Stress Illness Support Group (Tension Myositis Syndrome)

As Dr. David Clarke says in his book, They Can’t Find Anything Wrong, stress causes the symptoms in up to half of medical doctor’s patients. But physical symptoms caused by stress never became a significant part of the training of physicians. Only a handful of physicians have taken a closer look at the ways in which stress is literally making millions of people sick.

We will discuss the ideas first popularized by Dr. John Sarno in many of his best selling books; The Divided Mind, Healing Back Pain, and the MindBody Prescription:Healing the Body, Healing the Pain. His ideas have transformed many lives, and we hope that they will transform yours as well.

Agenda
What is Stress Illness?
How has Dr. Sarno’s ideas changed my life and pain forever?
What are other physical symptoms caused by stress illness?
Which personality traits are common among people with Stress Illness?
How does surviving a dysfunctional home impact stress illness?
We will discuss other resources available to help people with Stress Illness.As a support group we don't diagnose or treat, but offer advice, give support, and share resources.
Sandy BeWell, Stress Illness Support Group Coordinator Please RSVP
SRB12752@aol.com Cell 913-904-8611 No attendance fee. Arrive at 6:00 to eat together.

If you are not sure if you have Stress Illness, answer the questions below created by Dr. David Schecter.
TMS QUESTIONNAIRE
© 2000-2007 David Schechter, MD
The following questionnaire has been designed to assist you in evaluating the possibility of your having TMS. It cannot replace a detailed medical history, examination, and review of x-rays and MRI scans. Only a medical doctor should make the diagnosis of TMS with expertise in this condition following an examination in the office.

Please circle your responses and total your points below: Points

1. Have you noticed a relationship between your pain and your emotional state/stress level just prior to the onset of pain?
   Definitely 2 At times 1 Not really 0

2. Would you describe yourself in general as: very hard on yourself, highly responsible for others, very thorough, orderly or perfectionistic?
   Definitely 2
   I’ve noticed some of these characteristics 1
   Not really 0

3. Have you suffered from other tension-related illnesses such as:
   • hives, eczema, rashes brought on by tension
   • spastic colon, irritable bowel, gastritis, reflux/heartburn
   • tension or migraine headaches
   • unexplained prostate trouble or pelvic pain
   • TMJ, teeth grinding, plantar warts
   Definitely, two or more categories 2
   Yes, at least one 1
   No 0

4. Have you been told regarding the cause of your pain that “there’s nothing that can be done surgically,” “there’s nothing wrong”, “it’s a soft tissue problem” or “the cause is degenerative changes”?
   Yes 1 No 0

5. Do you spend a fair amount of time during the day thinking and worrying about your pain, researching an answer, obsessing about its cause?
   Yes 1 No 0

6. Have you tried several different treatments or approaches for your pain and received only temporary or limited relief from each of them?
   Yes 1 No 0

7. Do you find that massage helps your pain significantly or that you are quite sensitive to massage in several parts of your back or neck?
   Yes 1 No 0
   Key to total points:
   Highly probable for TMS 7-10 points No 0
   Possibly TMS 4-6 points ________________
   Probably not TMS 0-3 points
   Total Points: ________
   Additional Questions (don’t score these):

8. Does the pain ever move to another location in your body or jump around?
   ______ yes _______no

9. Have you noticed the pain improve when you have another tension-related illness?
   ______ yes _______no

10. Has the pain significantly changed or gone away while on vacation, away from home, or while distracted? ______ yes _______no