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Beating anxiety: Melissa’s Talking Therapies journey

“My life has changed for the better now. I feel more confident doing the things that made me uncomfortable and it has given me hope that I will be able to do things I would avoid.”

Melissa’s anxiety had developed gradually over years, but then it escalated during the pandemic when she lost her job suddenly.

“I lost my job due to the pandemic, and although I was able to find a new one, I just couldn’t relax at work and felt very uncomfortable and faint all the time. I didn’t know what it was at the time. I went to my GP for help, but the wait was too long, so I tried to deal with it myself. Eventually, my anxiety started to spill over into everyday social situations and it got more difficult to manage.

It really affected my life. I was never relaxed in work and if customers wanted to chat, I felt dread and claustrophobic like I needed to escape. I couldn’t stand on the till for long, as I felt anxious and would go dizzy. I would avoid large groups and social situations and would have to cancel plans a lot as I felt so sick.”

Melissa was referred to Talking Therapies Stockport by her GP for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). With the help of her Psychological Practitioner, Hannah Hatton, she worked through six sessions of CBT – learning tools and techniques to help manage her anxiety.

“Therapy was good – it was really helpful, but it is a long wait. My PWP, Hannah, was very reassuring and friendly which made me feel more comfortable when talking about my problems. In particular, the ‘exposure therapy’ and ‘habituation’ were useful aspects for me.”

With the help of therapy, Melissa has been able to see her anxiety in a different light, and now has the confidence to better manage her difficult feelings.

“Therapy has allowed me to deal with my symptoms and understand what is happening to my body instead of just panicking, which makes things worse. Having a better understanding of the symptoms and what they are helps me to remind myself that they will fade as time goes on.

“My life has changed for the better now. I feel more confident doing the things that made me uncomfortable and it has given me hope that I will be able to do things I would avoid.”