"Anxiety and Depression"

I had gone through multiple ordeals the previous years which include the breakdown of a relationship and on/off harassment which I would try to report to the police and they wouldn’t help. It affected my physical health as well as emotional health, which resulted in me losing weight, losing my hair and generally becoming unwell which resulted in having to go to hospital.

I was diagnosed with depression in 2019 and I was put on anti-depressants. I felt so sad and like my life was spiralling out of control, I felt I didn’t have no control in my life and that I had lost who I was. I full of anger and hurt from what I had been through. I had had counselling on and off throughout the last few years but last year become a breaking point for me and I went back to Inclusion and started having counselling again last July.

My counsellor was Ian. We would have counselling every week via telephone. He helped me to see what was positive in my life and the positivity in myself. He also suggested some great things to help which was writing my feelings down when I felt sad or angry and even watching videos to help with my emotions. Every couple of weeks, my anxiety scores would go up or go down, due to having a bad week here and there but Ian would help bring them back down. All I needed was someone to listen to me whether if I was crying or angry and Ian was there to listen. I had had counselling for roughly 7-8 months with Ian, it really benefitted me having it for as long as I did as it’s helped me to turn my life around now.

I am much happier now, I have gained a little more weight, I eat more and I don’t feel as depressed like I used to. I still have down days here and there but Ian taught me that this is normal and that if I feel like I need to speak to someone again, I can ring Inclusion and ask for him. Thank you Ian and Inclusion service for your help and for helping turn my life around.