I am experiencing a growth spurt, so am listening to some of the CDs again. Lucinda talks about scary thoughts really being a way to distract from things that are really going on in your life. I am having all sorts of scary thoughts, but am not sure how I can figure out what is really bothering me. Any ideas or thoughts?

Anyone?

Maybe your already doing it. Keep listening to the Cd's.

Hi rica,

I've found having scary thoughts is not always an indicator of me trying to distract myself. Sometimes I get them because I haven't slept well or ate something that made my system sensitive, like sugar or fatty foods. If you think your scary thoughts have something to do with what is happening in your life, maybe journaling would help. Ask yourself some questions like, "how do I feel about my job?" "how do I feel about my family or loved ones?" "how do I feel about my body today or me as a person?" "Do I have tension in my body? Do I need to relax?" Sometimes asking ourselves questions leads us to deeper issues we didn't realize were under the layers. And if you can't find something, then no big deal. Just use the skills and get yourself back on track, slowly and patiently. Sometimes we just aren't going to know why but it doesn't mean we can't use the skills to get better.

I hope you are feeling a bit better today.

best wishes

hope4peace

My best suggestion is to journal. Ask yourself the question, what is bothering you right now, or what are you thinking about and then allow yourself to flow topic to topic. Don't feel you have to stay focused and complete it before moving on. If you have come across something meaningful to you, you will end up going back to it. The other thing that I'll is I'll journal about what my beliefs are or my expectations are on something that's on my mind.

Hey rica...
journaling is a great way of getting things off your mind....I don't really have an organized method....most of the time its kinda like cmorales decribes....I put thoughts, feelings, expectations whatever is on my mind on paper...then go about my day...if something strikes a chord, I'll give it alittle more thought, just a little though.....don't get wrapped up in "finding" the answers to everything....if its there, you'll see it..maybe not today, and thats ok....by writing these things down, you develop a history that has some type of organization to it...so the next time that feeling or thought hits you, you can look back in your journal and have "food for thought"

Thanks everyone. It is hard for me to journal on paper because my wrist hurts when I write, but that is no excuse- I can type just fine and then print it out! :-)

Rica,
Thanks for the question/topic.
cmaorales and epa--thanks for the ideas and pointers on journaling. this is something I am trying to get in the habit of.

Just wanted to make a possible suggestion. I sometimes journal on the computer using microsoft word. You can password protect your file so no one reads it. Typing is much easier when you have alot of thoughts to put down.

I discovered mine come from my feeling of loss of control. I think when we feel like we're not in control we redirect with obsessive scary thoughts. It took me months to understand this. I learn more as I go through the program. I've learned that I have believed I was always in control. Then one day reality hit and I realized I've never been in control of my external surroundings. I just thought I could be. This really hit me hard!! OMG I'm not in control.....I thought to myself. If this could happen anything could happen. But in all reality nothing has changed.....just my realizing I can't control everything.

I feel somewhat like we are on the same page. It seems as though my anxiety was progressing to improvement until I started with Lesson 10. I don't know why I become so uncomfortable with this discussion.