I've suffered major depression on and off for 15 years and over the past 5 years developed anxiety & panic disorder. This was badly affecting my work as a senior manager and my private life.
My Inverurie GP was great. Calming, compassionate and caring. She helped me find the right medication and listened to my wish to get help exploring some of my inner demons. I was surprised to reasonably quickly get an appointment with a clinical psychologist Natalie. I was sceptical she could do anything much to help me. Previous counselling and CBT with a CPN had not helped me at all.
Natalie was excellent and I'm so grateful to have been referred to a psychologist. She helped me discover an entirely new conception about aspects of my history and how my mind worked to which I was previously oblivious.
Natalie displayed all the values you'd hope from such a professional. Appointments were on time and she took into consideration my needs for future scheduling. Her expertise skillfully unlocked deeply buried and previously intangible aspects of my cognition that gave me new insights and hopefully ongoing freedom from the things that caused me so much pain. She made me feel safe, not ashamed and my privacy respected.
I now feel calm, happy and I'm flourishing in my job (despite continuing huge pressures). My wife and family say the old happy me has returned. I'm no longer frightened of a relapse and have acceptance that if I do suffer a relapse in the future I'll be able to deal with it.
I am so grateful to everyone involved from my GP to Natalie. Thank you NHS. You saved my life, the wellbeing of my family and my job. I honestly feel I could not have received better care.
Staff skills
Seeing the whole me
Staff attitude
Treatment
Being listened to
Being given time
"Uncontrolled anxiety and depression"
About: General Practices in Grampian General Practices in Grampian NHS Grampian NHS Grampian
Posted by Willliam Walllace (as ),
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