If a TMS Approach Is Not Working for You, This May Be Why

[@clarenicholas376]

Over the past couple of weeks I've definitely convinced myself I have TMS pain. I have had it for over 30 years due to being so sensitive. I notice my body go into spasm when I'm scared and fearful, this has intensified since losing my job, my mum, my nan and starting 2 new jobs, all in the past 9 months. It's like my muscles are frozen! But I'm recognising the messages my brain is sending to my body, I'm starting to calm myself down a lot more. I know I can beat this. Thank you for your daily videos, I'm truly grateful.

[@PainFreeYou]

Yes, you CAN and WILL beat this.

[@Inge508]

So sorry for all your losses! All the best for a good recovery ❤️‍🩹

[@clarenicholas376]

@@Inge508 thank you, that's very kind of you 💕

[@NicoleFitnessYouTube]

WOW! You have the clarity! That is fantastic!

[@lauraschmuck5565]

This makes complete sense to me. I know that most of my symptoms are definitely TMS, but there is always a little doubt that when things seem to get worse that I question it. I have had all the tests done and nothing shows anything is physically wrong, I just wish I could get rid of the fear of the symptoms. I guess I need to keep reminding myself that what I am feeling is not harmful.

[@PainFreeYou]

Dial down the fear with accurate information. Consistently. Symptoms getting worse is NOT evidence of a body problem. It's a very strong indicator that the brain is perceiving danger. That's all that is going on.

[@moneygetten]

Stop all phisical fixing activities, move focus away from symptoms, don't talk about symptoms, don't search for solutions on the internet. This will keep the fear loop going/fight flight... Trust 100%in TMS... So your body can relax and get in that state of healing. Good luck.

[@bebrave9108]

Dan is always articulating a simple concept, that we complicate, in a simple and easy to understand manner. Thanks, Dan.

[@PainFreeYou]

My pleasure.

[@NicoleFitnessYouTube]

Excellent point 👍🏻

[@Americancadet]

I did the success/coaching video for Dan a couple weeks back. There is said some pain is lingering, but I am improving. Well I have missed several days of Dans videos. Dare I say it was cathartic telling my journey. I get how real the pain is, but it’s the brain that causing the issues. Keep going everyone!

[@PainFreeYou]

Good stuff!

[@marly1869]

Wow can’t believe after everything many of us have read and have seen the improvements, we still fall in this trap..🤦🏻‍♀️ thank you for consistently reminding us Dan..🙏🏼🙏🏼 And I love to see your yard.. thanks for sharing..🥰

[@PainFreeYou]

Yep - even seasoned TMS veterans fall into this trap.

[@NicoleFitnessYouTube]

@@PainFreeYou YESSSS! We have been conditioned by a lifetime of believing everything is physical! AND that only meds and surgery can correct it!

[@MorComm]

I have a hunch that doing too much PT to cure my LBP when it first occurred (and successfully getting rid of it because of other things I was doing, like increasing socialization) convinced me on a deep level that my TMS was indeed a body problem with physical causes. Even though I know intellectually that TMS is a mind-body syndrome, there's still that physical bias lurking down deep in my mind. I do seem to finally be escaping that trap now but the doubts keep coming back to haunt me. This video Dan is a good reminder to work at mental clarity.

[@moneygetten]

That's the fight/flight.... Same problem here... Let's respond with more safety each day. I can't wait too give that fear loop its final knockoutblow🤜🧠

[@kathy.7475]

My belly pain last night would ease up as it switched to head pain, then back to belly again later. That seems proof to me that it's all TMS. Pain moves around to different areas of my body.

[@PainFreeYou]

Absolutely Proof!! Way to go noticing that.

[@dansamedvargar]

Happy for you are painfree! Wonderful. And I am Happy for your daily sharings. Everything you talk about is giving clarity.

[@PainFreeYou]

Thank you so much!

[@elisedreyfus4375]

What a great video....this is such a huge stumbling block to recovery! Thanks so much for presenting this in such a clear and straightforward manner!

[@PainFreeYou]

You are so welcome!

[@moneygetten]

It's definitely working this TMS approach, the pain went away like magic for 90%...but the brain throws a curve ball sometimes and there we go again... Fight/flight....then I can't sleep... Next day I freak out.... Then it takes days to relax again... Time to react with more safety next time.

[@PainFreeYou]

Calm is the way. Nobody ever got better by freaking out. Watch todays video about "Let's Talk About The Brain". kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKTVlomLYseDbpo

[@AvaGreenFeather]

Thank you and God bless, Dan! 🙏😊

[@PainFreeYou]

Same to you!

[@gazthorne1719]

Hi Dan. Great video. Glad you had a nice break. I'm messaging from the UK. It's currently 10:00am. I think about this all the time. I genuinely do.not feel that I have anything physically wrong with me. For me, I am starting to feel that my body is trying to tell me that I am not living the life that I should be. I feel safe in the vast majority of situations and destinations, whether that is at home or at work, etc, etc. Just a bit of food for thought.

[@theinfinitesongstress]

Hey Gaz, I’ve always wondered if the brain’s choice of sight to cause the pain sensation is connected in any way to using it as a message for us to learn something about ourselves from? 🤔 Like, in one of Louise Hay’s books she mentions that the back represents ‘support’ … for example … when I experienced back pain sensations, was the location indicating that in life I felt I was lacking ‘support’ in some way? I’m not sure about this. In my above reply to Dan, I’ve mentioned the brain in the context of being villainous, but perhaps, it is really our friend & is simply trying tell us things about ourselves we wouldn’t otherwise be bothered to know or ask about?? Just a thought. 😘

[@gazthorne1719]

@@theinfinitesongstress Hi, thanks for your message. I completely get where you are coming from. Although sometimes, I can end up over thinking this and drilling down way too deeply into the why's and how's. I am ultimately trying to take control from the brain and the choices it has, whilst trying to ensure I am staying in touch with my thoughts, feelings and decision making.

[@theinfinitesongstress]

@@gazthorne1719 I hear you completely. Yes you’re right, I need reminding. I’ve been too conscientious of EVERYTHING.. and that just ended up ‘hurting’ when I think about it (trying not too hard to over think things too) … what makes me feel the best I’ve discovered, is being connected to others who experience similar to me. I’ve observed pain instantly disappear in my body upon reading or watching someone else’s similar experience. My (perhaps OVER observation 🤣) is I may have abandonment issues. Thank you too for your contribution here, I value the space Dan has created for this forum. ❤️🙏🏻

[@theinfinitesongstress]

Oh and I hale from rural inland Australia and here it is 9:08pm and freezing cold. (Our winter) gets down to zero deg overnight and 12-17deg during the day).🇦🇺 👋

[@gazthorne1719]

@@theinfinitesongstress You're welcome, thank you too for sharing. Shared experiences help to process and reframe our views.differently. allowing us to step out of our own heads for a short while and gain a fresh perspective.

[@lucid118]

Excellent Dan as always! I do find it helpful to have one TMS person to listen to because with all the apps and programs and doctors and TMS therapists proliferating and now it can get confusing.

[@PainFreeYou]

Great to hear!

[@theinfinitesongstress]

Hey Dan, Thank you again for another great vid .. I agree with you with my conscious mind 💯% BUT … my subconscious mind is apparently still not fully convinced. 🙄 I want to share what I experienced last night. Bit’ve back story, pun not intended but still worth a giggle haha 😄 My back pain story is similar to yours Dan. I’ve known about TMS since 2017, but it’s taken me (& my brain) all this time to get what you’ve called clarity’ a few vids back. Since then I’ve had a few bad back ‘episodes’ but what Dr Sarno calls the ‘symptom imperative’ - I’ve experienced. The pain moves around in me like musical chairs. Although annoying (and sometimes mucking with my said clarity) the musical symptoms maintains my confidence that it’s TMS/PDP. To date I still have a few annoying sensations mimicking hip/knee pain, but last night I went to bed relatively pain free. Whilst asleep I had a succession of scary nightmares. Though I couldn’t recall the content, I could recall the fear. Midway through the night after one of these nightmares, I was awoken by the sensation of really bad back pain. Aware of my fear from my mind’s extracurricular activities, and now awake, I told my brain, ‘’um excuse me brain, this behavior is inappropriate. I wasn’t even conscious to feel that fear, so you’re sprung, you crafty brain, you can turn of those pain neurons because it was just a dream, you’re busted.” I got as comfy as I could, with the pain sensation easing almost instantly. I fell asleep and awoke with no pain sensation at ANY sites today. 🎉 Although as I’m typing this I feel remote hip pain sensation at the thought of the fear in the dreams and then the pain reoccurring in my back, just because of a subconscious scary movie playing while I’m asleep. Sheesh, gotta watch those brains, they can pull a shifty on us if they need to. Have you ever heard of this happening to anyone? Sorry this is long.

[@PainFreeYou]

Any perceived danger, whether conscious or subconscious can cause symptoms or pain. Even during sleep. The fact that you calmly responded with clarity is exactly why things settled down for you. You were VERY clear that there was no actual danger. The brain listens. Bravo - this is the way forward.

[@sandyg7291]

@ The Infinite Songstress - I can relate to your dream and the sensations it caused. My brain is a sneaky little so and so too … I loved your conversation with it and the results.

[@marktam4537]

Hi Dan, Thank you so much for your videos. I am very convinced that I have TMS. I scored high on the test, my personality characteristics are identical to those that are described by John Sarno for those who are more prone to it, and my pain worsens during stressful times as well as moves around different places of the body. When I am busy and occupied and not thinking about the pain, it seems as if it was never there. I really relate to everything discussed in your videos. For context, I struggle with left foot pain/leg/buttock pain and sometimes lower back or neck pain. This all started 10 months ago and no obvious injury occurred. I was reading the "healing back pain” book by Sarno and he stated “I might prescribe a painkiller but not an anti inflammatory since there is no inflammation.” This sentence really threw me off. My MRI and X-Ray for my foot were completely normal, however, an ultrasound for my foot I did (5 months after the pain started) showed I had suspected tenosynovitis (inflammation of the tendon sheath) exactly in the medial foot/ankle area where I have pain. Can TMS cause inflammation? I am trying to wrap my head around this. I was really aligned with everything and convinced until I read that sentence regarding inflammation. It is also strange to me that MRI done around the same time did not pick it up.

[@PainFreeYou]

If the brain can create inflammation for a real injury, the brain can create information for a perceived danger/perceived injury.

[@lindag3260]

I needed this today, thanks for your wonderful videos and support ❤️

[@PainFreeYou]

Happy to help!

[@jue7434]

Thanks for this Dan, I did miss your breathing at the beginning though 😉

[@PainFreeYou]

Whoops. Thanks for the reminder.

[@jue7434]

@@PainFreeYou I can understand knowing how tired and busy you have been on the road. Well done to your son too 👏 🚵‍♂️

[@1STBUCKLEY]

Arm brace still on(officially except for physio,but I decided last week to drop it during daytime because I'm becoming a patient and broken in my head) I can't get hospital appointment until mid September after cancelling mid August one due to bacterial infection n covid. So today I took brace off whilst doing a little drive. Five minutes in my brain convinced me the humerus bone was broken(16weeks post) and I needed to get home. Hot sweat n panic followed, I headed back but somehow pulled over and told myself " you know that isn't true, nothing drastic happened, it might be slight muscle thing cos you have not used upper arm etc ". If this isn't PDP TMS I don't know what is. I did park up, put you on. Am calm but jeez crazy brain albeit trying to protect me. I thanked brain but told it I'm ok. Thanks for the video.

[@PainFreeYou]

It's absolutely TMS. Great evidence.

[@NicoleFitnessYouTube]

Good job of talking to your brain!! Keep it up!

[@LilyOscar333]

Thanks Dan .. great message. I felt my low back and glutes tight and achy this morning. Then decided to use my soft ball 🏀 to ease them out. Guess what it made things worse.. now burning after long walk. I now know that by doing that I am confirming to my brain that I am not safe .. hence turn up the pain. I also have not slept well for past few nights which does not help 🙈

[@PainFreeYou]

Treating the body just convinces the brain it's a body problem. Take this experience and learn from it. No need to treat tight muscles. Tight muscles are the RESULT of TMS/Perceived danger. The tight muscles are not the cause of the pain.

[@LilyOscar333]

Thanks Dan .. will try and follow your advice. My main problem is that I freak out.. 🙈 then try to fix.

[@PainFreeYou]

@@LilyOscar333 Freaking out is never an effective strategy. Nor is fixing with physical modalities.

[@dianew6955]

Beautiful. Thank you!

[@PainFreeYou]

Thank you too!

[@McStorch0]

I am completely and 100% convinced my symptoms are my brain. But I’m still stuck. I don’t freak out, I’m clear on this, but I’m still stuck. I do notice small shifts. But I’ve been at this for a while. I have no fear and no panic. No anxiety. Could I have some trapped ptsd from my horrific drug withdrawal experience? Maybe there’s something stuck in my subconscious? Because consciously, I am completely convinced this is tms?

[@PainFreeYou]

Being convinced it's TMS consciously isn't enough. We need to teach the subconscious that we are okay and safe. That takes more than conscious awareness. This progression video really explains what I'm talking about. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h53EpqBpYq2ghZI

[@mb589]

Hi dan! So I think the reason why I can't convince myself completely that this is TMS is because I have never had a minute of being asymptomatic. I think if I had a break in my symptoms like most people have had then it would be easier for me to accept that this is completely Mind Body. Because I think if I had a break in my symptoms then I would know for sure that my body isn't broken. But because I've had 35 months of consistent, non-stop, 24/7 bladder pain, it's hard to believe it's not structural even though all the Diagnostics come back clean. It's one of those things where if you have a moment of relief then you know your body can feel like that all the time but because I've never had a break, and the longer this goes on, it's just harder to believe that it's TMS. What do you say to those of us who have never had a break in our symptoms?

[@PainFreeYou]

The reason for constant pain is constant perceived danger. That's it. It's not much more complex than that. Constant pain can STILL be created by the brain. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qp-4Z354dttonMk

[@gazthorne1719]

Here's a tip I'd like to share when you have a flare up. It's really worked for me recently. Start to hold your breath and control your thoughts. I am now up to 85 seconds, it's also incredibly beneficial for your cardiovascular system. Night all.

[@PainFreeYou]

Great tip!

[@Inge508]

Thanks Gaz! I will give it a try!👍👏🌻

[@davidrager8813]

I have made amazing strides forward with my fear and feeling/releasing my emotions in general over the last couple of years. It has been life changing on the mental and emotional side of my life....unfortunately it hasn't greatly impacted my sensations much. I get to the point sometimes where I do wonder if I'm on the right path....it really feels like I am yet the results aren't supporting this feeling.

[@PainFreeYou]

You are on the right path. Your mindset always has to shift first. Symptoms shift later once the brain believes the messages of safety.

[@davidrager8813]

@@PainFreeYou thank you for your reply! I feel like I have done this for a long time and yet progress has been limited in the sensation realm. Most of the time I just stay in the zone and don't really evaluate, but then some days come up and the thought that doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.

[@annew3878]

Hi Dan - thank you for these amazing videos! Do you think it is possible to have TMS in addition to a condition that has been medically diagnosed based on scientific evidence? I have had a growing number of symptoms for 15 years after a difficult pregnancy and childbirth. (Hyperemesis gravidarum, which led to nutritional depletion and several broken ribs.) Worst is back pain, which led me to PT, acupuncture, nutritionists, naturopaths - you know, the whole works - then, when not getting results, Sarno, Ozanich, Alan Gordon, the TMS Wiki on and off over the years. But other symptoms, like hair loss, restless legs and chronic hives, have improved since my doctor discovered I've had "iron deficiency without anemia." When my ferritin (stored iron levels) go up, these symptoms improve. But studies show that this deficiency can cause muscle and joint pain too, which can take a year or two of keeping ferritin levels high enough to see results. However, on the TMS side of things, I have evidence that my back pain intensifies during a visit from my parents or even the anticipation of having to attend an event (i.e. what will the chairs be like, etc.). Also, knee pain rarely happens anymore after applying your method. Do you think it's possible to have a true "structural" issue and TMS makes it worse? (I'm not sure what a better word than "structural" would be in this case, but I mean a possible medical reason for why oxygen isn't getting transported to the tissues.) I feel like I've been living on the fence and without clarity for so long that I wonder if I have no choice but to remain like this until a couple more years of supplementation. I always remind myself that you say, "there's no downside to this method - no one ever gets better by freaking out." I use your method to try to calm myself, adding in that the iron will help me with some symptoms too. I know this is keeping my brain confused though... It's hard to think "well, this symptom is TMS and this one is not." Is it possible to treat both at the same time? I feel like I'm asking if I can have my cake and eat it too!

[@PainFreeYou]

Anne: Perceived Danger creates pain and other symptoms. That's it. If you believe studies that ferritin levels cause the level of pain you have, then your brain will perceive danger and believe it will take years of supplementation till you can get well. That's a sure way to keep the pain going for a long time. There are tons of people with all sorts of deficiencies and no pain. Why are you the one that an iron deficiency causes all these symptoms? Decide it's all TMS. And if you want to take a supplement, be very clear that it's for overall health, but that the ferritin levels are NOT the cause of the symptoms or pain. Resources on: www.PainFreeYou.com/start

[@annew3878]

@@PainFreeYou Thanks Dan! I've heard other people say this before about having all sorts of deficiencies and no pain, but how do we know this? (I'm not trying to pick a fight - I think what you're doing is amazing with these free videos and a valuable resource to so many people. I am only curious so that I can get clarity.) I read about a study that showed mice who were fed an iron deficient diet were more sensitive to acute and chronic pain. Are you saying that if I believe something like this, then using your method will absolutely not work with pain?

[@PainFreeYou]

​@@annew3878 You have a study on mice. Zero proof that the iron is causing YOUR pain. If you took the assessments and they indicate TMS/Mindbody pain, then you DO have proof how your symptoms are behaving. Lack of clarity will delay recovery. The brain is creating the pain. We must convince the brain we are okay so it decides to turn off the pain. Assessments here: www.painfreeyou.com/start There is zero downside to the TMS/Mindbody approach I teach. Take the supplements for overall health. But do your best to instruct/teach your brain that TMS and not the iron levels are what is causing the pain and that you are already in a body capable of being pain/symptom free.

[@lisazerr1949]

I have chronic dizziness and I was wondering if because I am an anxious person the dizziness will never go away.

[@PainFreeYou]

It CAN go away when you lower the fear and attention you give the dizziness.

[@staceydewitt]

What about when lower back pain is so intense it affects moving and walking? It’s challenging to shift mind set when the pain is so limiting

[@PainFreeYou]

I had 13 years of lower back pain and sciatica. Some mild, a lot of it WILD and very limiting. What is your level of clarity that your pain is caused by your brain (TMS/Perceived danger) and not some body problem? Accurate data will help to dial down the fear for sure.

[@staceydewitt]

@@Inge508 Thank you for sharing that!!

[@kathyholmes827]

I have damaged my coccyx, and when it moves on to a nerve it really is as bad as labour pain, to be on the safe side I treat it just the same as PDP, I don't want to give the brain any oprtunaty to think I'm not 100% sure I'm safe,🤗

[@PainFreeYou]

If you want your brain to believe your body is okay, you may wish to stop telling yourself the story of damaging your coccyx. Your brain believes you haven't healed which you likely did long ago.

[@kathyholmes827]

@@PainFreeYouI understand what you're saying, I now look at it as being PDP

[@afkVahn]

Hey Dan, I've tried the TMS approach, but my symptoms are so bizarre and unrelenting I have an incredibly hard time truly believing it is TMS. It seems that even by TMS standards, my symptoms are too unusual and it keeps me from dialing down the fear. Love your videos though, and I have been watching them for over a year and really try to implement them. Is it possible some people take years to recover?

[@PainFreeYou]

If you refuse to accept that you have TMS, yes it can take a long time. Did you do the assessments I talk about in this video and many other videos? If not, why not? If yes, did they indicate TMS? If yes, why are you unwilling to accept that result?

[@afkVahn]

@@PainFreeYou Hey Dan, I did. I scored around 26. So I guess it indicates TMS, but not conclusively, which, because of the specific nature of my symptoms, makes me doubt it is TMS. Maybe a 1 on 1 coaching call can help? I'm a bit weary of the group calls because of the very delicate nature of my symptoms.

[@PainFreeYou]

@@afkVahn answer the 30 questions on this page: PPDAssociation.org/symptoms - how many do you answer "yes"?

[@PainFreeYou]

@@afkVahn I am booked out for months for one on one coaching.

[@afkVahn]

@@PainFreeYou I scored an 18 on the PPDA questionnaire.

[@juliereuther1576]

What about structural sleep apnea. I believe I have TMS but I think my sleep apnea causes symptoms. I m not sure my sleep apnea is a brain problem?

[@PainFreeYou]

Not an expert in sleep apnea, but according to google, Sleep Apnea and Stress: The blocked airways that result from obstructive sleep apnea are caused by the abnormal relaxation of the throat muscles during sleep. Stress does not cause obstructive sleep apnea directly, but it can worsen your symptoms. “Stress can make some of the symptoms of sleep apnea worse. There would be ZERO downside to the approach I teach in calming the stress response, particularly about apnea. One very common cause is weight being too high. When I have extra weight on, I snore a lot more. When my weight is where it should be I don't snore at all. While snoring isn't apnea, it's definitely related.

[@sandyg7291]

Insomnia can be a TMS thing too, right? Hypervigilance since childhood and all that jazz? I thought I’d read that somewhere.

[@PainFreeYou]

kzbin.infosearch?query=insomnia

[@moneygetten]

I had insomnia for years... My brain felt unsafe for years... In full fight/flight its impossible to sleep. relaxing and learning about tms calms your nervous system down and stops the cortisol/stress hormone production. If you feel happy and safe you will get that sleep back in no time... If the central nervous system relaxes... You shift from fight /flight in the digest and rest state so you can heal.

[@8aNda1d]

🤚☺❤