My journey began with two minor muscular injuries at the gym, one in my upper back and the other in my groin/high hamstring.
Looking back, I understand that whilst these injuries would have structurally healed in a matter of weeks, my fear and catastrophising that my body was seriously damaged kept the pain switched on for six years. This was both due to my prior lack of injury history making me more reactive, as well as the injuries being in areas where I had never experienced pain before.
In addition to this body-based fear, the injuries ruined my lofty fitness aspirations at the time. As I had made these goals a huge part of my identity and was living out of balance as a result, this disruption was very psychologically threatening and produced a lot of fear and related emotions.
My body had good reasons to sound the alarm and the danger signal that is pain! 🚨
I spent the next four years seeing countless professionals, including physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors, in an unsuccessful attempt to treat my pain as a structural issue. I even sought out an expert tendon physiotherapist half way across the world in the Netherlands whilst studying there, yet nothing worked and the pain persisted.
It was only in the last couple of years, through the pioneering work of Dr John Sarno and later Dr Howard Schubiner, that I learnt of the condition known as TMS (Tension Myositis Syndrome), which explains chronic pain and other chronic symptoms as having an emotional and psychological root.
It is exclusively through this mindbody approach and trial and error of the various techniques that I began to see progress, and I now have my life back!
PS: I also had the vital support of my very own TMS coach!
If you are currently suffering, I hear you and I see you. I would love to get to work on tailoring a way out of your pain/symptoms based on your unique circumstances.
Both courses above were completed through the MindBodyFood Institute and are internationally recognised by multiple bodies, including the ACCPH (Accredited Counsellors, Coaches, Psychotherapists & Hypnotherapists) and the IICT (International Institute for Complementary Therapists). Please click on the certificate links for more information/recognitions.
Pain Reprocessing Therapy Training (by Alan Gordon)
