"Chill Out Sound Support gave me control over my cannabis use"

After smoking weed every day for 15 years contributed to the end of a long term relationship and a personal breakdown I was left at an all-time low. Long term depression, paranoia, anxiety and suicidal thoughts were consuming me.

When the suicidal thoughts threatened to become actions, I scared myself into going to the GP to seek help. After discussion with the GP I started taking Citalopram for depression and was referred to Chill Out Sound Support work on my Cannabis addiction.

Going to the doctors for depression became a problem when I had to change GP’s due to a house move. At my new GP’s I seemed to end up seeing a different doctor every time I went. Eventually I got fed up with repeating the same story and gave up on the anti-depressants and the doctors.

Coming off Citalopram in a straight stop didn’t help my mental state and I spiralled into back in anxiety and world avoidance.

The main thing that got me through this last year while my mental state was so up and down was Chill Out Sound Support. The key was the continuity of seeing the same person every week over a prorogued period of time in a clean, confidential, friendly and relaxing environment. It allowed me to build up trust with the drug worker which gave me the confidence to discuss my cannabis addiction as well as other issues I didn’t feel comfortable discussing with friends.

Being able to talk to someone face to face every week, who treated me with respect and reasoned with me without judging or belittling me, was exactly what I needed. The CBT aspects of their counselling worked well. Now, instead of trying to solve all my problems by smoking more to forget\avoid the world, I eat properly, exercise regularly, see friends more frequently, have a new job and only smoke cannabis very occasionally.

The thing I have to thank them for most is that I’m not sure I would still be here today if it wasn’t for their face to face support and CBT. They supported me through difficult times, gave me control over my cannabis use and helped me to turn my life around. I can’t praise these guys enough.