TMS/Mind Body Syndrome
If you’re new to the concept of TMS or Mind Body Syndrome, let me summarize for you. TMS is a diagnosis discovered and labeled by Dr. John Sarno to describe various pain issues that develop in the body due to mental and emotional stress. Dr. Sarno has written several books about TMS and the connection between the mind, emotions and pain. Dr. Howard Schubiner has expanded on Dr. Sarno’s work and likes to call TMS “Mind Body Syndrome.” Both labels mean the same thing – the pain issue is completely benign, even though it is indeed real, causing real pain, and even sometimes resulting in actual pathologies. This pain syndrome will leave without a trace when dealt with as a mind body syndrome and is completely reversible. Vulvodynia, IC, IBS, and other pelvic/chronic pain syndromes are Mind-Body Syndromes.
Dr. Sarno was one of the first medical doctors in our culture to explicitly discuss the ability of the mind to address and release physical pain. I am so thankful for his work, because it played a huge role in my own healing journey. Other doctors have now written about mind-body healing from many different perspectives, but you will find that there are large commonalities in their work (even if some details seem to contradict each other here and there). In my Healthy Mind Toolbox Course, I bring together the elements from different resources as well as my personal experience, because I don’t follow a straight Sarno format myself. I like to pull together different mind-body resources to generate an even more effective mind-body healing process.
Western Medicine is embarking on a journey of its own into this powerful realm. For hundreds of years, humans have accessed their mind-body-spirit connection to achieve health. It’s only been in the last couple of centuries that our culture has looked at our mind and body as separate. This mistake is being corrected slowly and subtly, but it is indeed happening. When we need what Western Medicine has to offer, it is incredibly helpful. When we try to use the current medical model to treat Mind Body Syndromes, however, it utterly fails. The best of both worlds means blending Western Medicine and mind-body healing.
Separating mind and body is impossible. What we think triggers physiological responses in our bodies. How we deal with emotions has a huge effect on our physical well-being. The body tells us via pain that we need to address the various mental and emotional components of ourselves in new and effective ways. The body essentially says – “Hey. What you’re doing is not working. It’s time to look at your life and do a little inner work.”
As a mind-body coach, my job is to help you with that inner work. Through the various resources I offer, you can learn about your own mind, your own emotional habits, and the ways in which you are unwittingly putting a lot of stress on your body. Learning this will help you to align with your body and create a team between you, your body, and your mental/emotional world. Your body will thank you with vibrant health.
You’ll also discover that learning what your body is trying to tell you and teach you leads to a much happier, more fulfilling life. My life would be nothing like it is today without the lessons I learned from dealing with my mind-body syndromes. Mind-body syndromes are nothing to fear – once you learn the ins and outs, you’ll never get trapped in that pain/fear cycle again. It’s perfectly normal to have small episodes of mind-body pain here and there once you’ve returned to full health. You’ll see those for what they really are – messages to let you know where you’ve gotten a bit off track within yourself. Never again will you face a confusing, overwhelming, seemingly out-of-the-blue pain syndrome that appears to have no cause and no solution. You’ll spend your life 99% physically healthy.
The coaching tools you learn will give you much more than physical health, so get ready for an amazing journey! The deep understanding of yourself – the intimate connection between your mind and your body – will allow you to create the life you really want. Dream big, because this kind of incredible Healthy Life truly is possible.
