Exercise and CBT were helping, but my anxiety and OCD still haunted me. Then I shared my stories with a group of strangers
Anyone who has suffered from depression-related illnesses such as anxiety may find the prospect of group therapy daunting. When I was first offered the opportunity to take part in an NHS “worry group” in 2013, I flatly turned it down. Barely allowing my NHS CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) therapist to fully explain how the group worked, I simply refused to be involved. Panic alarms immediately sounded at the thought of sharing my problems with total strangers, themselves suffering with issues. I was almost indignant that a professional thought it would be a good idea to thrust me into a situation presenting such fear of the unknown, a breeding ground for anxiety. Did she not know me at all?
Two years later and bouts of anxiety and OCD would still rear their head just when I believed they had disappeared. By this stage I had developed a greater understanding of the condition and developed ways to tackle it via exercise, specifically cycling, but still something was missing from my armoury. I returned to CBT via my local NHS authority, determined to stick it out and be more open to suggestions this time.
Continue reading...from The Guardian http://ift.tt/2F7QMhF
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