What if Symptoms are a Cover-Up? Understanding the Deeper Meaning of TMS / Neuroplastic Symptoms
Many of us are taught that when we feel sick or experience symptoms, it means something is wrong with our bodies. To an extent this is true, but it’s almost never the whole story. If you’ve been struggling with chronic pain for months or years, I invite you to consider this question: “what if symptoms are a consequence of something deeper that’s happening within you, and just a ‘cover-up’, so to speak?” This is often the case when it comes to chronic neuroplastic pain or symptoms.
This concept can be hard to accept, but when you’re dealing with chronic symptoms that have persisted despite conventional treatment (which today we call neuroplastic symptoms), it becomes more imperative than ever. It's a radical shift in how we view our physical health.
This article will explore how symptoms can be a cover-up for deeper emotional distress and how understanding this can lead to true healing and personal growth.
Neuroplastic Symptoms As A Reflection of Internal Distress
Think about it: when you feel a symptom, your first thought is usually to get rid of it. You might see a doctor, take medicine, or try to ignore it. But sometimes, these symptoms stick around or new ones pop up. This can happen because the symptom functions like a shield, protecting and distracting you from facing something more difficult inside.
This deeper issue could be unexpressed emotions like anger or rage, or even everyday pressures that feel overwhelming. Most people resist feeling emotions like anger, shame, sadness, helplessness and so-called “negative” emotions in general. One of the reasons for this is that we absolutely cannot stand being vulnerable. Being vulnerable implies that we are weak on some level, and nobody likes to admit that.
And so, in order to avoid this, we put up a brave face, push through difficult situations and ignore situations that make us feel uncomfortable, pretending that ‘everything is ok’.
Moreover, as we grow up we pick up many ideas of how we ‘should’ feel and act and how we shouldn’t. Because of this, each time we encounter an emotion that feels unacceptable, the human Ego does its best to negate or repress that emotion.
Unfortunately, this strategy is a recipe for chronic TMS symptoms, because when certain emotions have no outlet, they are more likely to get expressed somatically in the body. As author and psychotherapist Nicole Sachs says in her recent book Mind Your Body, “life is a choice between what hurts and what hurts worse”[1]. What she means by this is that we can choose to stay stuck trying to cope with mindbody symptoms and living the limited life of a chronic pain sufferer, or we can choose to face our most difficult emotions, which can be painful but ultimately liberating.
What choice will you make? I personally went for the latter because I decided that I couldn’t accept living with chronic pain. You can check out my full recovery story here.
The Danger of Focusing Only on Symptom Elimination
While it’s natural to want relief from physical symptoms, focusing solely on getting rid of the symptom won’t get us any closer to the source of our distress - in fact, it gets us even further away. This is usually what causes the cycle of persisting or alternating symptoms that plagues so many chronic pain sufferers today.
When we ignore or avoid problems, our nervous system still picks up on this emotional danger and creates symptoms as a result. The unconscious mind knows we're trying to push things away, so it uses symptoms as a warning. We often misinterpret this message because we're trained to see sickness as a physical problem to be fixed by an external solution.
It's like having a leaky faucet. You can mop up the water (the symptom), but if you don't fix the leak (the underlying issue), the water will keep coming, and maybe the ceiling will start to leak next.
Embracing Honesty and Introspection
It’s okay to use remedies for comfort or pain relief, but always be willing to be honest with yourself about what the symptom might represent. Most of the time, all you need to do is acknowledge those areas in your life where you’re feeling frustrated or angry, and accept the fact that you have been emotionally triggered in some way.
Instead of getting caught up in the details of the symptom itself – like searching for others with the exact same issue – the real work is to be honest with yourself. What is going on inside?
Let’s take a simple example. If you're experiencing fatigue, instead of just trying to power through it, accept the fatigue and ask yourself, "What does this fatigue need from me right now?" It might be a need for rest, a break from a stressful situation, or a chance to reflect on what's truly important. Another powerful question would be “What does this fatigue reflect in my life?” Maybe it means that a part of you is mentally tired of facing the same old problem.
As Dr John Sarno suggests in his bestseller book Healing Back Pain [2], when you have a symptom, think psychologically about it. Don't see the symptom as the problem, but explore its deeper, psychological meaning. This helps you get let focused on trying to figure out the symptoms and gives you back some form of power as you realize that you are the agent of your own healing.
Expert Tip
Stop resisting your symptoms. Try to stay with them without the urge to fix them immediately. This allows you to truly listen to what your body is communicating.
Finding Clarity Through Non-Resistance
When we stop trying to frantically fix everything, we can start to hear the messages our bodies are sending more clearly. Clarity often comes when we let go of the struggle.
Sometimes, a simple walk in nature or a quiet moment can bring sudden realizations about what's affecting us deeply. These truths often surface when we stop fighting our symptoms and allow ourselves to simply be with them.
During a period of illness, like the flu, it's easy to feel annoyed. But by stepping back and accepting the illness, you can also consider why your body might have become vulnerable. Perhaps there were situations causing internal distress that made you more susceptible. This understanding can lead to empowering decisions about how to care for yourself better in the future.
Expert Tip
View your symptoms as an opportunity for self-improvement and a deeper understanding of your life. If you’ve identified your symptoms as being neuroplastic (TMS), then this is by far the best approach you can take.
Practical Steps for Understanding Your Symptoms
Acknowledge the Symptom: Don't ignore it or immediately try to push it away.
Shift Your Perspective: See the symptom not as an enemy, but as a message.
Ask "What Could This Mean?": Be curious about the deeper emotional or psychological reasons behind the symptom.
Practice Non-Resistance: Allow yourself to feel the symptom without fighting it. Be present with it.
Listen to Your Body's Needs: If you feel fatigue, rest and engage in activities that feel good and pressure-free. Learn to be guided by your true needs instead of by rigid expectations.
Be Honest with Yourself: Explore any emotions or situations you've been avoiding.
Seek Deeper Meaning: Instead of focusing on the physical details of the symptom, explore its psychological significance. You’ll be surprised at how quickly things start to shift!
In conclusion, most of the symptoms we experience are often not the problem itself, but a cover-up for deeper internal distress. By shifting your perspective, embracing honesty, and practicing non-resistance, you can begin to understand these messages. This journey of introspection that one embarks on when we start TMS healing can lead to profound personal growth and a more empowered approach to your health and wellbeing.
[1] Sachs, N. J. (2025). Mind Your Body: A Revolutionary Program to Release Chronic Pain and Anxiety, Avery.
[2] Sarno, J. E. (1991). Healing Back Pain: The MindBody Connection, Grand Central Life & Style.