I have experienced this often. Moving forward often gives more symptoms. My brain wants to protect me and causes more pain to stop me. In that case I don’t give up. I keep on moving forward with indifference and at the end the symptoms disappear. Trust the body, teach the brain. That’s my slogan.
As a musician this seems like it can be framed like practicing. Learning a challenging piece or passage in a relaxed and easy way, starting at a very slow (safe) tempo and working it up bit by bit. And the next day it can almost feel like nothing has happened, except that it’s a bit easier to get to that faster tempo. When it starts to feel frustrating, take a break and come back to it later. My leg muscles are so tight that my balance is off and I walk with a hiking stick when I’m outside. Being in crowds or high traffic areas is very challenging because the stimuli really trigger the anxiety responses. But in the house it feels safe to practice walking and balancing in small but increasing increments and doesn’t trigger the pushback. Sort of like convincing a cat to do something - trying to use force can create a big mess, but they can be coaxed into thinking it’s their idea and it’s a much smoother ride. 😺
This could not be more timely for me! Thank you ❤ Had strong new symptoms come up, not from physical activity but from strong emotions from past trauma. I do not believe in rehashing old trauma, and when these memories came up, I reassured myself that conditions have changed, and I was no longer in danger. However, I think my system is so sensitive right now, lots of sadness expressed as these new symptoms appeared. Brain/inner child wants me to stay safe. Watched a funny movie last night and other calming activities helped. Jim, your videos are a godsend ❤❤
Definitely true my inner child doesn't want me to change but I keep going nothing is holding me back I know i am on the right path yippee patience patience and more patience is key... Thank you for this great video much love to you ❤❤❤
This is just what I need to hear Jim. Been doing TMS work for a few weeks and hit a strong flare up. Feel like I'm going backwards even though I know it's my limbic brain. Thanks for this!
I can't thank you enough to bring this up! I expirienced a severe push back when I started the Gupta Programm in 2019, without knowing what was going on. That lead me to benzodiazepines and a very challenging withdrawal, I‘m still have issues from 3 years later. So disappointed to the program for not mention that phenomenon!
I like what you said with Rebecca tollin Sometimes we make mistakes and go over the brains protection limit, We can back off and when it’s safe try again, I’m a musician myself and every time I have to perform my drums I get symptoms, it’a crazy that it does it with the things I love to do most
I push forward and feel that I’m recovering a little by little then I realise I can achieve more then I crash and have to rest however when I return to activities I have start from rock bottom again and the cycle repeats itself . Will there ever be a time in my recovery that I won’t crash .
I decided to try dancing again today after 14 years. I was fine during it and now everything is ramped up. It makes no sense. I was fine during it. I’m trying not to freak out, but finding it hard to be ok with the pain. I can’t help wanting it to stop.
This is interesting! I have a quick clarifying question: at my illness onset, I frequently "overdid" it and crashed. However, I didn't know that I was getting sick. So I didn't approach this overactivity in a nervous or anxious way...as I thought I was just going about life as normal. Yet I kept crashing until my baseline was quite low. I understand how this logic applies to someone who has been sick for a while and has a very sensitive nervous system. But how do you think about the boom/bust cycle at the beginning of illness when the person really doesn't feel like they are "pushing it"?
I just started doing this work a week ago, not doing anything different in my life as i am pretty active anyways just changing my thoughts and reactions. Symptoms are really high today, could my brain already be pushing back that fast?
I got hit by a massive new symptom. It's so strong and strange that I am wondering if it's TMS or not. Eye ball pain with movement. Had to go to the doctor to get checked and they are unsure what is going on.
Ive been dealing with chronic back pain for 3 years. Wondering if some of these push back symptoms are becaise of the brain dialing up inflammation in my back to protect me from doing more?
Its not inflammation. Its the brain restricting oxygenated blood to the tissue causing pain. Its a way the brain tries to keep you 'safe'. What it thinks is safe, but in reality it's just the wrong programming. You pushing forward is changing that programming.
Jim!!! I have a question! I saw your interview with dr Yonit just now. And suddenly and finally i understand that my dizziness comes as an anxiety emotion!!! Exactly like fear for panic attacks or heart palpitations, that these than exactly give panic attacks or palpitations!! When you are afraid of it! Fear for the fear symptoms!!! But...what i dont understand; why do i have the constant swaying/ off balance still as a result of the "chronic diziness". All started with bppd attacks and stress period... and than i got afraid of the bppv attacks. And they went away but the pppd stayed...Now... i do understand that i get a dizzy or unbalance sensation when i am expecting or perceive danger....but why is it that i am off balance all day long😅😅😅😅
Athina, it is normal to feel that way. I think the symptoms go away when we stop paying attention to them (complete indifference). As we start feeling safer, we can start dropping all "safety behaviours" that we may have adopted to avoid symptoms. Gradually we start feeling lighter and we can aim going forward during the day doing normal activities as we did in the past. We walk gracefully through life without pushing ourselves too hard. Prayer to our Lord is a great healer through this process (it is for me) and I consider it, together with attending the Holy liturgy, as the foundation to all recovery. St Porfyrios book is a great place to start and find shelter. Everything will dissolve over time and looking back will feel like a dream. Everyone emerges as a better version of themselves and even feels grateful for what happened as they come to view life in a more positive, optimistic way that wouldn't have been possible otherwise.😊
I need an example to go by. I exercise, next day I’m exhausted and emotional. Do I ignore it and exercise again the next day or do I allow my body to rest a day and continue exercising skipping a day or so?