This may be a bit out there, but I was thinking this morning how video games are a useful analogy to healing from TMS. In a video game, as you progress and level up, the game gets harder and harder. You have more skills, better weapons, so the game has to throw more at you to have the same amount of challenge. Similarly, as we progress in healing from TMS, it must throw more difficult sensations at us to achieve the same result of preoccupation and fear. Unfortunately, our progress isn't spelled out on a screen when healing as it is on a video game. So, when we are getting your butt kicked it is easy to feel like we are at square one and haven't gotten anywhere. However, if thought through the lens of this analogy, we can have the mindset of welcoming more challenging sensations. Because it tells us that we are making progress. That TMS must try harder to achieve the same result. And as long as we are keeping a healthy mindset and not falling too deeply into fear, we are making progress, a progress that is confirmed with new and/or more intense sensations. Finally, one day, when we don't even know it, we will take on the final boss, and win. Then we will be healed.

Playing this on repeat because my brain is determined to try to convince me something is worse. This is a very reassuring video.

I’m viewing all my flares as healing. I used to be so fearful but not anymore. Thank you 😊

Needed this as I still lay in bed after 4 hours, in tears and afraid of the feet tingling. Yesterday I had the smallest bit of hope and reprieve, then woke today and it’s as bad as it ever was. For no reason whatsoever. So thanks for this message.

It is helpful. Wednesday was one of my best days in months, Thursday was one of my worst, Friday this video popped up in my feed. Good timing and thank you!

again, such perfect timing for this message as my sensations have flared the past two days after many days of feeling better. So appreciate the explanation and the encouragement that this is NOT a setback!

This is so helpful. I’ve been having a bit of a setback and the immediate response is to fall back into my old patterns of fear and anxiety. But I know that is not going to help. And everything you say makes perfect sense. They say recovery is not a straight line. This just gives me a good opportunity to practice what I’ve been learning about TMS. Thanks for this, Jim 😊

Jim, your videos and mental therapy recommendations are amazing. These videos are so helpful. I owe you my life.

Wow I am so relieved now a major flare-up finally slept good and I woke up this morning felt great and then a huge flare-up came out of breath and was so overwhelmed but I managed to get calm thank God for that so thank you for this video Jim I listen to you a lot love you Lenneke 😘😘😘

THANK YOU!! I look so forward to watching your videos! It’s such a great pep talk with very helpful information.

I really needed to hear this reminder today ... Thank you🤙

This is really like "my thing". I tend to "let myself go" on "good" days, and I take a walk, go to the grocerie shop, come back home, feel like cooking, but also want to paint a painting... Than I want to take a shower, etc,... just like "normal people", as you say it 😯, do. (Are we not normal????) And o my gosh do I enjoy my day!!!! Next 3, this time 4! days, my legs and whole body scream and refuse to perform the smallest task, like even doing the dishes. Legs hurting, refusing, burning and numbing in the same time. Whole body follows. Mind follows, feelings follow. Into the great dark dungeons again. Housebound again 😢. Feeling desperate and lost, and at a loss. Takes days to even find the horse again and get on it. It's just that I fucking was soooo excited about everything and wanted to move on a little to fast. I KNOW it's NOT my body, but it's my overprotective brain giving this to me, but it's so hard to hold back when I feel happy for a day, since I am longing for that so very very much. All I do on this good day is let my positive vibes flow, and go with it. SO CRUEL TO BE PUNISHED FOR THAT. And please please please Jim, stop telling me to get back on the horse the next day, for I think, and I really do think that you have no idea about how severe a fibro/ all over flare can be. Which means that I will have to listen to my own system, and not your words about getting back on the horse the next day, for that is impossible to do. Love you anyway 😊

Great video. I think these are extinction bursts since I have continued to train. My brain pulling out all the stops trying to limit me before it gives up and lets me have control.

This is a brilliant video. Just the reassurance I need when I have a flareup. I listen to it each time.And it motivates me to get up and carry on. Your reassurance that it’s Part of the Recovery journey is so important. Just got to Reteach my brain that it’s okay to live life!

Perfect timing just experienced a “setback”

For me one of the important things to remind myself when I get a flare up is that it isn't because I've agitated a physical problem. My brain is getting challenged and is pushing back. Easier said than done though. There are a few things that if I do them usually end in severe pain. Pushing myself into doing them is challenging as I want to avoid the pain, even though I'm pretty convinced by the TMS diagnosis. Its a real head twister.

Thanks, Jim! Such a brilliant message and really helpful to hear. 👍🌟

Wow this comes right on time. After several bppv attacks a year ago, i got scared of these sensations. I ended up reacting very Hypervigilant to everything i felt in my head and body since then. Now, every day i feel dizzy or balance issues because i focused on these for too.long. Now i know i should just let them be and not give it too much attention too recover these stuff in my brain. But everytime i feel dizzy or out of balance, my amygdala react immediately with frightened...i keep trying not to mind these flight sensations...but i keep feeling in doubt if this can ever go away🥺🥺 Especially when i am.doing a bit better and next day, bad again...its like it will never be normal again🙈

I needed to hear this today as I have been in pain the last couple of days. But I know I’m not broken…

So great Jim!!! My "ISG" always complains...but I PRACTICE patience...Greetings from Germany, Munich

A stoic approach. I get these flare-up in my psoas after i've had an encounter with a person whom I regard as difficult or a day with a lot of stimulus.😅😅 Thx for your practical wisdom friend.

Thank you Jim. I needed to hear this. I have been doing what my pre TMS body did easily on my bike and in the gym the last several weeks and was feeling good about my progress and then wham-o. Last couple of weeks I feel like square 1 again and the doubt and fear and attention came roaring back

thanks Jim! since I talked to you I actually started feeling worse for some reason...well I attribute it to putting too much pressure on myself/my goals for the summer. and most distressingly most of the pain moved to the side of my head that I find more unbearable/painful. It used to always just linger on the left side of my neck/head so much that I got used to it/it didn't bother me much. But lately it's all shifted to the right side! which I find more difficult to tolerate. And I've had some more severe flare ups on the right side where I had to take medication. Just hoping if I keep trying the same tactics that things will improve! This sudden shift is crazy.

Oh my gosh I think this is literally on of THE most valuable pieces of information I have ever come accross ! Im actually going to listen to this video a few times a week! thank you so much Jim and so well timed! 🙃 Can I cask you-the severe exhaustion that comes with CFS- am I right in thinking it's just the same as pain or the other symptoms you talk about on your channel -so the exhaustion is just a "danger signal " a way of the limbic brain thinking it is keeping yourself safe just as it does with pain signals?-the reason I ask is because you actually mention ppl thinking they have "pushed too much"-alot of doctors and info on the net etc say CFS :dips or crashes" are often caused when ppl "push too much" its often referred to as the "push crash cycle" atleast in my country. So I have this fear of pushing and crashing doing mundane daily tasks-but like u mentioned in this video, if it's normal daily activities that most normal ppl do, it's not actually pushing and we need to keep reinforcing that fact to our limbicbrain(so this approach is what I need to retrain myself to think from?) Thank u sooo much if u do reply and for this video it is gold🙏🦄

Thanks Jim, The timing is perfect.

This was REALLY HELPFUL! Thank You..so Much!

I feel very bad like I need to start all over because I developed master cell activation syndrome and Sibo candida and I was making progress and my water system got contaminated and I was drinking that water son now has a set back in shock to my nervous system now I am worse I need to start to start all over 😭 I can’t no more

Brilliant video Jim! 👍 I have shared in my CFS fb group

I only discovered this method two weeks ago. I have been practicing the somatic tracking. Today I went to a movie with three friends, my first social outing in months. My sensations really revved up during the movie. I kept repeating over and over that I was safe, these feelings were harmless. I was able to calm down some but, now home, I'm still working on it. I hope with practice I will get better at it.

Hi Jim , thanks for the pep talk .. just what i needed ... greetings from ADELAIDE !!

Thank you. Needed this message today. Had some strong symptoms today after feeling better. Need to stay positive and move in again .

VERY VERY HELPFUL! THANK YOU!

Awesome video - thanks a lot!!!

So comforting, thank you

Thank you. That was helpful.

My god, your a gift. Thank you 💕

I just found this channel. I’m so glad. And I love your calming voice.

Brilliant. Thank you very much. Your message is a gift from heaven that a needed just today!

Thank you! I needed this today!

Thanks! Exactly what I needed to hear today! Spot on!

Thank you so much for the knowledge and reassurance!

Thank you, this is exactly what Ive been experiencing. Im feeling reassured 🥰

This helps so much, thank you!! ❤

Thankgod for you

I’m very happy this video came into my feed. Thanks for this fantastic message!

Thank you. I really needed this talk after an uptick from just going to an amusement park and walking around and resting ,,,, I did eat ice cream and some other junk food I don’t usually eat , and the head pressure escalated to very uncomfortable almost 😅immediately. And it just doesn’t make sense how that happened. But must be my amygdala pattern

The upticks really throw doubt on whether it's TMS and if all this is actually working. I'm not sure how to fight the doubt. I keep going down the rabbit hole and questioning whether I'm getting worse and they are missing something.

Hi from uk 🇬🇧 still listening thank u

I will save this link for my next roadblock as well!

I have had such a good few days and thinking I've got this, then bam down again pain in places I've never had I had a follow up appointment at the hospital I went because I wanted to tell them I'm done with looking for answers with my disc bulge, however the Dr frightened me so much I cried all day I'm now back sitting on my ice packs in terrible pain 😪

Thank you for the video. I assume this also applies to post exertional malaise symptoms in CFS and long covid?

Example. I am at a point where I do more than before. I’m doing backcountry skiing. I had a little crash yesterday, but really mild, I did nt get hurt. I’m a bit sore but my body last night was giving me symptoms of PEM/ fatigue/ crazy heaviness ( not normal soreness). I defo pushed myself a bit, I feel like my limbic system totally saw danger in that crash that was nothing. Can I still treat it like a “normal” thing and tell my limbic system to calm down?

I am dealing with post infectious ibs. I think it is tms. Nothing wrong was found.

Four years of mal de debarquement syndrome. My brain is still on an airplane. I don't know how to get better. I have done all the MdDS treatments and spent thousands.

Your videos have been very helpful but I wanted to ask something how can I deal with intrusive thoughts about my stress potentially causing physical illnesses. I have had on and off persistent neck pain for like half a year and for the most part I accepted that it is emotional/mind related. But sometimes I start to worry that my stress levels could take a toll on my physical body and I could get a physical illness

Hi Jim I'm trying to heal bladder pain syndrome (interstitial cystitis) for the last 6 years. During the last year I've read a lot about TMS. All Sarno's books, Dr.Schubiner ”Unlearn your pain“ etc. I'm watching a few TMS coaches and channels on youTube. But lately I wake up with some kind of confusion in my brain. It's like I have never heard about TMS, I feel like I'm going crazy. This confusion fears me. Is this normal? Is this some kind of defence of the brain? What you recommend to do, to keep reading about TMS or to stop for some time? I'm doing meditations, full body relaxations and some of the exercises from Dr.Shubiner's book. Thank you so much for your videos!

Am I broken if pain and trouble walking mri says myemalatia which is softening of my spinal cord from from spinal cord compression.

Jim, i have chronic pain with prolonged sitting. Is it possible that when I sit, I create more tissuedamage or is that an illusion ?

wdt about UTI? my girlfriend got one and i do have miconitc infection but mild. but i started to have again pelvic symtomps ones more ( back them was all clean) this time my urine test came back negatvie again. but the doc (very aware of my tms) send me a round of antitbiotics for this one maybe just in case? the sensations acts a lot like TMS ones and how they act in the past, but kinda distressme being in this situation ones more, and aim kinda afraid of taking the pills and after still got simptomps even when im really aware of why that could happen even if there was a bacteria

So I went to the movies and sit for 3 hrs and I also walk etc 2 days after I was sore now how to know if is TMS or the active days?

What if you're not making any progress? I have eye pain when I move my eye... and after a long day pain is hitting every part of me.

Jim, a small question: in your practising experience, how long should you expect these setbacks/flares to last -- hours, days or even weeks -- in CPPS sufferers?

Hey, does this apply to a fatigue “set back” for people with symptoms of CFS?

Can I please work with you I have been feeling super bad Like a super old lady!!! 😔 also super stiff sore and such sharp pains in my muscles and bones!!! Seriously bones?! I don't understand what's going on in my body

Hi Jim, If you have the time, i posted a question a few days ago. I am so in doubt.. i just started to feel every anxiety or flight sensations with a different approach. 1.5 years i kept fighting it. Since a few days try to let it all be ok...and accept the tension en saidness and dizzy head. But every day i Dream about tension, anxiety etc...i wake up already so tence...and than i go and wonder, is it too late? Did i make it so bad i cant fix this anymore? Will i keep feeling fliht in my body all the time if i do not take anti axiety medication? I sometimes wonder if the doctor is right and i should try to break the circle with medication...instead of keep trying this on my own...after all...in 1.5 years i could not do it myself🥺 The reason i was afraid, was because i kept having balance/ dizzy issues all the time. And because i read some negative strories of people who suffered from some kind of same issues..and got scared because of that. I thouht i would never get better from these balance issues. I thought my life was done...so a good reason to be afraid...i think i CAN recover...but still...some days i am not sure.... Could you help me by giving your opinion? On this all?🙏🙏

Jim, i posted already a reaction yesterday but still 1 more question... Would you believe that symptoms off constant diziness can resolve? I told you after a few times bppv and to much focus of my side because i was afraid of these sensations..some dizzy and out of balance sensations are still with me. i have no medicall issues. I am totally healthy. Only these symptoms and anxiety are still here. Today for the first time i totally accepted all sensations, and not be afraid. i actually dont feel that bad now.. but o was just wondering....would YOU believe these dizzy out of balance sensations that are still in my head/ body if i am able to totally accept these sensations now they are still here all day ..., without fear or focus on these...you think this also can dissapear?

I understand this but there are other doctors who say these symptoms like exhaustion and Fibromyalgia are caused from toxins that have lodged in the body due to medications etc etc and that the exhaustion is from exhausted adrenals that haven't been getting the proper nutrients due to this lodged toxicity (Lawrence Wilson MD) Surely there are a lot of people who don't take care of themselves and encourage these symptoms even though the brain does need to be reprogrammed no? I'm confused Very very confused.

Hi Jim, I have 1 more question. What is your opinion on this; i feel anxiety since 1.5 years beacuse of a few happenings i already wrote about. (bppv). The symptoms are still in my brain and all day long i feel these and because of this, the anxiety. I want to heal and accept all feelings/ sensations. But...my great fear around this all, is that i can not heal anymore because it is already 1.5 year with me...feeling normal is so far away i can not even remember sometimes. So...my question is...is it still possible i can feel completely normal again after such a long time of feeling fear?🙏🙏🙏

Is extinction birth tremendous headaches like you have Spike going through your head, nausea dizziness that last for hours maybe days. Is this considered a setback?😊