The idea of group therapy for anxiety made me worry more, until I went along | Charles Graham-Dixon

Exercise and CBT were helping, but my anxiety and OCD still haunted me. Then I shared my stories with a group of strangers

Anyone who has suffered from depression-related illnesses such as anxiety may find the prospect of group therapy daunting. When I was first offered the opportunity to take part in an NHS “worry group” in 2013, I flatly turned it down. Barely allowing my NHS CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) therapist to fully explain how the group worked, I simply refused to be involved. Panic alarms immediately sounded at the thought of sharing my problems with total strangers, themselves suffering with issues. I was almost indignant that a professional thought it would be a good idea to thrust me into a situation presenting such fear of the unknown, a breeding ground for anxiety. Did she not know me at all?

Two years later and bouts of anxiety and OCD would still rear their head just when I believed they had disappeared. By this stage I had developed a greater understanding of the condition and developed ways to tackle it via exercise, specifically cycling, but still something was missing from my armoury. I returned to CBT via my local NHS authority, determined to stick it out and be more open to suggestions this time.

Panic alarms sounded at the thought of sharing my problems with total strangers, themselves suffering with issues

Related: Antidepressants work – but we need to talk, too | Rhik Samadder

Continue reading... February 27, 2018 at 01:30PM