"CMP has given me the confidence to meet my problems head on"

28 years ago I was involved in a terrorist hostage situation which acted as a trigger for my problems today. 

When situations arise where I feel out of my control, my safety threatened or certain news items, my anxiety would trigger. That would result in extremely tight chest, not wanting to do anything, being sick, shallow breathing, sweating, aggressive, agitated and frightened. These symptoms would last for about a week and my anxiety would occur every two to three weeks.

This had a direct bearing on everything in my life and made family life extremely stressful not only for me but for my wife and children. During this time I had been to talking therapies which although helped for a very short time, but did not actually deal with the root cause at the way my body and mind dealt with anxiety.

My anxiety has eaten into every aspect of my life and recently has become practically unmanageable. Was this due to the pandemic? Probably in part, as circumstances have completely changed, and partly due to not knowing how to recognise when my anxiety is building.

As this seemed to be getting worse I was reluctant to stay off work sick as I felt at least work gave me some structure to my anxiety even though at times it added to my anxieties. I approached my HR department, because I felt as though I had reached the end of my ability to manage things and knew things had to change, telling them the problems that I was going through.

HR colleague had been on a course where they had heard and then read up on the Condition Management Programme and work thought it would be good idea for me to go on this. Although I watched the videos and read the pamphlets regarding the programme, I was a bit sceptical that it would help, but felt if I could get any coping strategies out if it, it would be worth it.

Well I could not have been more wrong. I was assigned to Ann who probably doesn't know what effect that she has made to my life. She broke my problems down into small chunks and together set me goals or aims that I wanted to get out of the programme. Over the last six weeks she has opened up corridors for me to manage my anxiety more effectively.

It hasn't gone away but I am not afraid of it as much. My anxiety has lessened, I am more aware when my anxiety is building. I have used the strategies that I was given and have to say that my life is more stable than it has ever been. CMP has given me the opportunity to lead my life as I have always wanted and has given me the confidence to meet my problems head on and not be afraid. Don't do down, DO UP!!!