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Challenging negative thoughts: Rebcecca’s Talking Therapies journey

“Therapy has been really helpful – it’s given me the chance to talk to someone that isn’t directly related or connected to me, so I’ve had an outside perspective, but one where I feel heard and not judged.”

Rebecca has struggled with anxiety and depression, day-to-day, for most of her life, but things started to get worse for her during the pandemic.

“I worry everyday about little things like have I locked the door. At work, it takes me twice as long to do anything as I want to get it right and worry that I haven’t. I have trouble sleeping and when I’m bad I shake and can’t eat because I feel sick.

“At the start of this year I could hardly get out of bed. I have little confidence in myself and very low self-esteem, worrying about everything. I always feel tired, and work is a struggle because I feel I’m not good enough and want to change jobs but have anxiety just thinking about looking.

“I’ve really struggled recently with a health scare and everything with covid, as well as both my parents having health issues, so I decided I needed some help.”

Rebecca 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 challenge negative thoughts.

“Therapy has been really helpful – it’s given me the chance to talk to someone who isn’t directly related or connected to me, so I’ve had an outside perspective, but one where I feel heard and not judged. Hannah was always very supportive and understanding, which really helped to put me at ease.

“A helpful part of therapy was the thought diary, which allows me to take a step back and look at negative thoughts with a different outlook as part of a dedicated ‘worry time’. Seeing my worries written down has helped me reassess and realise that a lot of my worries are insignificant.”

The future is looking brighter and less worrisome for Rebecca with the help therapy, but she recognises that it will take time and effort to continue to challenge her anxious thoughts.

“I feel I am thinking much more rationally now. When a negative thoughts come up, I try and either think of an alternative thought and/or what my family or friends would say to me. This has helped me feel less stressed than I did before. It’s something that I know takes a lot of practice, so I will need to continue working at it.”