I often get asked what therapy and counselling I have had which has helped me through my anxiety and depression. One of the most successful therapies has been CBT or cognital behaviour therapy.
CBT is a form of therapy which has the aim of changing the way in which your brain reacts to certain situations; allowing you to have emotional regulation where you might not have had it before. In other words, if you have a specific phobia that causes your anxiety, this therapy would aim in helping you to change your reaction to it in order to deal with it in the future. Your reaction may not be a conscious choice and so it will attempt to rewire how you would subconsciously react to it.
I first came into contact with CBT when I was an outpatient of the NHS. At the time I had severe anxiety, meaning that I could hardly leave the house and wasn’t going to school. I was requested to make a list of what caused me the least anxiety to what triggered me the most. If I remember correctly, I put catching a bus at the bottom and getting a job as the most severe. Over many months and working with my therapist, I repeatedly put myself in the situations that were causing me anxiety and over time, with the more exposure I had, the less anxious I became.
It does seem very black and white, but the process of exposure isn’t a very straightforward one. Some days you’ll be able to handle a situation and then the next you won’t. But it’s all about having the will power to work through and not give up, or else you’ll find the therapy won’t work.
I was often given worksheets which I would have to fill out before every situation I felt anxious for. I would rate how I was feeling before and how it actually went afterwards. I delved into the reasons why I felt that way and whether it was a rational thought. Over time, your brain rewires it’s reactions. All of my triggers once gave me so much anxiety that I would have panic attacks and all the symptoms that came with it. But through the intense one to one therapy I now don’t even give any of these scenarios a second thought...amazing!
CBT isn’t for everyone, but it does take immense effort for it to work, so you should ensure to give it some time before no longer engaging. You’ll find that the therapy is available on the NHS and privately, if you’re interested. Still to this day, I honestly believe that this was one of the greatest stepping stones I have undertaken in my progress to better mental health. It might not be for everyone but it’s certainly worth a try.
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