"I enjoy the new freedom that CBT has given me"

I had two psychotic episodes after my parents died, and I was living in fear of relapsing and experiencing these episodes again. The fear paralysed me, and I found it difficult to leave the house on my own and suffered from panic attacks, and low mood. This fear isolated me from people as I was unable to stay for long in peoples company, also I wouldn’t go to family occasions or any social events.

I felt depressed some of the time, this resulted in a poor appetite and there were days when I wouldn’t shower or wash myself.

When I started CBT with Katie, Katie listened very carefully to my story and talked me through the various techniques to help identify unhelpful thinking styles, so that I could stop and change my thought patterns. I learned how to stop the negative thought which in turn stopped the negative emotions . I also learned how to change my behaviours in situations resulting in a more positive outcome.

Today, I now go out shopping and have the freedom to go for a coffee on my own, I have been to a family occasion and enjoyed myself. I don’t feel afraid of anything now, and I know that there is very little chance of having a psychotic episode. I spend more time with family and friends and enjoy the new freedom that CBT has given me.

I am very grateful to Katie and for the course of CBT.