What’s Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS)? How is TMS treated?
According to John E. Sarno, Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS) describes the condition he believes is actually behind many chronic pain disorders. These disorders are often diagnosed as purely physical problems.
If you want to learn more about Tension Myositis Syndrome, keep reading.
The Connection Between the Mind and Body
Many painful medical conditions are psychogenic, meaning “created by the mind.” Dr. Sarno refers to such conditions as mindbody disorders, emphasizing that they are mental as well as physical. (Shortform note: You’ll also see these conditions referred to as psychosomatic, which means the same thing: “psycho” refers to the mind, and “somatic” refers to the body.)
These disorders exist because of the deep connection between your mind and your body. In simple terms, your mental health and physical health are intrinsically linked—therefore, if one suffers, the other will too.
(Shortform note: Sarno’s assertion that there’s a connection between your mind and your body is not a new idea. For example, mindfulness practitioners teach that every emotion creates certain physical responses, like how anger makes you tense your muscles and joy causes you to smile. In many cases, by carefully observing what your body is doing at a particular moment, you can identify thoughts and feelings that you weren’t consciously aware of. Also, the mind-body connection works both ways, meaning you can also change your emotions (to an extent) through physical actions; for instance, you can genuinely improve your mood by faking laughter.)
Tension Myositis Syndrome
According to Dr. John Sarno, Tension Myositis Syndrome is behind many chronic pain disorders. “Tension” refers to the muscle tension and blood vessel constriction that the brain triggers in specific areas of the body, causing decreased oxygen flow to those areas. “Myositis” means muscle inflammation, which is one of the most common causes of chronic pain.
(Shortform note: Tension Myositis Syndrome is also known as Tension Myoneural Syndrome. “Myoneural” refers to both muscles and nerves, and therefore this term emphasizes the nervous system’s role in producing the symptoms. To be more specific, Sarno’s theory of TMS involves the autonomic nervous system, which controls unconscious processes like your heartbeat, breathing, and digestion—all of which can be affected by the mindbody disorders that Sarno describes.)
How Sarno Treats TMS
Sarno says that his treatment for TMS focuses on helping patients become aware of repressed feelings like anger, anxiety, or guilt and process those feelings in a healthy way. He then outlines his specific approach to treating TMS as well as other disorders (such as fibromyalgia) that, according to Sarno, may be psychosomatic.
Self-Awareness and Psychological Help
First of all, Sarno emphasizes the need to educate patients about how the mind can create real physical symptoms as a way to mask emotional issues. He then instructs each patient to keep a journal and to write down any recurring thoughts, powerful emotions, or sudden insights that they experience, paying special attention to thoughts related to anger and other negative feelings. Through this journaling process, Sarno’s patients work to build self-awareness and pinpoint any significant sources of emotional tension, anxiety, or trauma that may be contributing to their physical symptoms.
Finally, Sarno encourages his patients to resume normal physical activity as much as possible, using their newfound understanding of mindbody disorders to overcome their fears of causing themselves more pain. He also frequently teaches psychological techniques, such as positive affirmations, to help patients rebuild the relationship between their mind and their body. For instance, they might start each day by looking in the mirror and saying “I am not injured, I am not broken, I am healthy and strong.”
