"Mental health services"

I was having trouble with stress and anxiety. Sleep problems, problems with food - I felt awful. My GP gave me the number for Ealing IAPT and once I'd answered some questions over the phone, I was offered CBT sessions.

My counselor was brilliant. She not only took me through the principles of CBT, but really listened to me and helped me get to the bottom of what was worrying me and why. Throughout this we kept going back through the CBT stuff and working out which bits were relevant and how I could apply them.

She was very kind and a great listener - she remembered things I'd told her weeks later. She also really empathised with me so I stopped feeling like I shouldn't have these feelings.

I went from being a bit nervous at the start - like, will she think I'm just making a fuss about nothing, some people have real problems etc - to thoroughly looking forward to our time together.

I've learnt a lot about what's in my head and feel I have learnt strategies that really work for me. I understand that sh*t will still happen, that's life, but I feel like I'll be better prepared in the future to deal with it.