JanAtheCPA
Beloved Grand Eagle
This is the discussion forum for the Structured Educational Program Forum at the TMS Wiki. The SEP is a great way to learn about TMS and incorporate a daily activity that will assist you in your healing. The SEP has links to articles and other resources about TMS along with different types of writing (aka journaling) exercises.
During this free six week program, there will be suggestions on certain days to create a post on the forum. This isn't a requirement by any means, but it is a great way to receive support and encouragement, and to meet others who are on the same path as you learn more about yourself. Post only what you feel comfortable writing about.
There are different ways to post your SEP experience. Each day of the program has a special prefix that corresponds to it. When you start a new thread, find the prefix that corresponds to the day you are on and create your post. You can also comment on or respond to existing threads. Alternatively, you can create a thread just for your SEP journey, and continue to add to it (you can find your own posts and threads by going to your profile page).
Although it's designed as a six-week program, you certainly don't need to work on it every single day. Go at your own pace, but keep in mind that while learning about TMS, it helps to submerge yourself in the information. Knowledge is power and repetition makes it stick.
Keys to Success: Don't rush through it! Progress will only result if you take the time to let the information sink in, and make a commitment to do the exercises with emotional openness and 100% self-honesty. You may have to fight your subconscious brain in order to accomplish these two things, because it will try to have you skim through the program, and edit what you write down during the exercises. If you find yourself thinking that you don't need to include something because it's "not important" or any other reason, force yourself to write it down anyway, then be sure to examine that thing more closely. You don't need to keep what you write down, by the way - sometimes knowing that you can immediately destroy your writing helps you to be more honest.
What to Watch Out For: As you work the SEP, your brain will not be happy, because it would rather have you stay in a familiar fearful state - so it might start to fight back. Worsening symptoms and new symptoms are very common experiences as people start seriously doing this work. Just know that this is a sign that you're getting somewhere and that it is a reason to rejoice - so keep the faith, and don't give up.
Good luck!
JanAtheCPA
On behalf of the forum moderation team
PS: if you're curious about the difference between the SEP and Alan Gordon's Pain Recovery Program, I finally wrote this post comparing and contrasting them:
https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/welcome-to-the-forum-for-the-structured-educational-program.555/page-10#post-154071 (Welcome to the Forum for the Structured Educational Program)
During this free six week program, there will be suggestions on certain days to create a post on the forum. This isn't a requirement by any means, but it is a great way to receive support and encouragement, and to meet others who are on the same path as you learn more about yourself. Post only what you feel comfortable writing about.
There are different ways to post your SEP experience. Each day of the program has a special prefix that corresponds to it. When you start a new thread, find the prefix that corresponds to the day you are on and create your post. You can also comment on or respond to existing threads. Alternatively, you can create a thread just for your SEP journey, and continue to add to it (you can find your own posts and threads by going to your profile page).
Although it's designed as a six-week program, you certainly don't need to work on it every single day. Go at your own pace, but keep in mind that while learning about TMS, it helps to submerge yourself in the information. Knowledge is power and repetition makes it stick.
Keys to Success: Don't rush through it! Progress will only result if you take the time to let the information sink in, and make a commitment to do the exercises with emotional openness and 100% self-honesty. You may have to fight your subconscious brain in order to accomplish these two things, because it will try to have you skim through the program, and edit what you write down during the exercises. If you find yourself thinking that you don't need to include something because it's "not important" or any other reason, force yourself to write it down anyway, then be sure to examine that thing more closely. You don't need to keep what you write down, by the way - sometimes knowing that you can immediately destroy your writing helps you to be more honest.
What to Watch Out For: As you work the SEP, your brain will not be happy, because it would rather have you stay in a familiar fearful state - so it might start to fight back. Worsening symptoms and new symptoms are very common experiences as people start seriously doing this work. Just know that this is a sign that you're getting somewhere and that it is a reason to rejoice - so keep the faith, and don't give up.
Good luck!
JanAtheCPA
On behalf of the forum moderation team
PS: if you're curious about the difference between the SEP and Alan Gordon's Pain Recovery Program, I finally wrote this post comparing and contrasting them:
https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/welcome-to-the-forum-for-the-structured-educational-program.555/page-10#post-154071 (Welcome to the Forum for the Structured Educational Program)
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