"A load lightened makes the load easier to bear"

This year, I was given a run of one to one counselling sessions. I have suffered from low mood, suicidal thoughts and dark thoughts for most of my adult life, and this was the first time I have had the problem addressed, where I felt it was done properly.

My counsellor, Ms. Fitzpatrick, was excellent and professional. Over the years I have developed ways of 'batting aside' any discussion about my mental health, and veering away from the subject, but she was wise to this from the offset and always kept the conversation on topic. This was invaluable, and part of the key to helping someone like me. She was also patient, kind, and she persevered, keeping me calm (which has always been an issue for me, and because I know I can be difficult). Because I know that the problems I have are severe and very deep rooted, I didn't expect a few months of weekly sessions to do me any good at all, I came away from each feeling more positive, and the techniques she taught me for dealing with 'immediate' issues have been a great help; also, just being able to speak openly to someone so understanding about the incidents and life experiences that have shaped me was a great unburdening; whilst I still have mh issues, and probably always will have, I feel now that the heavy 'rucksack of bad things' that I cart around with me daily has been reduced to a more manageable load - every time I attended a session with Ms. F, I came away feeling a little lighter, if that makes sense, so much so that I looked forward to each session, and how I would feel immediately after it.

It was, for me, an invaluable experience, and also Ms. Fitzpatrick helped me to get the correct treatment from my then GP, who had shown no desire to help me out of the pit I was in in any way; it is also thanks to these sessions that I found the initiative to change to a GP who actually was prepared to help. As I stated earlier, at my age I honestly didn't expect to gain as much from this as I have and it has made a life that has always been difficult to navigate a lot easier. I will always be very grateful and would recommend anyone in the same boat as myself to speak to IM, and if your GP won't refer you then refer yourself. A load lightened, even by a bit, makes the load easier to bear.

Thank you to all concerned, but especially to Ms. Fitzpatrick. The only regret I have is that my allocated sessions have come to an end.