I Had Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. It is a type of treatment used for conditions such as depression and anxiety but it can also be used to treat physical conditions (though it is not a cure for those). The NHS website offers extensive information on this type of treatment if you are not familiar with it. It is often used in combination with medication.

I have had CBT and today I'll be discussing my experience and results with this type of therapy. But first, for more information on my conditions (as I will not be covering them extensively in this post), please visit the following links:

Menstrual Health And Me

My PMDD Story And Diagnosis


I received CBT several years ago for severe clinical depression that was caused by birth control pills, but I also have a health condition called Pre Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder that also induces depression and anxiety amongst other symptoms. My condition is physical but it produces mental side effects so I received CBT in order to help me with both.




The initial stages of arranging CBT were not comfortable at all, especially since I was suffering severely at the time and found it extremely difficult to talk to people.  Once it was determined I needed CBT and I was offiially referred by my doctor (though I wasn't made aware that my therapy would be CBT until later on), it was a matter of playing the waiting game. This involved having to cope for a few months on my own until space became available for treatment. This was a tough ride for me because I was suffering so horrendously.  I felt like I was living under water whilst the whole world went by around me.

I had very disordered eating, stopped sleeping properly and became very withdrawn from every day life. I barely spoke to my own family and only went out of the house when I had to for doctors visits or to buy essentials. 

Once available to me, I was informed what type of therapy I'd have and given information on when/where said therapy would take place (my local hospital at the time).

Group CBT therapy was recommended for me which I was absolutely TERRIFIED about. I had severe social anxiety at the time and hated being around people. I still sometimes struggle with this now but I manage it much better. I was sick with anxiety over the thought of having to sit amongst strangers, fearful that they'd find out what was wrong with me and judge me. Which, of course, was all in my head, but it was a legitimate worry of mine. It was wanting to get better and do everything I could to get better that made it so I went to therapy and stuck with it.

Each therapy session lasted about an hour and I had one session per week. Nobody was forced to speak, nobody was forced to do anything they were not completely comfortable with. This was manageable for me as it allowed me to gradually be around people again without being extremely overwhelming. (I think this is why it was so effective for me. Had it been a one-on-one session I probably would have felt so much pressure to speak it wouldn't have had much success!) Judgement was out the window too. We were all made to feel completely at ease about discussing our symptoms if we so wished to.

CBT gives you the tools to manage your depression, anxiety or whatever condition you're referred for. It is not a cure but it certainly helped me tremendously.

You are given exercises to do each week which you should do. You don't have to show your results or even share anything you don't want to. But it helps you if you keep track so please definitely do this if you have CBT. You have to take CBT seriously in order to give it the best chance of helping you. Personally, I felt it would be wrong of me to waste my opportunity to have this therapy because there were others in need of it on the waiting list so I took full advantage. And even long after my therapy I still use the techniques to manage my symptoms as I did back then.

You will use the techniques over and over which is why it's important to practice frequently enough to remember them for when you'll need them most. You will be given notes and exercises to do which you get to keep so you can refer to them in future any time you need to.

Now I feel like even if I'm attacked by my symptoms I'm perfectly capable of getting through it. It's not easy by any means and it's not all sunshine and rainbows but it is more manageable. It allows me to have my life back.

It isn't comfortable when you first start off. In fact you might feel worse. I definitely did. I wondered why I kept going but I knew I wanted to stick with it to give it a chance. This is why it's SO important you don't quit and it's SO important you give it a chance. I understand it doesn't work for everyone which is also why it is important to explore all of your options and try all kinds of treatment possible to find what works for you.

Don't feel bad if one type of treatment doesn't help, there are many others out there that can.

Alongside CBT I took medication. This helped with my physical condition which was causing the mental side effects.

I feel like CBT gets such a bad reputation as I have witnessed quite a few people being vocal about how it didn't help them. This is fair enough, not every form of treatment works for everyone, but at the same time I think it's important to recognise that this type of therapy has one of the highest success rates and works most effectively long term.

As with anything in life it's up to you to decide what you're comfortable with and where your limits are but this is one type of therapy I'd definitely recommend.