Derek S. uncommon symptoms

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Question

Good evening,

I have been suffering with chronic pain for about years, since was 16. I was very close to giving up hope whe I came across Georgie Oldfield's book 'Chronic Pin - A Key To Recovery. This was a few months ago and I have since bought Dr Sarno's Mindbody Perscription. I am putting my all into following the tips and programmes but I am really struggeling to completely belive that I have tms. I am a very skeptical person so this isn't surprising but mostly I struggle to relate completely. Yes I have had a bad childhood and a lot of life trauma, yes I have had lot of tests and seem to be completely healthy and yes I my pain is very illogical and random. However, what I struggle with is that most people seem to have proper crippling pain in certain parts of the body. My pain is all over and it is more of a strange deep dull aching. I don't know how to describe it - sometimes I think it may be my nerves and not my muscle at all as it can be tingly and hard to pin point. It moves and changes and is usually in my back, however, it is absolutely always in my head, which is where It first started, before it spread. Underneath my ears are always tight and aching and I have strange visual disturbances even though my eye tests always come back fine.

The reason I am writing this as I still feel alone. This seems to be very different to waht other people exerience. I have been told a few times that I have Fibromyalgi even though I fon't feel I even fit this description. I can't afford to see a specialist due to my lack of working but I would really like some advise and guidance. I can't do this alone!

Yours Rebecca

 

[Derek Sapico MFT]

Answer

Thanks for your question, Rebecca.

To me, your case does not seem atypical at all. I have worked with many people who have presented with symptoms similar to what you describe. I think that it is more common for people to be attracted to TMS if they have straightforward presentations of pain. When your pain is more generalized and nebulous, often the doctors will tell you that you have a diagnosis such as Fibromyalgia which tends to send people down a different treatment path.

If you have had all of the necessary tests and your health is good, what do you have to lose by committing to a TMS approach? Figure out what the nature of the fear is that's keeping you stuck and try to address it. Create an evidence sheet for yourself and see if you can build your own case for a psychogenic cause to your symptoms.

If necessary, work with a TMS therapist or coach who can assist you in finding the certainty that you need to move forward. The biggest barrier to recovery for many people is doubt and uncertainty so do whatever you have to do to get unstuck, find certainty in your approach, and move forward.

You will get there.

-Derek

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