Hi all. Just to start, I'm in the UK and using the NHS service.
I've been suffering from Anxiety and depression for years now,more then ten, but haven't really had any sessions of talking therapy, I've always chickened out.
I have my first appointment next week and I'm worried about it and trying not to cancel or chicken out of it again.
I had the first session via the phone and have been referred to someone who deals with long term illnesses (as I also have).
So can anyone tell me anything of what to expect. Thanks for any help.
I know what you are going through. I'm the same and have found no solutions. CBT may help you.It is nothing to be afraid of. It just did not suit or help me. I have tried 4 different kinds of antidepressants with no success. My illness has also lasted for over 10 years.I had a respite of a few years when I was on Sertraline but it stopped working and none of the others have worked at all. In fact they made me worse although I was on them for many weeks. At the moment I am taking a totally new one and it is awful.I think my psychiatrist will have to take me off them next time I see him. Does your illness affect you physically? I have stomach and bowel problems, I can't eat normally and I cry a lot. I get agitated until I cry and then I feel better till the next time.I hope you are not like me.
I'm sorry to hear about your struggles too. I am not easily medicated and sometimes I just don't take them, I don't know if this is due to my mental health, but I just don't take them.
Yes, my health problems are physical too. I have many joint issues and pain and have a connective tissue disorder EDS and basically, my whole body doesn't work correctly, my circulation, my joints, my stomach (huge stomach problems too) and I black out and have all other issues. I also have Endometriosis, so that's another lot of pain and complications added on.
Yeah, so everything in my body pretty much works against me.