CBT currently has the largest amount of research carried out on its effectiveness. CBT focuses on what people think, how those thoughts affect them emotionally and how they ultimately behave. When someone is distressed or anxious, the way they see and evaluate themselves can become negative. CBT therapists work alongside the person to help them begin to see the link between negative thoughts and mood. This empowers people to assert control over negative emotions and to change the way they behave. CBT has grown in popularity following recommendations from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
CBT can be delivered at a number of levels of intensity, meaning it can be usful to those who have only just started feeling anxious as well as those with longstanding anxiety problems. In the lower levels of the stepped care model “soft” techniques, such as guided self help, are used, placing the onus on you to complete diary sheets and other interventions with the support and guidance of a trained worker. Self help resources are often CBT based and suitable for a range of conditions. Mental health workers may use these resources with you to provide an awareness of techniques that may empower you to overcome your problem. Soft CBT can be carried out over the phone or face to face.
Further up the stepped care model is pure CBT, usually offered at step 3 or above for problems of a more complex and longstanding nature. CBT is delivered by a trained therapist, usually in a clinical setting. This form of therapy focuses on the “here and now” and is not overly concerned with finding the initial cause of anxiety. During CBT, the therapist will first assist you to identify your problem (along with the behaviours, thoughts and feelings that may be linked in with the problem). Once the problem has been explored, the therapist will help you examine your thought and behaviour patterns and help you to work on ways of changing these. If you access this type of therapy you will often be given a set number of sessions that typically last 50 minutes per session.
Therapists will usually set you “homework tasks” which are completed between sessions. Homework tasks may include carrying out activities such as thought monitoring and entering these into a thought diary, or practicing specific behaviours through what is known as “behavioural exposure’.
In the unlikely event that Anxiety UK is unable to help you we would recommend accessing therapy through referral to an NHS service via your GP. Most CBT therapists are registered with the BABCP (British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies), the governing body for CBT. Their website contains lists of private therapists (www.babcp.com).
CBT Information Video
Find out how CBT can help people cope and how it can treat anxiety on the NHS Choices website.
“I wanted you to know that I am very grateful for your help and very glad I joined Anxiety UK. Daniel, the therapist I have been allocated is superb (and local to my work) and is clearly an excellent exponent of CBT. It has helped me enormously with a very long-term phobia. I feel I am regaining some control over that part of my life through his assistance. I have had therapy before but I am now of the view that CBT is far more direct and empowering.”
Jonathan
“Having had some great years of being anxiety free as a result of receiving good quality CBT, I do now know that it is entirely possible to live calmly – so never give up. I am also learning a musical instrument which is a great therapy in itself as it is helping with my breathing and plus, I have to concentrate therefore you cannot be worried at the same time and have anxious thoughts. Antidepressants help some people but unfortunately I wasn’t able to tolerate their side effects. The main thing for me though was, as I said, talking therapy – in particular CBT.”
Louise
I was watching Lorraine on ITV today and was astounded to hear Jeemma Kidd describe my symptoms. I have never been able to put my panic attacks and anxiety into words for my family to understand now I think I can. I am currently waiting for CBT to start and it appears it cannot come too soon. To rid myself of this debilertating condition would be a dream come true.
I am looking for help with anxiety-depression. I have had this for 40 years I work full time I am currently too well for NHS CPN but find the anxiety and stress and the way I over think and ruminate all the time difficult
my life is so much better than in the past but i still have the same fight with the symptoms
hi
i hope you are ok, i see that you posted this in march and i just wondered if anyone has been in touch with you, if not please let me know and we can maybe have a chat.
take care
Livvy
help
HI Janie,
How can we help you? If you can call the helpline this morning on 08444 775 774 we would be happy to discuss your options. You are not on your own.
Best wishes
Cat (Anxiety UK)
I know ow you feel i have the same problem too well for any help but not well enough to cope long term it doesnt matter how much thye tell you about you are not ill enough it makes you wonder how ill do you have to become vefoe they offer you help
I there just a suggestion ive worked with poeple voluntry working then through cognitve, behavioural, and truamatic pass circumstance. maybe it would be a good idea for you to look through an appendix for conceptualisation for projected and survivlal linear along with an onion concept with past present and future preference’s and johari’s window. I dont know the circumstance of your depression but working through it through concepts you gain a better understanding of your behavioural and emotional states of your b-specs emotional, cognitive, pscyological, spitual, and social, disorders. be aware it is a good idea though to work through these with another a contablity and support as worked through properly will bring things to the surface
After having Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) for 4 years my doctor has finally referred my to CBT, I’m actually looking forward to gaining some control over my issues and problems, I would like to know more about other peoples experiences, I’m only 20 and it’s abit frightening to say the least my but I’m staying positive!
My symptoms are gradually getting worst day by day and it needs to be sorted, and I hope that this treatment will help me majorly
hi andy,
Please know that you will be ok!!! yes it will seem scary but you are on your way to feeling better. you are taking control and that should make you feel alot better about yourself. Many people suffer for a long time before they seek help but you are taking control now. i really wish you all the very best. let me know how you are getting on. take care of you!!!!!! Livvy
Have suffered with depression and anxiety since the age of 13. Am becoming sick of the effects,
especially now that I’m in a steady relationship. My behaviour is altering radically to the point where I can’t stand myself…the sooner I get help with this situation the better. Whatever’s available out there, bring it on!!!
Hey Chany, how is your behaviour/thoughts around your partner?
I too have suffered from depression since the age of 13 and Anxiety since around 16.
I have an amazing partner but have been having some complications that my anxiety has so kindly dispersed on me.
Hi there,
I have a fear of spiders that is out of control. I’ve always been scared of them but it’s just recently begun to take over. Moved to a lovely new house in the country earlier this year. Have seen several huge (genuinely bigger than I thought possible) spiders since being in the new house and now worry about them all the time and look forward to leaving the house in the morning or going to sleep at night because this is my only relief. Have two young children and am horrified at the thought of passing my fear onto them. I’ve got CBT starting next week (hence why I’m looking on this site now) but as silly as it sounds I am dreading the next 4-5 days of waiting as we had the biggest spider yet in our hallway yesterday and I just know I’ll be worrying about it all the time until my appointment (plus I know CBT will not be a quick fix). Does anybody have any suggestions of how I can cope with the anxiety in the meantime? Since seeing the big spider yesterday I feel on the verge of tears and just generally scared. Also really annoyed because I know all of this is stupid and irrational but I just can’t stop it!
Hi Jim,
It sounds like your phobia is really getting on top of you at the moment, but hopefully your CBT will work out. It is known to be very effective for the treatment of anxiety and phobias. In the meantime why don’t you try challenging the way you are thinking about the spider if you can, reassuring yourself that it is not dangerous and that it wants to get out of your way if it can (that worked for me in Thailand a little). Trying to slow your breathing and relaxing more generally may help in the short term, but the CBT is what is going to get you through this.
I was wondering, part of the treatment of spider phobia with CBT is exposure. I know you are a long way off this, but would you fancy getting involved in our spider encounter workshop on the 26th September for face your fears week? You can find out more here: http://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/face-your-fears/ it could be something you work towards during therapy, and the critters you will encounter will make your house spiders seem like small fry by comparison!
Good luck with your CBT
Cat (Anxiety UK)
i feel anxiuos most of the time about anything, ive had a bad and horrific upbringing and now that iam 21 years old, i feel like my past is catching up with me and coming back to haunt me. ive had anxiety for 3 years and at the time it was bad, but i never recieved any help instead i ignored it and it went away if only for a few months, but this time round, its twice as strong, i dont know if cbt is the answer for me, maybe a psychiatrist, psychologist would be the answer. help iam totally confused about this situation
Hi Evelyn,
CBT is useful for dealing with symptoms in the hear and now, but if you want to explore your issues from the past then perhaps counselling would be a good option. Clinical psychologists often use a variety of techniques to support a person and can work with different types of treatment, which may be of use if you feel your issues are complex. Anxiety UK has counsellors and CBT therapists available across the UK and via phone and webcam at a very low cost if that is of interest, or you can contact your GP for a referral.
Best wishes
Cat
Hi, my name is Shannon and I am 18 Years Old. I have GAD, (generalised anxiety disorder) and I think I may have Thanatophobia (fear of dying). In 2006 my step dad died from a heart attack, I was so upset afterwards, it hurt me more the fact that my mum who is very special to me was hurt so badly and that my little sister,who was only 4, didn’t have a dad any more. It has now been 5 years and about 5 months ago I had a panic attack and I thought I was having a heart attack. It really was the scariest moment of my life. It took a couple of weeks but I felt almost back to normal. Then I had another bad one at work and I got rushed to the hospital because the people I worked with thought I was having a heart attack because I was in so much panic. The doctors ran tests and told me I was perfectly healthy but I was so scared and didn’t believe them. Ever since then I have had EXTREMELY bad anxiety and my thoughts of dying are worse and are getting worse. I am on antidepressants and I have been prescribed Diazepam for when my anxiety gets really bad. I feel tense all the time, I get pains all over my body, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhoea, muscle tension, I feel like I’m not here most of the time. I used to be the life of the party now I feel like ill never be the same again. I just want somebody to understand. I don’t want to keep going to the doctors in case they think I’m crazy. I am scared to talk to my family, even though they know what I’m going through I don’t think they quite understand how bad it is. I have taken myself away from the world and I have no friends now because of it. I’m scared of everything. I need answers please help me, do you think CBT will help. Do you know any therapists near or on the Isle of Arran that can help me. Thank you so much for taking time to read my story. I want to come out of this with my head high and I would also love the chance to help others in my position. It really is a horrible thing to go through. I wish everyone good luck with their battle with anxiety and depression.
Hi Shannon,
It was nice to read your story as it made me realise that I am not the Only one who goes through this. When I have panic attacks I feel that nobody could understand what I am going through and that even other sufferers cannot be as bad as me. Well your story has shed some light for me, there are many of us that are going through this truly terrifying ordeal, I have just recently been able to control things a little better than I used to. We are not going mad, we do not need to go to the nearest mental institute, we simply need to find a better way to deal with what unfortunately we are doing to ourselves. When you have a panic attack you need to tell yourself you can breath, you are not going bloody mad, you are not going to die, you are going to feel like this at it’s worst for perhaps an hour then you will be ok. I do understand what it’s like to live with it, some days the intense fireworks in my chest last for hours and I wait for thew worst to come which sometimes doesn’t. We truly have nothing to be frightened of only the panic attack, it’s not the crowds of people or going far from home, it’s just the thought of the next attack that keeps us from doing these things and makes us want to be in the what we think is the safe environment of home or with that one safe person. You need to train your thought process honey and I think this type of therapy would do you good, I am just in the process of going for it myself but again we worry that talking about it will bring on another, well so what if it does, we will be ok and with help we will get better, keep your chin up and remember it is Only a sensation, a feeling, yes it may give you upset tummy or make you feel sick but we are not ill and we will be ok. Take care and keep positive xxx
i am looking for help to with anxiety
i have had 1 visit to a hypnotherapist who told me to take some herbs rosea they are called or something like that welli felt worse on thoseso i ahve come off them
i haven’t a clue why i have anxiety.i started with panic attacks when i was 18yrs old 30yrs ago and i have had anxiety and panic attacks on and off over the past 30yrs
i have had some awful experiences mainly with my mum and an ex husband and boyfriends since then
i lack confidence even though i hold down a full time job and i am a single parent with 2 children(1 has left home now)
i go to work and come home i feel safe in these 2 environments i have been away for weekends with my little girl however i always end up with anxiety so when i get back i always feel exhausted from fighting it!
i would like to meet people in my area who understand this feeling so are there any people in the west yorkshire area? it would be nice to here from you
thank you for reading
Hiya Jayne,
I’m not local to you as I’m located in Berkshire, but I am looking to talk to people with anxiety as I have been suffering terribley since 2 weeks ago causing disturbing thoughts plagueing my mind.
I’ve had anxiety since I was 16, I’m 19 now so I havent had it as long as you. But I still believe that others should talk to others and help out where possible.
Hi Amie
Thank you for your reply
i can only suggest don’t take anti depressants. i was given them but they actually started horrific thoughts
i can suggest a book that i am reading now by a man who suffered with anxiety for 10yrs his name is Paul David and it’s called At last a life.i got it off ebay he also has a website
Its very good reading and he says too feel your fears and not try to fight them . I have always tried to fight mine however reading his book i can see that facing the fear is in the long run the best way.
i started reading this book a couple of nights ago and i do feel quite empowered by it
i’m off to the hairdressers tomorrow and i am anxious about it but i haven’t been for months and dont like the look of my roots lol
i wasnt going to go and my eldest fell out with me as she had booked the appointment she doesn’t understand my anxiety issue howver on reading this book i am going and i am going to face this fear
so roll on tomorrow. how’s your week gone? .
Hey Jayne, things are somewhat better now
I do actually own the book by Paul David – I recieved it last week. It has helped, but I’m someone who benefits more from person to person talking etc than a book. It has been useful, but I read alot of it on his website.
I’m trying to accept my anxiety and putting myself in situations that would trigger anxiety and thoughts, I’ve been going out and trying to live life with the anxiety in the background, and to be honest it’s kept me distracted. The thoughts still scare me, but I’m working on it.
I’m on a waiting list for CBT, so we’ll see how that goes!
Hows your week?
I would like some help in my life please, as i constantly find myself ‘floating’ around the world with nothing to do…. well i have lots to do but i cant do anything…. oh, i dont know how to explain it, i have had anxiety since i was 12, im 22 now and its just getting worse. I have my last CBT session on thursday (well its more a follow up). But i dont feel any better. Please, i need professional help.
Hi Laura
Sorry for the late reply. Managing anxiety is all about staying positive and having faith in yourself and those supporting and helping you. Have you learnt any self-help techniques from the CBT sessions? Do you believe that you have the ability the overcome the anxiety? If you just finish your CBT sessions, I believe it would be great if you could give it some time before starting another course of CBT or therapy. Because it is all about stay positive and self help, you can’t help someone constantly telling you what to do.
Do you like to read? Wehave a range of self-help available at our Shop and understanding for yourself how anxiety works and why it becomes a problem will help you a great deal, and these books provide excellent explanations.
Andy
Iv had 30 sessions on EMDR treatment and they have advised me to have some CBT Treatments. It all started when i was involved in a car crash 4 years ago.EMDR treatment helped me to over come my fears but it came to a stage where I was advised to go out and visit the sites where my accident happened and how my life was before the accident just 3 months ago i started talking to people about my accident.The reason I stopped EMDR was that i was to scared to go out and visit scences where the accident took place. I have anxiety attacts at night and when im outside walking. I never get out of the house thinking that i might have a flash back i hate that feeling when i feel that im stuck in a place and every things stops but u can feel ur body still moving. Since me accident iv never got back in car or driven. The only thing that gets me out of the house is going to work because i enjoying working with children but my confidence always lacking thinking that something might happen like a panic attack or flash back. I still feel scared and feel sick when im in a car. I dont no what to do…… Should i go for these sessions or not. How is CBT treatment different to EMDR?
hi guys i know how you are feeling i too have had cbt in the past but they only offer a limited sessions and i feel that by the time i start to get somewhere the sessions stop and then i’m back to square one. The other thing i find is that when it hits hard you are plagued by the thoughts and then by the time you have been referred youhave come past the dark spot for now and then get told well done and carry on as you are only for a few months later for it to happen again.
help! im a severe blusher and have been for seven years since i was 12! ive tried anxiety tablets and hypnotherapy with no luck! its all i ever think about, and its making uni life very hard. would cbt help?
claire
Hi, My name is Derek. I am 33. I think I have anxiety as I am always restless, cannot ever relax, always thinking and worring about things. I have developed side effects such as belching and I now do not wish to have these side effects. I am an very possitive person in life but this issue I have needs to be sorted out.
Can anyone suggest anything that might help me?
Thank you
Regards
Derekl
Hi Derek
Sorry for the late reply. I would suggest you to speak to your GPs and find out what treatments your GPs can offer first. Anxiety is often the result of irrational thoughts, beliefs and negativ thinking in our minds. These can cause our bodies to react and change our behaviour. CBT is excellent for anxiety but it really depends on how long you have been suffering from anxiety. Managing anxiety is all about staying positive and self help. If the anxiety is quite recent, a therapist may not be necessary and I would recommend you to take a look at some of the overcoming anxiety books at our Shop. Understanding for yourself how anxiety works and why it becomes a problem will help you a great deal, and these books provide excellent explanations. Speak to your GP first and see how it goes.
Andy
Hi derek have you been to see your gp about your anxiety I know how you feel I too belch a lot when I am anxious it’s horrible as people look at you when you are doing it. As you can see its early mornIng and I can’t sleep due to the anxiety nausea and dark thoughts I have just started a course of cbt which I am paying for privately as the waiting list for nhs is far too long. I just really hope this works as I don’t know what else to do
Hi Shannon.
I read your story and it made me cry. A) because i can completely sympathise with how your feeling and B) because its comforting to know i am not alone.
My dad died suddenly 4 years ago and i too feel sad for my Mum and my younger brother. More recently everything became too much for me (i was getting 3 panic attacks a day that lasted up to 2 hours) and i have been signed off work. Like you i didnt really tell my family exactly how i was feeling but once i started to really open up and just say silly little things to my mum like telling her i feel so sad that she has lost her soul mate etc etc the panic attacks have started to disappear. Talking to your family about all your feelings really does make you feel so much better and youll find they will be thinking all the thoughts you thought were \silly\ too. I thought i was going mentally ill too and felt like i just wanted to run away but once i accepted i had an illness (depression and generalized anxiety disorder) and started talking to people and tell people thats what i had i started to feel better. I too feel scared of dying any little thing that happens to me i think is gong to be much worse than it is, but when something happens now i tell my mum and she soon puts me right. I feel like the things i used to enjoy i dont really anymore but ive learnt not to get frustrated with that now and to take my time and do only what makes me feel comfortable because i know i will get better because i have had friends that have been through a similar situation but have come through the other side. My body just needs time to deal with the shock of whats happened in my life and needs a little time out. I have been referred for cognitive behavioural therapy by my doctor and i believe that will really help me. You will get through this. Focus on the good things in your life, your lovely mum and sister and the bubbly life and soul of the party girl that is still there inside you but just needs a little break. x
Hi,
My name is Tash, im 22 and i have a big problem with anxiety. I have recently changed jobs to my dream job but anxiety is holding me back. Everytime I have a ‘turn’, I try control it with deep breathes but I get so bad, I end up vomitting which is really embarrising. I dont know how to deal with it, I have seen someone who done the eye moving theropy, but didnt work. Its effecting my job so much im stuck for ideas. Im going to talk to my GP about it because im not sure what else to do. Its been going on for almost 3years and getting worse. At my age I should be out having a good time, but im scared incase i end up being ill or anything like that. Will CBT help me??
Can anyone help me. My teenager is suffering from OCD it is related to my parents my farther is very ill with cancer and by brother recently suddenly died. We have noticed that she has been behaving differently over the last 8 months, she has recently confided in us after my mother visited our house, about how she is feeling. Now we know allot of things that have happened make sense. She will not go anywhere near hospitals or doctors, she has a lot of rules surrounding what she can do in the home as certain areas and rooms are “infected with IT”. I have sourced a therapist but she completely refuses to see anyone with her problem, she knows what she is doing but refuses to accept help. She cannot visit my parents for fear of infection, they cannot visit us, if I visit what I am wearing becomes “infected with IT”. She cannot hug us for fear of infection.
How do I make her see she needs help I don’t want this to ruin or control her life. She said if we take her to a therapist she will either lie or not talk at all, this will only increase her anxiety. Also I have not told me mum as on top of everything else this will really hurt her.
Hi TLT
Sorry to hear about your daughter is having a difficult time. Talk to your GPs firat and see what treatment s/he can offer. You can also ask your GPs to refer your daughter to see a psychologist or therapist from the NHS. Alternatively, we offer therapy services to our members at reduced rates and waiting list is only 2 weeks (much shorter than the NHS). However, you need to motivate her to do this because the therapist will need your daughter’s consent. Apart from talking therapy, I would recommend self-books to you and your daughter because understanding for yourself how anxiety works and why it becomes a problem will help you and your daught a great deal. We have a range of ‘Overcoming’ series of books available on our Shop that offer detailed explanations of anxiety disorders and how to deal with them.
Andy
I first realised something wasn’t right when i found i was putting off going anywhere,even to get bread or milk,saying to myself,i’ll just drink black coffee,and go with out the bread.
Dont get me wrong i do go out if its to places i feel at ease with,even then i get the palpatations and the feeling of wanting the the toilet immediatly .I find winter is the worst,and now i live with my daughter,i feel redundant,i dont have to cook,i do a small amount of housework,i dont have any hobbies as money is tight,and i realise everything i say people are just waiting to hear the but,everything is very negative.I hate feeling this way and feel at 55 my life is done,not that i have sucidel thoughts,i just plod along..T present i do take propranolol but as these seem to make me sleepy its very hit an miss when i take them.When i do puck the courage to go to places i end up feel so unwell its unfair on the people i am with ,as the feelings last for 2-3 hours and just makes it a very unhappy experiance for me,so dont go anymore.
Jim, This is not a commercial but maybe you could try Spidatraps. They have a good website and are the most effective way to catch spiders. Perhaps they may help you regain some control within your home. They catch all crawling beasties while you sleep. Good luck.
Hi
Im wondering if anyone can help me, october this year I started university however after eight days I had to leave as a result of panic attacks. Since then I feel Ive wasted a massive opportunity and have become very depressed. I am twenty years old and feel stuck Im in a job where i am unhappy and have no idea how to move forward and fulfill my dream of becoming a qualified nurse. Can cognitive behavoural therapy help and how does it work?
Hi Lea,
It sounds like you’ve been having a difficult time at the moment, University can be a stressful time and its really common for students to suffer with anxiety at this time. Its really positive that you are looking for help to move forward with your anxiety and panic attacks – there is lots of help out there. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been found to be really useful to treat anxiety, this is often done face to face with a therapist but its also important to note that there are lots of self help books out there which are based on CBT methods. CBT focuses on the relationship between our thoughts, feelings and behaviour and looks at some of our negative thoughts and helps you to challenge them, its very much about moving forward and taking steps towards overcoming your anxiety. If you want to know more about this and see if we have a therapist in your area then give us a call on our helpline and a volunteer will be able to give you more info. If you are interested in self help books then have a look in our shop here on the website – there is great book called ‘overcoming panic’ that looks specifically at dealing with panic attacks which you may find useful.
Regards, Chris
Dear Jim
The exact same thing happened to me when I moved to the country. I didn’t know spiders could be that big in England. The things that helped me were
1. Thinking of the spider as a female, which made it a bit less threatening.
2. If there was someone there more scared than I was, I could cope because it’s easier to be brave for someone else than it is for yourself.
3. Realising the fear is irrational doesn’t make it go away, so keep a clean pair of gumboots in the house, put them on and stamp on the spider. They are not a protected species. You can get help later for how you feel but the spider needs dealing with at the time.
Good luck,
B.
Hi, recently I’ve become aware that I’m suffering from some kind of anxiety, I’ve had this problem for years, just thought there was something wrong with me and that I shouldn’t be feeling like this. I’ve not been able to hold down a job all my adult life. I never feel like I fit in at work, I can’t seem to interact with my work friends, when people whisper at work I think there talking about me, before I arrive at work I have anxiety and are thinking of things to say at work before I get there, is this normal ?
I feel really uncomfortable around people, not all but most, normally loud people , I have high anxiety around those kind of people. I constantly agree with people and never say what I really think, I am really Frightend of people if I explain it in a nut shell!
Could someone give me some advice please.
Kind regards
Ross
Hi Ross
Thank you for sharing your feelings. Your anxious feelings are quite common and it is manageable. Have you tried any self help techniques in easing your anxious feelings? We provide an excellent book series on overcoming your anxiety, stress or specific disorders. You can look into our Shop section and check if there is anything interested you. They are all fantastic self help guides which you can learn some Cognitive Behavioural techniques to manage your anxious feelings. If you are interested in accessing CBT, we also offer you a fast track to it at low cost once you become our member. Give us a ring on 08444775774 and talk to our helpline volunteers for more details.
Best wishes
Volunteer
You comments sound very familier to my son’s problems. He was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome ( a type of autism) at the age of 45 after a whole life of feeling that he was different to other people (ie didn’t fit in) knowing what it was lifted a great wait of his shoulders. he is now having treatment and able to cope better.
Ann
Help……i had a panic attack a few weeks ago after witnessing a trauma at work…..i have ever since been afraid of everything and anything..i have been to my GB but not get any joy as he told me all was well…i have been to A&E twice but after a few test, they also said i was ok and nothing physicaly wrong with me…i now suffer from serious anxiety almost on a daily basis and after which i feel like i have just been in a fight with back and neck pains and the odd pains all over and feeling realy faint and tired…Am afraid that this might have a lasting effect…Please HELP……
I’m sorry to hear about the anxiety you’ve been experiencing, but you are not alone, there is help available.
If you take a look on the shop section of the website there are various DVDs and self-help books available, the Overcoming series it quite good and most are based on CBT techniques.
However if you feel that you may benefit from therapy please give us a call and we can go through what is available.
Regards
Neil (Anxiety UK Helpline Volunteer)
Shannon, I have just read, right now, your message on Anxiety UK. I see you posted this in Sep’ 11, so I am hoping you get my message. Please read on as I want you to know that you are not alone in this, in any of your feelings and thoughts. I have a severe anxiety disorder along with what you speak of, along with many other anxiety disorders that have grown over time. I am 40 years old and have suffered (on and off) with this terrible, terrible disorder myself. I really think I can help you with the things I have learned along the way so please please let me know if you get my message, so I will know you have read it. Even if you don’t want to talk to me please just send me an email saying ‘got it’ thats all, so I know you have. You really are not alone in this. Please know there are thousands of us, right now who are suffering. There are so many things I’d like to say to you, This is the first time I have been on Anxiety uk and have never wrote to anyone or looked at these type of messages before. I identified with what you said so much that I just had to get intouch with you. Until you get your CBT appointments, please, please go and buy the book ‘self help for nerves’ by Claire Weekes. My Husband found this book for me – just in Waterstones so will be available in any bookshop – just go in and ask or will be in the self help books part of the shop. This book has saved my life. The amount of help it has given me is imeasureable. It will explain firstly what is happening to us and it gives techniques of easy things to follow to help us through. Things that really really work. I have never really been a believer of self help things before as I thought they were all just abit ‘hippy-fied’ for want of a better word and just not for me. But I thought what have I got to loose I will try anything if it might help, even just a little bit. Please bear in mind that I I had been a sufferer for many years and it hepled me so it will help you. I use it as my bible now and refer back to it often – I made notes etc and have learned the techniques by heart and they really really do help. You must buy this book as soon as you can go out and get it. Or maybe look on internet to see if can order and have it delivered to you, I’m sure you could, as I realise ‘just going out to get it’ is a feat in its self! I could write loads on here for you, there are so many feelings isn’t there – I could be writing and writing for days! I really hope you do get my message Shannon. I am thinking about you, (and all of you, if anyone else is reading this) If you feel you would like to talk to me, please do email me. I check them daily so will get back to you, and if you don’t then thats fine. Just please buy the book an read it, understand it and follow it. You will feel better and with the CBT I’m sure you will begin slowly but surely to get back to a full and happy life again. Take care Shannon. Good Luck and God bless. xxxxx
I want my life back :(
Hi, Not sure where to start other than i am fed up with feeling miserable and worrying over ill health. I am always worrying that i have potentially got a serious illness and the constant worry makes me tired, irratible and suffering from lots of aches and pains which then give me something else to worry about as i then re-think something is wrong with me medically.
What do i do and where do i start to try and be happy again.
Hi Nicola,
Thanks for sharing your experience of your anxiety. We do have a book available through over shop section called Overcoming Health Anxiety which you might find useful, it’s got practical exercises based on CBT techniques.
There are also therapy services such as CBT available through Anxiety UK, for more information take a look at the Get Help section of our website.
Best wishes