"I am feeling so much stronger"

I have suffered with Depression and more recently Anxiety for well over 10 years.  I have had counselling and CBT in the past but not for a few years.  

By March of this year I was in a very bad place and after visiting my Doctor was referred to Ealing IAPT suffering with Depression and Anxiety  - it was becoming overwhelming.  Sarah was assigned to me and she was brilliant.  Firstly she made me feel relaxed and safe.  I felt she listened and understood me straight away.  As the weeks went on my mind started to feel clearer and I felt able to handle situations that had been causing me great anxiety.  Sarah helped me look at situations differently and I slowly began to try and implement changes in how I approached difficulties in my life.  In-between sessions I would often reflect on something Sarah had said and it helped me to have a better insight into how I view and present myself.  

It meant so much to me to have someone acknowledge the things I have been through in my life. I am now able to acknowledge that of course these experiences have affected me and that my feelings are valid.  I think this was the biggest break though for me.

I am feeling so much stronger since my sessions and although depression and anxiety is something I will always have to manage I now have a better understanding and more tools to help me.