MSZ812
Well known member
Today's journal entry is about flare ups caused by strong emotions. In 2015, about 25 days into my first attempt at this SEP, I traveled out of state for my annual vacation. I was worried about the potential pain during what was supposed to be a week of enjoyment. The vacation was meant to be a physically demanding week spent at Glacier National Park in Montana. I had planned on hiking in the mountains, fishing, and whitewater rafting. I was eager to use the knowledge from the SEP to overcome my upper back pain. The morning of departure, I was filled with anxiety. I had never felt that nervous and scared about anything in my life. The pain was steadily increasing as I finished packing and put my bags in the car. By the time I reached the airport, I couldn't carry a thing. I was immobilized, and the slightest bump to my right side from anybody was pure agony. I was in so much pain, I barely remember the actual 2 1/2 hour flight. By the time I had reached the hotel, I was in tears. I layed in bed for the entire week, helpless. I didn't leave the hotel once. Sadly, this ordeal led me down the path of more doctor visits, pain killers, and physical therapy. I abandoned the TMS treatment. The physical treatments were helpful only in the short term. I was able to return to work within 2 months. I "managed" the pain. One year later, I decided to give the vacation another try. This time, with help from a licensed therapist, I was able to do many of the activities with minimal to moderate pain and try to block out the anxiety as much as possible. While I haven't had to deal with the pain level I experienced in 2015, the thought of having to "manage" my pain for the forseeable future led me back to this forum and program.
This topic comes at an interesting time for me. I am headed to Oregon in about 2 weeks to visit some family and house-sit/dog-sit for my dad. While this trip is totally different than my 2015 vacation, the thought about potential pain has crossed my mind in recent days. I'm in a better place psychologically today than 2 years ago. For those of you that have overcome TMS and travel anxiety in particular, what tools have helped you?
- Matt
This topic comes at an interesting time for me. I am headed to Oregon in about 2 weeks to visit some family and house-sit/dog-sit for my dad. While this trip is totally different than my 2015 vacation, the thought about potential pain has crossed my mind in recent days. I'm in a better place psychologically today than 2 years ago. For those of you that have overcome TMS and travel anxiety in particular, what tools have helped you?
- Matt
