my life. 5 hours daily scrolling through social media/twitter/youtube. I used to read books, watch movies, and play music with my free time. I recognize my addictive personality type, and am a recovered alcoholic (actually curing TMS is very much like applying the 12 step program to pain).

I am very curious if the smart phone is causing this current pain. I think so, my body is trying to tell me something. So right now I am going to digitally detox, (get a dumb phone, use my computer just for working and music)

Anyways I have digressed a lot with this post thanks for reading, I would really appreciate personal feedbacks and antidotes !

How are you doing now since the post with the flare ?

 

[wiz]

How are you doing now since the post with the flare ?

Great!
I got a little more coaching. Still dont have a smart phone (the coach advised this). Becoming more in touch with spirtuality. I decided firmly never to talk about symptoms or go the rheumatologist ever again. A flare might start occasionally, but they are easy to "let go of". and gone within hours/ one day. I suspect if I keep brain on this course it will be completely rewired in a few years.
How are you doing? You can do it. These "arthritic" conditions are just TMS. Trust your body!

 

[momar]

t

Great!
I got a little more coaching. Still dont have a smart phone (the coach advised this). Becoming more in touch with spirtuality. I decided firmly never to talk about symptoms or go the rheumatologist ever again. A flare might start occasionally, but they are easy to "let go of". and gone within hours/ one day. I suspect if I keep brain on this course it will be completely rewired in a few years.
How are you doing? You can do it. These "arthritic" conditions are just TMS. Trust your body!

that is so so amzing . yay well done you - i know aspects of it can be hard at the start and when things come back its like "really ?? will it ever go?" but i believe yes it so will!!! mine is some type of reactive arthritis post flu - hands mostly - but also positve hla27 - which I view as often incidental - although it can play on the mind

 

[Rusty Red]

Been wondering about AS as a possibility for my symptoms lately. My doc mostly blew it off but I know it can present differently in women. This was interesting to read! Not even sure going through the ringer of tests would be worth it.

 

[Cactusflower]

@Rusty Red
My old neighbor was diagnosed with very severe AS.
He ended up retiring, breaking up with his spouse and literally buying a farm in his Sr. years and is farming it by hand, successfully. After figuring out the huge mind/body/stress component to his anger, frustration and inability to sit still… and of course pain, he just switched things up over time. He has pain but nothing is debilitating for him, he’s strong willed like you.