Hi dlcottage, I may need an example of some of your thoughts to truly help you, but let me take a stab at a general example to see if that helps. If you are thinking the thought, I'll never feel better. That thought contains several errors like jumping to conclusions, globalising, reality filter and extreme thinking. I hope this makes sense and is helpful? TEA forms are hard at first but once you get the hang of them you won't leave home without them

i feel the exact way a CoCo, I feel unsteady and unbalanced and spaced out9 I also suffer from hearing loss and tinnitus,ringing in the ears and I'm 31,this also adds to my dizzyness and anxiety. I get so nervous to go out and just talk to people,because the physical feelings overwhelm me and my speech gets messed up and i feel scattered with my thoughts. Does this happen to others? I'm also new to this program and feel weird talking to others I'm nervous about this whole thing. Thank you for all the great input it truly helps.newcomers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lynne I know what you are talking about I feel the same. It really affects me when I try to do something new like a new job. I feel out of it and really self conscious, I also feel like something is wrong and it's kind of hopeless but I am waiting for my program to arrive and pray it works.

Hello guys I am just wanting to touch base with you and let you know you are in a good place. And I truely feel you will be glad you have taken the program. Hang in there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Love your Path







1. The path begins at a crossroads. There you can stop and think what direction you want to take. But don’t spend too much time thinking or you’ll never leave the spot.

Ask yourself the classic Carlos Castaneda question: Which of these paths has a heart? (…)

2. The path doesn’t last forever. It’s a blessing to travel the path for some time, but one day it will come to an end, so be prepared to take leave of it at any moment.

(…)

3. Honor your path. It was your choice, your decision, and just as you respect the ground you step on, that ground will respect your feet. Always do what’s best to conserve and keep your path and it will do the same for you...

4. Be well-equipped. Carry a small rake, a spade, a penknife. Understand that penknives are no use for dry leaves, and rakes are useless for herbs that are deep-rooted. Know what tool to use at each moment. And take care of your tools, because they’re your best allies...

5. The path goes forward and backward. At times you have to go back because something was lost, or a message to be delivered was forgotten in your pocket. A well tended path enables you to go back without any great problem...

6. Take care of the path before you take care of what’s around you. Attention and concentration are fundamental. Don’t be distracted by the dry leaves at the edges. Use your energy to tend and conserve the ground that accepts your steps...

7. Be patient. Sometimes the same tasks have to be repeated, like tearing up weeds or closing holes that appear after unexpected rain. Don’t let that annoy you; it’s part of the journey. Even though you’re tired, even though certain tasks are repeated so often, be patient...

8. Paths cross. People can tell you what the weather is like elsewhere. Listen to advice, but make your own decisions. You’re responsible for the path entrusted to you...

9. Nature follows its own rules. You have to be prepared for sudden changes in the fall, slippery ice in winter, the temptations of flowers in spring, thirst and showers in the summer. Make the most of each of these seasons, and don’t complain about their characteristics...

10. Make your path a mirror of yourself. By no means let yourself be influenced by the way others care for their paths. You have your own soul to listen to, and the birds to whisper translations of what your soul is saying.

(…)

11. Love your path. Without this, nothing makes any sense...



~ Paulo Coelho ~
Posted by: LINELLA BRECKENRIDGE

Thanks Annette. I loved the path.

And good luck to the new ones. You'll get better.
Just believe that you will.
maryjane

My friend who is struggling with anxiety asked me to check out this site for her as I used to struggle with panic, GAD along with health anxieties. I was not planning on posting anything but this is the same book that helped me get better. A neighbor who is a psychologist recommended it to me four years ago and using the TEA forms has changed my life. I no longer fret over every little thing and I used to go to the doctor at least once a month and the past two years I have only gone to see him for my annual physical. I can't tell you how much more full my life has become and like the others here have mentioned the TEA forms have become part of my daily routine. All the early hard work has really paid dividends not just for me but for my husband and family also. My husband jokes that I am his second even better wife because i have changed so much. I hope this is helpful to others and it seems like this program is very similiar so stick with it and you'll be glad you have.

Debmarie could you tell me more about TEA? I too love this program. With the past 3 months of freedom and now the return I am starting to find myself some more, but would like to even better myself. Again thank you for your imput.

Hi Annette, the TEA form is a simple thought countering exercise I learned in the CBT book by Sam Obitz a former panic and anxiety sufferer and motivational speaker. I do them first thing in the morning for a about ten minutes just to get myself out of my head and get the day started off on the right track. I highly recommend using them daily as part of your routine. Keep up the good work as it just gets better and better the more you practice the new ways of thinking

I bought Lucinda's program a little over five years ago and then joined a CBT group based on the TEA form exercise in Sam Obitz's book that you mentioned Lilchrissy. I have been completely med free for over four years now and feeling better and better all the time. I don't even have to do my TEA forms very often anymore because they have become my new way of thinking. Thanks for posting this and helping people learn that there are better and med free routes that can save your life.

What are TEA forms? And what are CBT groups? I'm new at this and I'm curious to what those are. Thanks.

Hi Lynne, CBT stands for cognitive behavioral training and that is what Lucinda's program is loosely based on. TEA forms are the main and imo most helpful thought countering exercise in CBT. They teach you how to find the errors in your thinking that cause anxiety and then how to replace those thoughts with more realistic thoughts and retrain your brain to process things in a way that are less upsetting and anxiety causing. They are pretty simplistic but if you work on them everyday they will help you more than you ever imagine they could.

JudyR, I probably had some social anxiety but I'm not sure it was enough to be diagnosed as having social anxiety disorder?

I have to run but I'll try and come back and respond to everyone else on here later, sorry!

I'm going to try and answer several people with one post.
Dlcottage, if you can list some of the thoughts you are having problems finding the thinking errors for here, I will try and help.

Debmarie, Thanks for taking the time to post and share your experience with everyone here. I really enjoyed your comment about being your husbands new and better wife, LOL.

MargieP, Thanks for thanking me and thank you for sharing your positive experience with the book and TEA form exercise. That's great that they are so much a part of you that you don't even need to do them anymore! They are still a part of my routine but I am okay with that, but it's nice to know I may not need them at all down the road

WW, Your note is making me blush. I do appreciate your crediting me, but for it to work you had to do the work! I just happened to point you in the right direction

MargieP, that is so encouraging to hear that it is possible for the TEA forms to become your new way of thinking and not even need to do them on paper anymore. I am still a few years behind where you are at but thanks for the encouragement and I hope to reach your state of being in the near future

Chrissy you are too modest. My therapist pointed me in that direction too but I never took that path until you encouraged me. I will always be grateful to you I hope your life is continuing to go well.