"Health anxiety cured!"

One year ago I was a very fit marathon runner. I was a happy, strong mother of two and wife but I experienced a health scare in January 2017 which resulted in surgery. This was very much out of the blue and left me experiencing panic attacks and a deep fear of exerting myself; the smallest physically-demanding activities such as climbing the stairs became a measure of my wellbeing and I was unable to run without feeling breathlessness and fear. The problem grew and I began to feel that although I had been given the all clear by the medical experts, there was still something wrong with me. Physically and mentally I was suffering and began to feel very depressed, which also started to have an impact on my family. My obsessive behaviour was draining but I began to accept that this would be my new normal. My world had completely changed and I felt weak, unhappy and powerless. I seldom ran and would avoid many social situations. I was referred to Ealing IAPT by my wonderful and very patient GP and, although rather cynical, I decided to begin, with my first CBT session in November.

It is now a year on and, thanks to Tom, who has worked what I can only describe as 'miracles'; I feel stronger, more resilient and happier than I have for a very long time. With his guidance through the  techniques of Balanced Thinking, I have almost rewired my mind and returned to being the happy, strong, positive person I once was. I feel I have been given a set of tools that will last a lifetime and allow me to confront my fears in a calmer, more rational way. Tom and CBT have been life changing for me.