I think topic about conditioning is very important for long time tms/anxiety sufferers. Many of us get well using what we learned from Dr Sarno and other experts, but we usually get stuck at the 80, 90% mark. In my opinion, we got well but not completely well are usually due to conditioning. This topic I think is so important, it confused many and often lead us backward back into our illness. Someone need to write a book on this.
Conditioning responds are very broad and it effect our life greatly. I like to share what I have learn from many wise people about overcoming conditioning because I think we will not completely cure until we successfully conquered our negative conditioning respond. (yes, there are many positive conditioning respond, athletics using it all the time).
I hope you don't mind reading a long post, because this will be one. There are many type of conditioning:
- Conditioning respond we learned from revolution. Like fear of loud noise. Fear of the dark, fear of snakes, spiders...
- Conditioning responds we got due to association. When some neutral thing happen at the same time we were experience our symptoms, that neutral thing will trigger our symptoms when we experience it again.
- Conditioning responds due to anticipation. We all have jobs that we don't like, family responsibilities that we hated, relationships that we want to avoid... When we know we are heading into those situation, stress is created in our mind and very often trigger our tms/anxiety symptoms.
After a long time have passed, the conditioning respond became automatic. The wiring in our brain is in place and will respond automaticly to that situation without any input from our thinking. It is just like when our hand touch a red hot pot, the hand will put back instantly without thinking. We don't stand there holding the pot and think: is this more than 100 degree yet? is this going to burn and hurt my hand? Because conditioning is instantly and automaticly, we got confused and usually we blame something is wrong with our body instead of recornise that the symptoms is trigger by the conditioning respond.
I used to be a 4,5 cups a day coffee drinker. After I have anxiety, one sip would be enought to trigger a full blown panic attack. I went to work in the same job for years without any problem, when I was having anxiety, I felt more stress, and see more negative things about my job, my co-workers, my boss and it often trigger strong symptoms. One time, I have an attack while going thru a tunnel, after that, attack always come when I go thru the tunnel again. And for a long time, I have to spend an extra 20 minutes drive to work using a different route to avoid the tunnel.
There are thousand of conditioning behavior among tmser's. People walk with a limp because they affraid to put weight on their bad legs. people sleep with 2 pillows or no pillow, with a hard mattress or very soft mattress. People refuse to eat certain type of food for fear it will harm them even though they've been eating it their whole life with no problem. Many people's symptoms would be triggered by loud music or sad music, by too hot or too cold weather, Sad movies, certain colors would triggers unpleasant feeling, Someone I know even experience symptoms when he sees bald headed men.
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the first step to overcome conditioning is to recognise it. In Mermaid's case here she conditioned her body to produce symptoms on the weekend. For me I need to find the "truth" and the truth is coffee don't produce panic attack, my mind, my anticipation does. My friend is a doctor and he has a stressful and depressing job dealing with sick and dying patients every day. He need to recognise that is his conditioning behavior.
the second step is what one of my teacher called: "talk to our mind". We need to educate ourself that there is nothing danger with that thing, that situation, that event... it is just wrong thought, it is just our body's auto respond to a wrong conclusion.
Negative conditioning is a type of fear. It exist to protect us from perceive dangers that aren't real. The third step is using exposure therapy with will power. Pavlov's dog stopped salivating when hearing the bell and get no food for a few times. Our symptoms will lessen and stop after we keep expose ourself to the situation that would normally created fear or created symptoms. That is why Dr Sarno encouraged us to keep exercise and run. People with fear of snake overcame their fear by keep visiting snake farm. I myself overcame my fear of food by forcing myself to eat anything I like even if I think it is bad for me. My doctor friend I mention above over came his going to work conditioning respond after he came up with a list of what is wonderful about his job: saving lives, comforting his patient, being appreciate his patients, bringing home a paycheck to provide for his family, having a purpose in life. He came to work with a big smile and a positive outlook.
Another friend of my can only find peace at work. She hated to come home to care for her 3 kids, cleaning after them, listen to their arguing, cooking for her family... She list out all the positive aspect of being a wife and a mother. She look pass all those stressful thing and saw her kids' smile, she treasure the time their spend together watching tv or playing cowboy and Indians... She was cure a 100% after she was able to count her blessing.
We need to recognise the conditioning respond for what it is, we need to keep expose ourself to it with a positive mind, and we need to count our blessings.
I hope this help some of us here. I didn't come up with any of this, I learned it from many wise men and women in my life and it really save me. Goodluck to all.
