"CBT for Cleithrophobia"

For years, I had a ridiculously debilitating phobia - Cleithrophobia; the fear of being locked in a space. I couldn't use public bathrooms or revolving doors, I would often panic on a packed tube or train, I had trouble with flying sometimes but my worst fear was getting in a lift. I couldn't go in one alone. I sometimes could go in on with others, but it would depend on the day.

I finally made the brave step of starting CBT with Croydon IAPT to work on this phobia, as it was ruining my life. Exposure therapy was very hard but in the long run, it has been effective. I ended my sessions in Feb 2023, and continued to force myself to practise the exposure therapy I'd been doing during my sessions afterwards. By August 2023, I was finally able to get in a lift by myself for the first time in years and even though it was terrifying, it felt great!

It is now Dec 2024 and I am completely fine getting in lifts, public bathrooms, revolving doors and everything in between by myself. This is honestly amazing as I never thought I'd be able to get in a lift again. Thanks to God, thanks to me for my persistence and thanks to Croydon IAPT, I have overcome my fear :)