I have been studying the mind-body connection

[FiGaDoWdMe]

I have terrible anxiety and am no different than most of the people using this website to get out their feelings but I have been studying the mind-body connection (psychoanalysis of the psychosomatic) and it has proved to be very helpful to me; especially in the area of my physical symptoms of anxiety.

Apparently these physical symptoms that many of us experience and are very real in every way shape and form are simply defense mechanisms. What is happening is that the brain is creating physical pains to take your attention away from underlying emotional pains that can be too much to face openly. The headaches, the cold sweats, the nightmares, the back pain, the heart palpitations, the rapid heart rate, the rise in body temperature. Once a physician has ruled out a serious illness what other good explanation is there?

In this modern fast pace life we are forced to experience a lot more stress than our ancestors were. Sometimes when we experience a traumatizing event we don't have the mental capacity to face it head on and start to think that we are losing our minds and going crazy. Why is this happening to me? Why can't I be normal? Etc.

Everything has to do with mind-body and once we can recognize these emotions and face them head on we can eliminate the anxiety and pain that we go through on a daily basis. I know that one problem with this method is that sometimes the emotional pain really is a lot worse than the anxiety or the physical symptoms alone. Sometimes we cannot even identify what is the exact source of the emotional pain or stress. It could stem from multiple levels. It takes a lot of work to rewire your brain and thinking patterns but once you can eliminate or at least recognize the emotional causes you can eliminate or alleviate the pain and anxiety.

[soultrain]

Physical pain as a mask to cover-up emotional pain is a interesting theory of our physical reaction to painful emotions.  From my readings on the great meditation master Osho. I have learned that we don't have to look at the mind and body as separate entities.  The body is just a extension of the mind.  The mind directs our bodies to solve problems in our environment.  Occasionally something goes wrong either organically (illness/injury) or we inherit traits from our forebears. 

Yes, we do have to accept the fact the we are experiencing emotional pain.  I would like to know what have you done to rewire your brain in order to eliminate emotional affliction.  Because in order to rewire your brain you must have some technique.  Can you enlighten me on this matter.

[sixpack]

The Mind/Body connection is what really put all of this stuff into perspective for me.  I still get stressed out, as that is part of life, but now when I get strange sensations, I can more easily see the cause.

[tmicrowave]

yes amen. i feel the same sixpack

[Calamy]

I get tons of strange sensations (smothery, choking, tightness, breathing weirdness 0 short of breath, hyperventilating, air hunger, etc- tickling, just plain WEIRD, indescribable, like a bubble inside my chest, all kinds of pains, ad infinitum). I just had a feeling a couple of times that seemed to be in my throat and upper chest of like something oppressive but then it went away after a few seconds. Like when you get choked up and want to cry. That sensation comes and goes and has been doing that on and off for a couple of years now and it freaks the crup out of me. Whatever crup is, I made it up, lol.

I am rereading Dr Sarno's books and going to read Dr. Schubiner's book and Claire Weekes's books. I want the sensations to stop. I think I have TMS (mindbody syndrome). I have read Dr. Clarke's book on it too (I think its' Clarke, David Clarke?). They recommend journaling and have step by step prgrams. I'm even thinking of shelling out the $250 to take Dr Schubiner's course because they have a forum where he answers your questions and stuff when you're in the course. I'm getting his new book "UNlearn Your Pain". Fibromyalgia is also said to be a mindbody thing.