Psychosomatic disorders

1. Physical disorders of the mind-body Psychosomatic disorders Discovering the core of the problem

2. Physical disorders • These are true disorders, with real physical symptoms. • This does not mean to say that this is in the mind only, it is not fake or made up. Of the mind-body However, it is produced by the mind, and can be undone in the mind.

3. Why would my own mind be my worst enemy in producing so much pain for myself??!! • The answer to this question, is the key to understanding psychosomatic disorders. • I hope we will be able to answer this question by the end of the night.

4. Dr. Sarno • Dr. Sarno has done extensive research in this field and has treated a large number of patients successfully. • Rav Katz, he is a class on this topic once a month for the past decade or more and has been able to help scores of people with this method. • I have worked this with many people and see it with clarity with my own eyes.

5. Note: • I did not use at tonight’s lecture to prove the truth of this program, I am assuming, that you will either accept the fact that so many people have used it successfully. And/or you will read the books which elaborates on the specific illnesses and the research that has supported this. The statistics are published as well. • for some who have difficulty accepting, it may be necessary to do this step early on in the program.

6. A word of precaution • Obviously not all medical conditions can be attributed to psychosomatic sources. • Never assume on your own, always have the person examined by a physical doctor first. • Use this method, when the doctor agrees that there is no danger involved. • We will go through several types of the illnesses that have been proven to respond to this method

7. I will begin by introducing seven basic premises Upon which this treatment program is be based. Afterwards I will tie them all together and show how to implement them

8. #1 – there are two types of pain • 1 – Physical pain – when someone’s sprains and ankle, slams his finger in the door, burns himself on a hot pot. • 2 - Emotional pain – when someone feels put down by someone else, guilty feelings, feelings of anger and rage over a wide array of instances

9. #2 – when both of these pains exist at the same time, the physical pain overtakes the conscious mind, and the emotional pain falls to the backdrop • If your boss at work were to insult you and show dissatisfaction with your hard work, (feeling emotional pain), and on your way to the car you slam your finger in the door, your finger is bleeding and in pain. (physical pain) • Your mind will naturally lose focus of the emotional pain and focus on the physical one.

10. #3 – A person has two minds protecting and regulating the body’s existence • 1 – the conscious mind – the one that you are aware of, This consists of whatever thoughts are on your mind at any given time. • 2 - The subconscious mind – the one in which all your past experiences or etched into. You may not fully be conscience of what is going on there.

11. Both of these minds have feelings, and both have significant control on different body functions • The conscious mind controls the actions that affect the body ( what you eat, how much you sleep and all other standard health related issues) • The subconscious mind controls all the activity that works automatically, without our being aware. Ex. how much oxygen is delivered to various parts of the body and the similar functions

12. #4 – The dynamics of the subconscious mind are much more powerful and intense than the conscious mind. • The feelings, and especially the painful feelings of repressed emotions are 10 times more painful, than similar emotions that have broken through to the conscious mind. • For this reason, emotional pain that is being experienced in the subconscious mind, is roaring with high impact.

13. #5 – the subconscious mind has a tremendous fear. • The fear of this excruciating emotional pain that is etched into the subconscious mind may break through to the conscious mind and be too unbearable for the body to handle or even face up to. • This must be avoided at any cost

14. #6 – the subconscious mind must find relief The plan: • Direct the attention of the conscious mind away from the repressed emotions, • This can be accomplished by producing physical pain, which will direct the attention to care for the overriding physical pain. • The body does this by constricting and limiting the amount of oxygen or other nutrients being sent to specificparts of the body

15. TMS • Tension Myositis Syndrome • Localized reduction in blood flow to a small region or specific body structure such as a spinal nerve resulting in a state of mild oxygen deprivation. The result is pain.

16. #7 – the subconscious mind can not produce real damage. • the changes in oxygen or nutrients that may be diminished by the subconscious mind, are not damaging in a permanent sense, they will cause a real pain, but the pain is benign. • Compare the pain of a pinch to the pain of a broken leg. • The difference, if you continue walking on the pinched a leg nothing can happen!

17. Solution = knowledge • 1 – my mind is creating this benign pain in order to divert my attention from the emotional pain that plagues the subconscious mind. • 2 – I will undo this, by directly focusing on My emotional painful feelings and experiences, in general and especially when I have this pain. • Instead of diverting my attention, and avoiding the breakthrough of the pain from subconscious to conscious, I will forcefully bring it to my conscious mind • 3 – by doing this, the body has no reason to produce the pain.

18. Uncovering the unconscious emotions • If it is possible to express the anger and allow the unconscious rage to come forward, a lot of of relief may be felt immediately, similar to a heavy stone being rolled off his heart. • It’s almost like it was waiting and hiding, dying for a chance to be processed. • When it comes it may lead to a burst of writing… but the end result may be closure and a cessation ofof pain.

19. Program outline • 1 – Make a list of all things that may be contributing to unconscious painful and threatening feelings that are necessitating the pain. Remember these feelings are inside you but you do not feel them consciously. • 2 – Write an essay, the longer the better, about each item on the list. This will force you to focus and depth on the emotional things of importance in your life.

20. Possible sources of those feelings 1 – Anger, hurt, emotional pain, sadness generated in childhood. (many childhood experiences remain permanently – and time doesn’t mean anything) 2 – Hurtful feelings over the general feeling that I have been lacking of adequate emotional support, love and warmth… these remain unconscious.

21. Possible sources of those feelings 3 – being raised in an environment of excessive discipline and/or unreasonable expectations, or was not able to be a child when he was a child. 4 – anything that puts pressure, or responsibilities that scare you. 5 – the fear of getting old and realizing that your power to control its is limited 6 – things in your life that you feel are unfair, but you do not have the rights or the ability to express it.

22. Personality traits that contribute 1 – do you expect a great deal of yourself. Self imposed pressure 2 – do you drive yourself to be perfect, to achieve to succeed 3 – are you hard on yourself, are you your own severest critic 4 – are you very sensitive to people’s criticism

23. Personality traits that contribute 5 –Do you have deep down feelings of inferiority. 6 – Do you feel a strong need to please people. 7- Are you the caretaker type that tends to be very helpful to everyone and anyone

24. Step 2 – recognize, believe and accept • 1 – my mind is creating this benign pain in order to divert my attention from the emotional pain that plagues the subconscious mind. • 2 – believe that this is normal • 3 –accept it as your method of dealing with it • discontinue all treatments (safely) • Stop avoiding any actions because of your condition

25. The action step • read through your list a few times a day, try to picture and feel consciously what you are reading. • Once the pain has gone down, start to do all the things that you have been afraid to do. • When the pain returns, immediately review your list and focus on the psychological emotional painful list that you have written.

26. Some very common symptoms that respond very well to this method • Unexplained headaches • Lost the ability to concentrate • Cannot read well, pressure in my eyes • Pressures or pain in the head neck or back • Sleep problems • Chronic fatigue syndrome • Mono Epstein-Barr

27. some very common symptoms that respond very well to this method • General feeling weak without any satisfactory medical explanation • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded all the time, without rhyme or reason • gastronomical disorders, stomach pains, Crohn’s and colitis • Skin conditions • Allergies • tingling or numbness

28. General rule • I like to use the following generalization of what is of mind-body nature as opposed to real medical illness • 1 – It has symptoms without a clear-cut definitive proven cause. Its cure is also very foggy and vague. • 2 – It is a type of problem that keeps the person “busy” all day long. Serving as a great constant diversion.

29. General rule If you notice that the symptoms wax and wane according to the amount of pressure and emotional strain, this is usually a clear sign of TMS

30. Pain pizmon I am as healthy as anyone else my age! There is nothing wrong with me! I am able to do anything that others do! The reason for my pain is: My subconscious mind is trying to divert my attention from ____________ to physical pain. I will not allow it to control me! I will take control! I will bring all these painful emotions into my conscience self and face them! Smile and watch the pain expire – continue working.. (READ YOUR LIST)

31. Is it important to figure out exactly which is the primary pain? • It is obviously not possible to be sure that you have the right one. • My feeling is that a person will hit the right one naturally because deep down he knows the truth. • Either way, I think that you have to do your best and assume its right, and it will still work, since the pain is bringing some painful feelings into awareness and the subconscious will try hard to avoid this.

32. What if this explanation is incorrect? • I do not necessarily know if this explanation is correct, but • it is common knowledge that a person’s emotional pain affects his physical well-being. • It is also accepted that there are certain illnesses that are a direct cause of stress. (heart, ulcer, asthma, skin, stomache) • Furthermore there are illnesses that are exacerbated by stress. • the pattern of onset Of psychosomatic illness seems clear when we understand the combination, of the onset, the history, and the personality. it is almost impossible to talk in a way.

33. The blessing of clarity • In addition It has been proven that when one processes hurtful feelings they become tangible and bearable to some degree. • It is clear, that when these feelings are not brought to a conscious level, there is a lot of turmoil, confusion, incorrect judgment of the situation – this definitely affects how the body will respond.

34. At the end of the day it works. • Try it • Study it • Notice how it fits with these patterns • Practice it • It may take time until it works fully

35. I tried, it and it is just getting worse • If its gets worse at first it is a good sign • The subconscious is trying its last chance to see if it could win the distraction game, in its eyes – it is fighting for its life • But if you stay steadfast it will subside – hold on strong • Sometimes it may transfer to a different psychosomatic illness – don’t be fooled, just smile and say I knew this was coming

36. What do I do if it comes back? • Many times it will go away and the person becomes so confident that he won’t even remember what to do, some review will usually be effective. • Just look to find what new stress or עגמת נפש came about that is threatening to bring certain feelings into conscious. And follow the program!