SereneWolf: I hope you’re doing well and that you return to your thread if you wish. I also hope you don’t mind me posting here for Tee.

Dear Tee:

I didn’t read your response to Alessa until after I sent my previous message to you.

When I read these words—”The true limitation was my belief that I was doomed to fail. That there is no point in trying, because I would fail anyway.”—I immediately thought of learned helplessness, something I know all too well from personal experience. It affected my life in many ways, holding me back from opportunities and growth. To be healthy and content, we need a sense of control over our lives—not absolute control, but enough to feel agency in our choices and direction.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”- The middle part of this prayer speaks directly to exerting control over one’s life—choosing to take action where we can, rather than succumbing to the belief that we are powerless.

I also want to add that physical pain affects me deeply. My tendency is to catastrophize it, fearing it will never improve and will always limit me. The thought of losing the ability to walk is frightening. I know many people in real life who struggle with knee pain, experiencing discomfort while walking. Among those who had knee replacement surgery, the majority saw significant improvement, and some even became completely pain-free.

Wishing you continued healing and strength. ❤️

anita

Dear Tee:

The highlight of my day so far was seeing your post—after nine months and 17 days since your last one on August 10. I’m absolutely thrilled to hear from you again 🥳

Thank you for your kind words, Tee—they truly mean a lot to me. I deeply appreciate your presence here, your wisdom, and the empathy you extend to others. You have such a profound ability to reflect on your experiences and share them with honesty and insight, which is a gift to everyone who reads your words.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible progress you’ve made. Realizing that your perception of a hostile higher power was, in fact, a projection of your mother’s influence is a profound breakthrough. It’s inspiring to witness your journey—moving from despair to hope and releasing the false belief that you were doomed. This is truly powerful work, and I deeply respect the courage it takes to confront these truths and begin, or continue, forging a new path forward.

Your reflections deeply resonate with my own journey. Lately, I’ve been working in my threads on retrieving little girl anita from the past—the part of me that was left frozen, trapped in the grasp of the omnipotent ‘God’ you spoke of, which, for me, was my mother. I’ve been focusing on giving my past experiences and emotions space—a third dimension—allowing myself to express what was once so severely repressed and suppressed. It has been a process of unfolding, of granting that younger part of me a voice so she can exist fully in my present rather than remaining locked in the past. Reading about your progress strengthens my own resolve, reminding me that we are both untangling the deep patterns that shaped us.

I truly hope you continue to connect with us here on tiny buddha. Your insights, your presence, and your empathy are such a gift to this space. The way you process and articulate your experiences not only helps you but also offers light to others navigating similar journeys. Please keep sharing—you have so much wisdom to bless us with, and I, for one, am grateful for it.

Wishing you continued healing and strength 💪 💖 🔥 🌞 🌿 🦅

anita

Dear Tom:

No worries about the delay. I remember you weren’t looking forward to your trip to the U.S.—did it turn out better than you expected?

You might benefit from a therapist specializing in childhood trauma, emotional regulation, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). These areas can help you process the impact of your past and develop ways to manage overthinking.

Here are your options (according to AI):

1. NHS Therapy (Free or Low-Cost)

The NHS offers talking therapies for anxiety, depression, and trauma. You can self-refer online or ask your GP for a referral.

Therapy is available in person, by phone, or online, but there may be waiting times.

2. Charitable Organizations (Free or Low-Cost)

* Mind UK – Offers mental health support and therapy services.

* Anxiety UK – Provides therapy on a sliding scale based on income.

3. Private Therapy (Paid)- You can find private therapists through directories like:

* BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy).

* UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy).

Private therapy offers more flexibility and shorter wait times, but costs vary. Some therapists offer sliding-scale fees based on income.

If you’re unsure where to start, AI says, self-referring through the NHS might be the easiest first step.

I am looking forward to read about your next step 🚀

anita