Client story 3

My feedback and advice for anyone thinking about starting CBT

"I decided to start CBT because my anxiety was affecting my life, being able to cope and I was having panic attacks. I wanted to be able to cope better, to manage the anxiety and not let it stop me living my life the way I want to.

CBT has helped me to recognise the anxiety and understand that worrying is not a helpful means of trying to be in control. I've learnt to manage anxiety much better with various strategies; approaching rather than avoiding situations and “being my own reassurer” when I feel panicky - rather than feeling I can't cope and always looking to other people to reassure me. The most useful things I’ve learnt are that I am in control of the anxiety, it does not control me. I am able to control it and live my life the way I want. I've learnt to recognise anxiety for what it is and deal with it in the most helpful way.

The most helpful practical changes I've made are: advising myself more constructively from a place of ”wise mind” rather than “anxious mind” and approaching situations that I need or want to be in, even if I have feelings of anxiety.

My confidence has grown with the help of CBT because I am in control; I can cope and I can now do the things I want to! I don't need to live a limited life or rely too heavily on others now. My relationship with my boyfriend has improved because when I used to get neurotic it was too much for him, but now I don't lean on him too much. My friendships have also improved now that I feel have the confidence to cope with my anxiety in social situations or when I'm out with them. My family relationships have also benefitted from me using them less as my reassurers.

Other people around me have fed back they've noticed I'm doing more things, making an effort to change things I don't like and they've noticed I'm feeling less threatened and able to cope with anxiety better.

I have the strength to keep building on my progress because I now realise that I am capable and change is possible and I can be more in control. My positive vision for the future is doing all the things I want to do and feeling capable to do them despite anxiety sometimes being there.

I think that CBT is helpful as a way of acknowledging the problems and working out ways these can be overcome. I'd recommend CBT because it helped me and I found it effective!

To anyone thinking about starting CBT my advice and encouragement is: go for a session and try it out. Even if you don't see immediate results, being able to recognise the problem and its common traits such as ways of thinking and feeling can be a particularly helpful start to coping better anyway!"

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