The Psychosomatic Aspect

[pdodge715]

This has happened to me a couple times recently, and I'd be willing to bet that more than a few of you can relate...

Do you ever have one of those days where you're feeling pretty good mentally - sure, you're twitching like crazy, but you know you're healthy and life is beautiful - when out of the blue, something happens that sends you spiraling into a fit of anxiety like the day you first googled muscle twitching?

Today, I went to lunch and grabbed a squeeze bottle of ketchup. When I attempted to squeeze some onto my plate, my right arm starts shaking like crazy. I immediately walked back to my office and spent the rest of my lunch break googling on the verge of tears, convinced I had *** like a rookie - despite having both a clean EMG by one neuro and a diagnosis of BFS from another who literally said this to me: "I am 100% positive you do not have ***. You have Benign Fasciculation Syndrome. I'm scheduling a 6 month follow up just because I don't like to be *beep*, but feel free to cancel if you don't want to come in."

Two weeks ago, I logged in here just to check in, only to see some old post about clonus and subsequently spent the next 45 minutes at work shoving my limbs around to see if I had it.

I mean, seriously, I have had 3 Drs (2/3 were neuros) and the greater population of this site tell me I'm fine...why is it so easy to forfeit all progress and revert back to freakout? Can anyone relate to such weak, indulgent behavior? Any tips from the more experienced BFSers to avoid it? My wife and I are expecting our first child in March, and I'd really like to be rid of this obsession by then!

[pdodge715]

Just realized I got censored... FYI That *beep* was a synonym of over-confident derived from a word for rooster...

[Seepi27]

[MarioMangler]

[mwagner]

I was just talking to a fellow BFSer about this. It's really screwed up. Many of us have anxiety problems to begin with, and this disorder has messed with our heads so badly. I'm almost 15 months into this and have total ups and downs. You would think I'd be completely done with it. All it takes is some weird new symptom, and then I'm right back to being scared. I usually get over it quickly, but it's still plays with my mind psychologically. I hate it.

You're not alone that's for sure.

[LApea]

[jpbw]

[Seepi27]

[jerry2]

[mommylondon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KtAgAMzaeg

[jpbw]

Great point leanne

"Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away? "

I agree - getting away from it all, chat, boards, forums is key to moving on.

[mommylondon]

Yeah Jon...ur rite...lets all pick up and move on so there is nobody for the newbies to talk to or relate to when their BFS first starts and they are clueless to what is going on...That sounds like a great idea.

[jpbw]

"Newbies" or People that are just starting to notice or feel the effects of fasciculation's and their accompanying symptoms, are not left wondering whether the symptoms that they are experiencing are malignant or benign. There is a lot of information on the boards already. BFS in a nutsell, Why you don't have ALS parts 1 and 2. Hanging around and absorbing other peoples fears and extending the anxiety/reassurance cycle is what I am advocating. I believe in a former post, you yourself announced on occasion that you were leaving for this reason, so I'm sure that you are at least able to appreciate this view point. I'm sure that you feel that this is an attack on the chat room that you set up and an attack on those that donate to keep it running, it's not. Simply a point of view.

[mommylondon]

You are wrong..I dont feel attacked..I feel concern is all...Concern for people like how you were when you first joined...thats all.

[jpbw]

Yes concern, the same concern that I have that people will absorb other fears, just like I did. I have no doubt that you are concerned for those just starting off with BFS, the same way I get concerned for people when I read about their need for constant reassurance. I see reassurance as an addiction. You see it that people need to know themselves when they do not need reassurance any more, two different view points, that's all.