What helped me make a 180 degree change in my life.

Debmarie · Post by **Debmarie** » Tue May 27, 2008 7:49 am

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.

AnnetteW · Post by **AnnetteW** » Tue May 27, 2008 8:56 am

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.

Debmarie · Post by **Debmarie** » Thu May 29, 2008 12:56 pm

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

MargieP · Post by **MargieP** » Sat May 31, 2008 12:03 pm

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.

lynne sindler · Post by **lynne sindler** » Sat May 31, 2008 12:26 pm

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

MargieP · Post by **MargieP** » Sat May 31, 2008 12:42 pm

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.

lilchrissy · Post by **lilchrissy** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 3:18 pm

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!

lilchrissy · Post by **lilchrissy** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:22 pm

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

WW · Post by WW » Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:54 am

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

WW · Post by WW » Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:56 am

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.