Sounding good?!
I've asked my clients to write a few words of feedback, advice or encouragement for people thinking about whether to take the leap! They are the experts from experience of course! I’m sure you’ll feel inspired about possibilities for change, when you read how far others have come. I hope it also gives you a more detailed sense of how I could help you on your life journey, from those who have walked the path from struggle to strength themselves. There are no identifying details, not even first names or initials, as, to me, it‘s of utmost importance to protect peoples’ total confidentiality.
Overcoming OCD, addictive patterns or perfectionism
As a result of Eleanor’s help I’ve learnt to recognise OCD for what it is and deal with it in the most helpful way. This means I am now able to control my level of worrying in a helpful rather than unproductively repetitive way, and this has given me so much more time to live my life the way I want!”
I decided to finally just do it and start CBT because I was struggling to find a way to modify patterns of compulsive behaviour and negative thought patterns which dominated my life. The things I wanted to address were self esteem issues, addiction, depression, exhaustion, coping with ill health, obsessive anxiety, panic attacks and unhelpful compulsive behaviour…ie pretty much everything! I had got myself into a deep hole and was having really dark thoughts as a result.
CBT has helped me to become relaxed and optimistic about the future, change ingrained patterns of thinking and activity, become a more confident and optimistic person, live my life in a more fulfilling manner and become more energetic. The most valuable things I’ve learnt are how to develop a compassionate outlook on life, how to stop problems dominating my life and that I can change. As a result of the practical changes I’ve made with Eleanor’s guidance, support and encouragement, I now take care of my mental and physical health, I am more reliable for friends and family, I am confident and productive at work and I haven’t felt truly panicked in months.”
After I experienced a series of really difficult life events, I felt I was really out of control and huge anxiety had developed in to compulsions such as checking there we no dangers or hazards in my life, and these just took over. This started to affect my relationships with friends, family and most importantly my partner who I lived with. By the time I had contacted Eleanor, I had accepted I needed professional help. Eleanor gradually showed me step by step how I really could step back from intrusive thoughts and actually move past OCD affecting my every day life. This has been of massive benefit to me, and people around me. She has also helped me prioritise, set boundaries and not overload my life, but take a more strategic approach, rather than flip flop between feeling out of control and then trying to over-control things!”
I made the important choice to start CBT, as OCD, perfectionism and anxiety was affecting my life and being able to cope. I would then retreat into endless TV and websurfing to try to block out my worrying, or getting totally obsessed with checking facebook and twitter to make sure I wasn’t missing anything that could have a negative impact on me. I was having occasional panic attacks too. I wanted to be able to cope better, to manage anxiety and OCD and not let it stop me fully living my life. CBT has helped me to have the tools to nip anxiety in the bud before it spirals, and really deal with obsessional worrying rather than try to suppress it or give in to it’s unhelpful fretting. It’s now something I don’t just get sucked into and I’m living a much more rewarding life that’s not just addicted to screens to try to cope!”
I feel so much better than before I started working with Eleanor, when I often thought that I couldn’t cope with life and that I needed to try to be perfect in order to avoid failure and judgement. I was always looking to other people to provide recognition and reassure me that I was an ok person. I’ve healed my major insecurities with Eleanor’s deep caring empathy and support to do so. I’ve learnt to manage anxiety much, much better with various strategies that help me to approach situations from a balanced perspective, and quickly become my own reassurer and encourager when I start to feel panicky.”
Success! Eleanor has really helped me to learn how to stay in control of the choices I make when social anxiety starts to rise and now alcohol does not control me any more! The most useful practical changes I’ve made are: advising myself more constructively from a place of ”wise mind” rather than “anxious mind” and how best to approach situations that I need or want to be in, in a centred, grounded and non – compulsive way, even if I have feelings of anxiety.”
