"My journey after a depression and anxiety attack"

8 months ago, I unfortunately suffered a severe attack of depression and anxiety.

I was admitted to hospital where after 5 weeks I was discharged, and able to return home. For the next 4 weeks I was treated by my local mental health team, with what I felt was a tough love approach. I didn’t benefit from this and was readmitted to hospital after a further 4 weeks. I was there for a further 5 weeks, during which time my medications were adjusted, until I was able to go about my normal living pattern in a balanced way.

On being discharged from hospital for the second time, I continued with my adjusted medication programme, with the result that the area psychiatrist has now declared her satisfaction with my progress, and will not require to see me if things continue as they are.

I believe this satisfactory outcome is the result of a different approach by my new area mental health nurse, who has adopted a kind, calm and encouraging approach to my counselling, for  the last 3 months.

This approach would appear to have been the one most appropriate to my condition and my progress has been consistent and satisfactory throughout this time.