Urinary frequency

[Nightowl]

My symptoms of vaginal burning are a little better today, so I’m trying to take that as a good sign, but omg the urinary frequency just won’t seem to stop! Especially at night!

I think what I’m struggling with is how can my brain turn this off just through meditation and journaling and therapy? It seems impossible. Although I recognize that urinary frequency can be a very psychological symptom. It doesn’t help that so much of the TMS literature is focused on back pain.

 

[Diana-M]

My symptoms of vaginal burning are a little better today, so I’m trying to take that as a good sign, but omg the urinary frequency just won’t seem to stop! Especially at night!

I think what I’m struggling with is how can my brain turn this off just through meditation and journaling and therapy? It seems impossible. Although I recognize that urinary frequency can be a very psychological symptom. It doesn’t help that so much of the TMS literature is focused on back pain.

Night owl! Listen! It doesn’t matter what symptoms are in the literature. All TMS is the same. Different manifestations, but for the same reason: rage. Apply everything to yourself. But honestly, you keep asking the same questions over and over. You know the answers! I think your TMS brain is trying to distract you from what’s really going on here. You have to do the work and it will take some time. Just hunker down and do the work. Believe! Don’t keep distracting yourself over and over. Give yourself some love. Find a good book to explore how to change your insides. When your insides get better, you’ll have the self love and determination to do what it takes to get rid of TMS. You know what helped me the most? A book called Feeling Good, by Dr. David Burns. You might really like it!

 

[Cactusflower]

@Nightowl
Urinary frequency at night sure gets your attention!
It was part of my earlier TMS, and does pop up again now and then.
Dr. Schecter, a well known TMS doctor noted (last year) in an interview that more than 90% of his patients with any pelvic area symptoms had TMS. @Diana-M is right. All TMS is equivalent. This forum lists thousands of symptoms, it’s simply impossible to have a book or source for every single one… and if there was, it would be the same book. All TMS has the same cause.
You are simply in a doubt and question phase. Your mind is trying to protect you from both having to do the work, but it’s also stuck on old learned information that all physical manifestations must need medical intervention to be resolved. That’s old news.
At this juncture, you need to make a real and confirmed dedication to how you will try and guide your thoughts. It’s a very empowering place to be and puts you in control.
Of course doubts will still come and go at times, but making a firm decision and holding yourself to it will help you guide your thoughts from here on out. This is a sign of progress.

 

[Nightowl]

Night owl! Listen! It doesn’t matter what symptoms are in the literature. All TMS is the same. Different manifestations, but for the same reason: rage. Apply everything to yourself. But honestly, you keep asking the same questions over and over. You know the answers! I think your TMS brain is trying to distract you from what’s really going on here. You have to do the work and it will take some time. Just hunker down and do the work. Believe! Don’t keep distracting yourself over and over. Give yourself some love. Find a good book to explore how to change your insides. When your insides get better, you’ll have the self love and determination to do what it takes to get rid of TMS. You know what helped me the most? A book called Feeling Good, by Dr. David Burns. You might really like it!

My husband and I recently noticed that we BOTH have copies of Feeling Good that neither of us ever touched. On top of that, I just realized I had also bought the Kindle version! Oh man, this is a sign I should probably read it.

 

[Nightowl]

@Nightowl
Urinary frequency at night sure gets your attention!
It was part of my earlier TMS, and does pop up again now and then.
Dr. Schecter, a well known TMS doctor noted (last year) in an interview that more than 90% of his patients with any pelvic area symptoms had TMS. @Diana-M is right. All TMS is equivalent. This forum lists thousands of symptoms, it’s simply impossible to have a book or source for every single one… and if there was, it would be the same book. All TMS has the same cause.
You are simply in a doubt and question phase. Your mind is trying to protect you from both having to do the work, but it’s also stuck on old learned information that all physical manifestations must need medical intervention to be resolved. That’s old news.
At this juncture, you need to make a real and confirmed dedication to how you will try and guide your thoughts. It’s a very empowering place to be and puts you in control.
Of course doubts will still come and go at times, but making a firm decision and holding yourself to it will help you guide your thoughts from here on out. This is a sign of progress.

I know you’re right. I’ve even read posts on this very site by people with identical symptoms to mine. I’ve listened to podcasts and success stories where the symptoms were similar to mine or even worse. I have a lot of other evidence too, including the symptoms abating after a therapy session once, and the fact that my mom (also a stress ball!) has the exact same symptoms I do now. I guess it just seems unbelievable that I could feel this uncomfortable when there is no medical cause, and it may take some time and more reassurance to accept this.

 

[Diana-M]

My husband and I recently noticed that we BOTH have copies of Feeling Good that neither of us ever touched. On top of that, I just realized I had also bought the Kindle version! Oh man, this is a sign I should probably read it.

Ha! That is a sign! When you read the book, he will describe a system for analyzing your thinking. It’s in the first third of the book. I don’t know what made me do it, but I took this very seriously. So for the past three months, I’ve been analyzing and correcting my thinking according to his methods. And wow, did I notice a lot of things changing about me. I discovered all my really negative thought patterns. I discovered how mean I am to myself, my low self-esteem issues, how I block myself from progress—-All sorts of things! I’m not saying that these things are gone now, but I would say my thinking is about 85% better than it was. And some days, I could even say it’s 100% better. When I started being nicer to myself, I actually started BELIEVING I deserve to heal from TMS. Before then, I think I just felt nothing good ever happens to me, so why will this happen? Things turned the page for me when I read that book and I still read it every day.

it may take some time and more reassurance to accept this.

@Cactusflower is right, There is definitely a phase where people in the beginning just can’t wrap their head around that they really have TMS. It’s a pretty normal phase. And it’s hard to believe. Especially since you’re going counter culture to Western medicine. For me spending time on the forum helped. Also reading Sarno books. His last book, called The Divided Mind, describes all sorts of other TMS symptoms— things like even high blood pressure can be caused by TMS.

Think of your TMS brain like a mission control center. It knows what will frustrate and scare you the most. It knows everywhere you’ve ever had an injury. It controls all your nerves, all your muscles, your immune system, just to name a few. Of course, it can give you the urge to pee! It can give you the urge to sneeze. It can make you blush and cry.

Dr. Sarno‘s patients were back patients— So he initially focused on back pain, And that’s how he discovered TMS. But it wasn’t long after that he realized TMS was so much more. Keep reading success stories. That helps a lot too. A lot of people recommend listening to or reading portions of a Sarno book every day. Just keep it in your head so you can’t backslide. Then one day you’ll realize that you 100% believe you have TMS. And you won’t even know the day that it happens; it just comes.

You’re doing good! You’re here on the website! You’re recognizing all sorts of things. You can do this! And you absolutely will get better!

 

[Nightowl]

Ha! That is a sign! When you read the book, he will describe a system for analyzing your thinking. It’s in the first third of the book. I don’t know what made me do it, but I took this very seriously. So for the past three months, I’ve been analyzing and correcting my thinking according to his methods. And wow, did I notice a lot of things changing about me. I discovered all my really negative thought patterns. I discovered how mean I am to myself, my low self-esteem issues, how I block myself from progress—-All sorts of things! I’m not saying that these things are gone now, but I would say my thinking is about 85% better than it was. And some days, I could even say it’s 100% better. When I started being nicer to myself, I actually started BELIEVING I deserve to heal from TMS. Before then, I think I just felt nothing good ever happens to me, so why will this happen? Things turned the page for me when I read that book and I still read it every day.

@Cactusflower is right, There is definitely a phase where people in the beginning just can’t wrap their head around that they really have TMS. It’s a pretty normal phase. And it’s hard to believe. Especially since you’re going counter culture to Western medicine. For me spending time on the forum helped. Also reading Sarno books. His last book, called The Divided Mind, describes all sorts of other TMS symptoms— things like even high blood pressure can be caused by TMS.

Think of your TMS brain like a mission control center. It knows what will frustrate and scare you the most. It knows everywhere you’ve ever had an injury. It controls all your nerves, all your muscles, your immune system, just to name a few. Of course, it can give you the urge to pee! It can give you the urge to sneeze. It can make you blush and cry.

Dr. Sarno‘s patients were back patients— So he initially focused on back pain, And that’s how he discovered TMS. But it wasn’t long after that he realized TMS was so much more. Keep reading success stories. That helps a lot too. A lot of people recommend listening to or reading portions of a Sarno book every day. Just keep it in your head so you can’t backslide. Then one day you’ll realize that you 100% believe you have TMS. And you won’t even know the day that it happens; it just comes.

You’re doing good! You’re here on the website! You’re recognizing all sorts of things. You can do this! And you absolutely will get better!

Thank you, @Diana-M ! I need to hear this today. I just did my journaling where I was remembering previous bout of these same symptoms I had years ago. Although that might have reassured me that it would go away, it also made me hyper focus on the symptoms in the course of remembering what happened to me.

I'm going to keep doing the exercises, going to psychotherapy, and trying to think positive as much as I can. I'm almost done with Nicole Sachs's book, so when I finish that, I'll move on to Feeling Good.

 

[Diana-M]

Thank you, @Diana-M ! I need to hear this today. I just did my journaling where I was remembering previous bout of these same symptoms I had years ago. Although that might have reassured me that it would go away, it also made me hyper focus on the symptoms in the course of remembering what happened to me.

I'm going to keep doing the exercises, going to psychotherapy, and trying to think positive as much as I can. I'm almost done with Nicole Sachs's book, so when I finish that, I'll move on to Feeling Good.

you’re killing it night owl! Talk to your brain and say “I don’t believe you! You can’t scare me anymore!” it’s just a matter of time till you get better.

 

[homorobothead]

My symptoms of vaginal burning are a little better today, so I’m trying to take that as a good sign, but omg the urinary frequency just won’t seem to stop! Especially at night!

I think what I’m struggling with is how can my brain turn this off just through meditation and journaling and therapy? It seems impossible. Although I recognize that urinary frequency can be a very psychological symptom. It doesn’t help that so much of the TMS literature is focused on back pain.

Lots of excellent advice here! May I also suggest Alan Gordon's book The Way Out? I don't know if you have history of sexual trauma like I do, but for me, I really needed a much gentler voice than Sarno (and Sachs honestly). He's the OG and I wouldn't have found the work without him, but being angry at my brain just made things worse for me. I also chafe against authoritative male voices for obvious reasons and Alan Gordon has more a positive reinforcement model that encourages us to view our bodies as overly protective friends, rather than enemies. His podcast "Tell me About Your Pain" is fantastic too!

Another thing that really helped me, because I got a ton of UTIs because of urinary retention is the supplement D-Mannose. It makes the lining of your bladder slippery, so bacteria can't adhere, so while there was certainly mind-body aspect, I could imagine the bacteria getting flushed out every time I urinated and then viola! No more UTIs. Now I have no burning or pain anymore, and it was certainly part of my TMS symptoms. I also take Culturelle Women's probiotic, which since there's been an established relationship between the gut and brain, really seems to help.

Obviously check with your physician as I'm just a stranger in the internet before taking anything!

Also, I got 99% better using the Structured Education Program here, so I highly suggest it.

You WILL get better. I promise. The work is hard and tiring, but keep going because you deserve as much joy and love as anyone else. You got this!

 

[Nightowl]

Lots of excellent advice here! May I also suggest Alan Gordon's book The Way Out? I don't know if you have history of sexual trauma like I do, but for me, I really needed a much gentler voice than Sarno (and Sachs honestly). He's the OG and I wouldn't have found the work without him, but being angry at my brain just made things worse for me. I also chafe against authoritative male voices for obvious reasons and Alan Gordon has more a positive reinforcement model that encourages us to view our bodies as overly protective friends, rather than enemies. His podcast "Tell me About Your Pain" is fantastic too!

Another thing that really helped me, because I got a ton of UTIs because of urinary retention is the supplement D-Mannose. It makes the lining of your bladder slippery, so bacteria can't adhere, so while there was certainly mind-body aspect, I could imagine the bacteria getting flushed out every time I urinated and then viola! No more UTIs. Now I have no burning or pain anymore, and it was certainly part of my TMS symptoms. I also take Culturelle Women's probiotic, which since there's been an established relationship between the gut and brain, really seems to help.

Obviously check with your physician as I'm just a stranger in the internet before taking anything!

Also, I got 99% better using the Structured Education Program here, so I highly suggest it.

You WILL get better. I promise. The work is hard and tiring, but keep going because you deserve as much joy and love as anyone else. You got this!

Thank you, what a kind post. I already read The Way Out, which I did like a lot, although I think I like Sachs's book best because she made it simple in terms of what you have to do and reinforced it repeatedly: the twenty minutes of journal speak followed by 10 minutes of meditation. Of course, this site and the SEP definitely helps with the "how" part. Thankfully, I do not have a history of sexual trauma, but I did have a very hard childhood with a lot of psychological abuse.

After reading your response, I bought more probiotics. I have found they help in the past, but I'm never sure, so I gave up on it a bit.