"I am so grateful"

I contacted a West London health service when I realised I really needed to sort out the continuous intrusive thoughts I had been having for almost a year. They affected my day, what I wore, how I ate, my actions and would never leave my head. In the end, my relationship broke down and I knew I wanted to really sort everything out. I was only 17.

I don't think the service could have been better. I contacted them and they contacted me back quickly, and I became a part of their scheme for 13 weeks of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with a trainee therapist who truly changed my life. She showed me analogies, she taught me how to think presently. We went through what my thoughts meant, why I had them and what I could do to change them - and I rarely have them now. Even so, if I do have an intrusive thought, it no longer becomes something I worry about but move on from, and I am finally going back to wearing what I like (for myself) and eating well and building relationships again.

The service even helped me with university and financial guidance, and we were also able to look into symptoms of OCD I had come to realise I had due to the overthinking thoughts.

CBT has helped me more than I could have ever imagined and I am so thankful for it. I wish everyone could have access to it, and the fact it was free is unbelievable. I will never forget it and I am so grateful.