In May 2015 I developed severe anxiety and panic attacks. Not having experienced anything like this before I was confused, terrified and spent the next few weeks regularly visiting my GP surgery and local A&E department. After a number of appointments I was eventually diagnosed with anxiety by my GP and prescribed medication and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) at my local hospital.
Unfortunately after my initial telephone assessment it became clear that it would be many months before treatment would be available and this wouldn’t necessarily
involve face to face treatment I felt was required.
As time went on things progressed for the worse and I began searching the Internet where I found Dr Moffett’s website.
I nervously made contact leaving an answer phone message and within a couple of hours Matilda called me back and we discussed the symptoms I was experiencing.
It was immediately obvious that I was speaking to someone professional who both understood and had experience of treating anxiety.
Anyone who has suffered from anxiety knows how crucial this is. This is a time in your life when you are extremely vulnerable and desperately seeking reassurance and the confidence that this person can really help you.
With Matilda this is exactly what I got.
What followed was an initial consultation and approximately 10 sessions of CBT over a 3-4 month period. I quickly received a full assessment which led to an explanation of the condition I was struggling with and the next steps required in the treatment.
More importantly for me I was given the reassurance that anxiety was a very treatable condition and that with the right treatment and effort on my part I would “absolutely would recover”.
Anxiety has an awful way of creating so much uncertainty and self doubt that you are never 100% convinced you will recover regardless of however many times someone tells you.
This is why it was imperative for the me that the person who was treating me had the relevant skills and qualifications but even more so had been there and done it before.
For anyone struggling and seeking help for anxiety I can assure you that Matilda was true to her word and following the treatment plan I did go on to make a full recovery.
Its certainly not a linear process and I can guarantee anyone in a similar situation that there will be setbacks but you will be supported through this process onto your journey to recovery.
I’m sure everyone’s path will be different but for me I began a phased return to work after approximately 10 weeks and returned to full time work a few weeks after that.
I would say it took about 6 months to feel I was firing on all cylinders again but this was pretty amazing considering how difficult things had become.
I would like to say that throughout my treatment I found Matilda to be a highly competent, compassionate, professional who in my opinion give me my life back, and for that I will be forever grateful.
Phil