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

JR5 · Post by **JR5** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:22 am

AnnetteW, The TEA's are great for my anxiety and panic but the wrist counter is what has helped me lift my mood. So if you ever feel down give them a try too!

JakeL · Post by **JakeL** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 8:03 am

Originally posted by Debmarie:
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.

For several years my wife had been complaining about chest pain but test after test reviled nothing. Shortly after we separated in January 2008 she was diagnosed with anxiety and started taking Zoloft. I didn't know what she was going through while we were together so from my point of view she was just being an irrational witch. Knowing what I know now about anxiety I feel terrible about how I acted toward her.

We are still living apart but we have recently started talking and seeing each other again (yes, I am dating my wife). A few nights ago she was complaining of an "electric shock" feeling in her head and she thought it was due to the Zoloft. After an online search I found a forum where several people commented about "zaps" due to Zoloft and that Advil Cold & Sinus seemed to help. Sure enough the Advil helped my wife.

What I got out of this was that she was not alone with this condition. This prompted me to do more research about anxiety and I came across this forum. I was very encouraged by your success stories and for the first time I felt the empathy my wife had been so desperately asking for from me. I ordered the Sam Obitz book and told my wife about it. She said she is grateful that someone finally understands what she is going through and I have all of you to thank for that.

My question for all of you is, how do I support her? What did your loved one's do for you that seemed to help?

Like Debmarie's husband, I'm looking forward to my new wife.

Thanks,
Jake

mollymae2 · Post by **mollymae2** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:33 am

i just ordered the book. what is a wrist counter. i went to the web page. i understand that writing, but what does wrist counting come in

WW · Post by WW » Mon Dec 15, 2008 9:09 am

Hi JakeL,
I think that is great that you are becoming so involved in helping your wife. I think listening to her and helping her with her TEA's by telling her your counter thoughts to her anxiety producing thoughts would probably help her a lot. Sometimes when we are gripped by anxiety and depression we have a hard time coming up with the objective counter thoughts we need to help us feel better.
Take care and keep up the good work!

WW · Post by WW » Mon Dec 15, 2008 9:16 am

mollymae2,
There are two different exercises the wrist counter is used for. The first one I used was to click it to help catch my negative and anxiety producing thoughts and become more aware of them so I would have more thoughts to counter in my TEA forms.
The second exercise is the one I think JR5 is talking about, where you click it whenever you do something to become aware of all the things you are getting done and change your focus from what you are not doing to all the things you are doing. I don't use it that much myself but I have used it and it does seem to lift my mood.

lilchrissy · Post by **lilchrissy** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 6:28 pm

Hi everyone, I am still amazed that my original note hit a positive chord with so many people. I'm sorry I have not checked in for a while but I'm glad to see so many people advising and helping each other. There is one thing I wanted to add for JakeL because I don't think anyone mentioned that when starting on the TEA form exercise it can be really hard to come up with objective counter thoughts so you may want to work on them with your wife and tell her how you would counter the thoughts that are upsetting her to help her get going on them. I think it is commendable of you to take such an active interest in helping her and hope you reap the fruits of your investment in your renewed relationship with her.
Hi WW and glad to see you are still helping others here and doing well yourself

ReneeP · Post by **ReneeP** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:13 am

Dear Lilchrissy,
Thank you so much for your inspiring and informational post. This is my first time posting here and I want to thank you. I read this when I was home for Christmas and bought the book and started doing the tea exercise everyday in early January and it has helped me deal with life so much better already. For the first time in ages I am able to motivate myself to get out more and socialize more now that I have a mechanism to counter my natural habit of convincing myself not to do things. I now realize that I was the one who was keeping me from doing things and not circumstances that were getting in my way and just figuring that out has opened up a bigger happier world to me. So thanks again and please know you have touched another person's life in a positive way!

Arlenez · Post by **Arlenez** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:54 am

Good job! I read this book and I use the TEA form but also wear a counter all the time and it helps me keep my mind on all the positive in my life and lifts my mood. I grew up in a troubled home and now realize I always had a tendency to go negative and this helps me keep things positive.

jules722 · Post by **jules722** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:53 am

Hi guys, Am wondering with the TEA forms, how often do you need to write your thoughts down? When Im driving or at work I have tons of negative thoughts but cant write them down. Any suggestions? thanks

Gman5256 · Post by **Gman5256** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:27 pm

Hi Jules,

Just a quick thought. Maybe you don't have to write them down. How about recording them on a cell phone or other recording device and use the play back, as you think and speak out positive conclusions?

Don't limit the power of positive thinking and problem solving. There is a way around any thing that plays a role as a deterrent toward you doing what you need to do to get better. When it comes to those things; think out of the box.

Sorry, but I just caught up with your post this morning.

Take care,