The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders

by John E. Sarno

Getting better from TMS is learning how to extract yourself from needing recognition from others and learning how to fill that need yourself. It is about learning to parent yourself in perhaps a kinder, gentler, and more benevolent way than one may have actually experienced during childhood. It is learning to lower your expectations of yourself and others and learning that relationships are easier, more genuine, and form stronger bonds under those circumstances. It is learning that if someone seems upset with you, the feeling is often displaced and you are not at fault. It is learning that it is even okay if someone does get angry with you. It is about learning not to be afraid to take care of yourself psychologically, to say “no” when you want to and “yes” when you want to. It is about learning that almost all of the time that you feel guilty, it is inappropriate, in that you cannot be responsible for taking care of everyone’s feelings. People need to learn to do that for themselves.