"Life has become much more manageable"

I have suffered with anxiety for as long as I can remember – age 10 onwards. One of my major anxieties being my health. Next, phobias, going out at night alone, taxis, lifts, heights to name a few.

At the age of 70 I finally admitted to a doctor about these problems causing me to be depressed and she recommended CBT. I had spent all my working life in the NHS having much responsibility and was sceptical but thought I had nothing to lose.

I had a mature counsellor who was wonderful and explained the theory about CBT and he spent much time explaining my problems and how to change my thinking to challenge my negative thoughts and to look for the positive outcome.

I have now flown a 9hr flight without any problems and am not fearful. When anxieties crop up, I instead of looking at the worse scenario I am able to change my thinking to tackling situations one case at a time and not focusing on the undoubtedly worse scenario.

Life has become much more manageable. Not all my anxieties have disappeared but I look at life in a different light and chose alternatives.

I would strongly recommend CBT.