Primary & Secondary Stress Leading to Symptoms

[@mikedenis72]

I've thankful that I've been symptom free for a few years now except for a few minor flair ups here and there that always reside quickly. In my humble opinion, your expiation of how stress causes psychosomatic bodily symptoms is exactly how I would describe it. You spoke to personality traits that cause a lot of our internal stress, which I have many. I've been studying them for a few years, and I've come to the realization that they are all caused by early complex trauma. After training your brain not to cause secondary stress by not fearing the symptoms, I think learning and dealing with your traumas can also be an important endeavor in helping reduce our primary stresses. Thanks for the work that you do Jim.

[@thedancingdivaofdaviestree2320]

I agree. Dealing with grief and trauma helped me recover 80% from CFS/ME and fibro for 6 years. Then I had the worst trauma of my life. Unsurprisingly, symptoms came back. Now I'm feeling safer and discovered mind/body healing techniques like somatic tracking, I'm confident I will heal again - and this time fully! Peter Levine and James Gordon's books and videos helped hugely, as did trauma counseling. I love the expression of symptoms as "secondary stress." Always delighted to hear of people recovering!

[@CorneliusSpivey]

God work 💜

[@MorComm]

This is an amazingly succinct analysis of the emotional origins of chronic pain and how it becomes a self-perpetuating process. Want to listen to it several times, Jim, and explore all the processes involved.

[@diddy7876]

This is an excellent vid, very useful thank you. The concept of primary and secondary pain describes it so well.

[@thezendo6746]

It’s breaking me down ..I’m having this reaction to any stress ..I used to be able handle anything in my life and now it’s as if **everything has the potential to create tension and grief ..and more freeze pain 😅

[@thedancingdivaofdaviestree2320]

Hi Jim. I was improving amazingly until I had 21 stresses in 3 weeks, 4 of them major (like a bidding war for an apartment I lost, and a death). The pain stayed reduced until the 19th stressor - then it and fatigue came back. I was pleased it took so many to bring it back, but I noticed I did really well until there just wasn't a single day to recover and relax - and sure enough, frustration, anger, and catastrophization crept in. We stress about the stress reactions to the stress! But as I gently mocked my crocodile brain (I call it "Croco Pops") the pain often moved about, then went away. A couple of times it got huge when I overwhelmed my brain with too much activity, so I'm working on still being active but a little more gently. But even the large sensations calmed down much sooner than before, and I can stay calmer and more confident that they're perfectly safe, just a reaction to a ton of stress in a short time. I love "Stress creates stress symptoms" and the importance of being authentic in your life. I've learned a lot from your videos, Jim, many thanks!

[@chiselcheswick5673]

Amazing comment that I can empathise with totally 👍

[@Fluffpuff101-q8f]

What tms do you have? I’m struggling with cfs and feel like it’s the one thing that isn’t tms but maybe it is

[@thedancingdivaofdaviestree2320]

@@Fluffpuff101-q8f Though it isn't mentioned as often as pain, fatigue IS a TMS symptoms too. I also have the usual "co-morbid entities" - sounds like a bunch of crabby ghosts -- IBS, IC, and fibro pain. I KNOW they're all TMS, as they were gone for 6 glorious years. I treat the exhaustion sensation the same as the rest, telling myself it's just a sensation created by the overprotective brain to keep me safe. Knowing that, I'm still able to do everything I want to do, I just need a nap in the afternoon. What proves it is when I'm doing what I love or with people I thoroughly enjoy -- I have NO exhaustion or gut symptoms and minimal pain. I'm living in a home where I don't feel safe. Once I've moved, I believe it will all fade away as it did before. But I'm reading Deb Dana and practicing somatic tracking daily, as even here, it's been MUCH better. Lots of luck on your healing journey!

[@thedancingdivaofdaviestree2320]

@@Fluffpuff101-q8f Though it's mentioned less often, fatigue IS a TMS symptom. Tanner Murtagh has a somatic tracking for fatigue. Mine disappeared for 6 glorious years until a major trauma when unsurprisingly, it recurred. But doing somatic work is helping, and I now do everything I want to do without fear, and no longer have crashes the next day. I've worked for days in a row with NO naps! Bit by bit - even after 54 years of MEFM, I'm improving (with setbacks) and am hoping for a 100 % recovery this time now I've got brain science behind me. Happy Healing!

[@pattyboucetta1897]

Hi Jim. I love your content. Its so different from any other practitioners, who never have the guts to be 100% sure that stress and tension is the root cause of practically every bodily issue. I’ve watched 100s of videos of yours and other Mind/body people, but rarely see anyone with the eye issues that i have. I wrote you an email a couple months ago. I’ve had eye flashes, floaters, tension around the eyes, tiny sharp pains now and then, and I see random colors as well. Needless to say its distressing. I know 100% that it’s a brain pattern - it happens in the same locations in my house, and same situations outside of the house. Also when I’m upset it ramps up. Anyone else you know that healed from this and how to send messages of safety to my brain to finally let go.

[@thedancingdivaofdaviestree2320]

I had lots of eye issues like those you mentioned when I was disabled by neuroplastic pain and fatigue, worsened by the doctor prescribing benzos and elavil for pain and fatigue. When I tapered OFF the medications, most of those problems disappeared, especially as I began facing the trauma and grief behind the symptoms. Writing down all my challenging emotions in a journal helped. The ones more challenging I used shaking then dancing which helped hugely as it seemed to move the emotions through then out of my body. Shaking and dancing helps release stress, pain, anxiety, and it used in shamanic cultures round the world. Plus writing then telling stories about the experience of benzo withdrawal. Sharing our stories heals, whether in counseling or in writers groups or poetry and storytelling circles. I recovered by 80% from 5 supposedly "incurable" diseases. Now I've discovered somatic tracking and neuroplasticity, I hope to recover completely. I notice the eye issues come back with lots of stress, and get better with meditation, somatic tracking, and creativity. Best of luck! Thanks, Jim, these are VERY educational. You often find small angles on things that really get the point across in clear ways.

[@pattyboucetta1897]

@@thedancingdivaofdaviestree2320 Thanks so much for your caring reply. I appreciate it. Yes the eye issue is a circle- more stress = more symptoms = more anxiety. I haven’t done much of the writing but now am going to. And definitely shaking, i know that’s helps to clear energies. I don’t know if you have had this, but when one symptom goes another comes up. And this also happens when I merely just start feeling hopeful and positive- another scary symptom comes up. I am actually dealing with this right now. Tiny pains in neck, chest and shoulder blade. I will write about this to try to let it pass. If the eye things didnt show up every day like clockwork (before I even open my eyes I see the blips of blurred light that go back and forth on either side, then i see flashes in certain areas, especially when I get up in the middle of the night, its like my brain goes in high alert with eye flashes- its so distressing even after years… not sure why I can’t find peace with it). So thank you again! 🙏🏼❤️

[@thedancingdivaofdaviestree2320]

@@pattyboucetta1897 Boy, do I know the game of "Whack a Mole!" One symptom disappears and you're thrilled - then the Crocodile brain throws 3 more against the wall to see what sticks! (Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt - hand-loomed the T-shirt!) I've learned to consider that reassuring, as the movement of pains around the body PROVES that it's neuroplastic, trying to distract you from your stresses and emotions. I now try to laugh and say "Thank you! I don't have to fear this anymore, you're just a little overprotective, like a cute-but-hyper chihuahua." Sometimes that works, and within a few minutes or hours, the symptoms fade away. I LOVE that. I also find that working out what the problem is that needs resolving can help. I had a migraine, which I rarely get. Instead of tensing in fear of how long they can last - I thought about who or what was a "pain in the neck?" The answer came quickly - I had a business appointment with someone I didn't trust. I cancelled it - and within 10 minutes I had NO migraine. Eye stuff is scary for us. But if you've been tested and know it's not structural, I'd try telling myself it's a psychedelic light show courtesy of your stress and tension. Then play "I Can See Clearly Now" and visualize seeing clearly and feeling relaxed. That worked for me when I had a retinal detachment - which IS structural and can result in blindness without surgery. Instead it reattached and I didn't need surgery. Lots of self-hypnosis helped me too. Best of luck. Everyone who healed has been where you are - including all the teachers and coaches. One day YOU'LL be the success story!

[@pattyboucetta1897]

@@thedancingdivaofdaviestree2320 Again thank you. So helpful to talk to someone who’s been there. I had 2 laser procedures but now i think i didnt need them. I think now 100% it was a mind/body emotional cause and still hanging on. I do talk to my symptoms a lot. I just don’t think they’re getting the message. I think mine are stopping me from moving forward in many areas of life.

[@thedancingdivaofdaviestree2320]

@@pattyboucetta1897 It can feel NEVER-ENDING for a while. Then suddenly the amygdala seems to "get it." There are still hiccups, and setbacks - but they become hurdles you know you can leap over eventually. Keep trying - it DOES work. Watching the success stories helped me when stuck in sensations, as everyone had been right there where you are before they recovered.

[@heldenkreuz]

Excellent!! Thanks again, Jim... 👏🏼💯🤍

[@cpodgorelec]

Bravo . Blessings from South Australia 🌷

[@HealingWolfCoaching]

Love it Jim!!!! ❤❤❤

[@enlightenedmind1685]

I’m struggling with groin pain totally stressed out about it and full on anxiety

[@TerryS75]

Super video Jim. Very clear and concise. Thank you.

[@sandrajeddeloh516]

Very clear!

[@sarah430]

Very helpful! The first time I’ve really heard the role of secondary stress explained. Thank you. 🙏🏻

[@patrickflanagan5415]

Hey thanks for the video! Any tips to help remove the secondary stressors?

[@rebeccachew2321]

Thank you Jim

[@nickyblanksma352]

So neuropathie is somatic? I have no diabetic. I have burning, tingling, tiredness. I had ao much stress in my life

[@casario2808]

Personally I think it can be. I get worse symptoms when stress and other MBS symptoms are high. Could be a bit of both

[@nickyblanksma352]

​@@casario2808yes me too when stress is high

[@joesedlacek7552]

I’m retired, where can my stress be coming from? I never had this back pain when I was working, and my job had a lot of stress involved.

[@iWaveKatie]

Being retired exposes unconscious stresses, I think, which may have been covered up by being busy and needed while working?

[@pattyboucetta1897]

Sounds like there’s some okd, deeper things that were repressed.

[@robval7465]

How to let go of tinnitus?