"Just keep swimming"

I am writing today to thank the Clydesdale Psychological Therapies Team for helping me over the last year. I was referred by my wonderful GP Dr Gemmill when I hit a period of crisis with my mental health. I was referred at the start of January 2016 and seen by mid February which is excellent.

I was wary as I had worked with some of the team members in a professional capacity and was unsure how I would feel sitting on the other side of the couch so to speak.

I really shouldn't have worried. I was seen by Tracy from the team whom I hadn’t met before although had heard good things about! !

Self-stigma was a massive barrier to my recovery and Tracy spent a long time with me helping me to work through this, demonstrating the patience of a Saint with me.

Given the acute stage of illness that I was in, it took me a good 3 or 4 sessions to feel comfortable and really open up, but Tracy showed immense patience and understanding. I felt like I was jumping back and forward between issues and kept apologizing for not “doing it right”….

Thankfully Tracy continually re-assured me there was no “right way” to undertake this process. She also assured me that I could access help for as long as it took to deal with what I needed to deal with. This was another great relief as I had heard stories of an allocation of “12 sessions……” and couldn’t deal with having that sort of deadline put on working with my emotions especially because as I opened the lid on one box another ones lid would start to rattle.

I know that the team are under immense pressure due to the sheer volume of referrals they receive but I have never once been made to feel rushed in any of my appointments.

I was fortunate enough to access an 8 week CBT based Mindfulness course which has given me a tremendous self management skill that will stay with me. My one and only suggestion to the team – and its probably better directed at NHS Lanarkshire direct – is that this course be made available as preventative measure rather than something that is only available when you are under the team. It would be good to see it available via the social prescribing initiative “Well Connected” as an alternative to the stress control classes. There is very limited mindfulness activities available currently via this, and I’m sure we all agree that prevention is better than cure.

A very sincere and heartfelt thank you to Tracey and the rest of the team. This time last year my mindset was such that 2016 would be my last Christmas on earth but I am so thankful today to say that Dr Gemmill and Tracy in particular held onto hope for me whilst I was unable to see it for myself and helped me on this journey of recovery - or as I prefer to call it "rediscovery".

You really do an amazing job. The medication I had to take this time kept me afloat, but as Tracy promised me the therapy would enable me to swim. And it absolutely has. I am still seeing the team and will continue to do so for probably another 6 months or so as we work through things. As I said earlier, I have never felt rushed or had any pressure put on me. And as Dory says in Finding Nemo....just keep swimming! !