Cognitive behavioural therapy

I nearly had a complete nervous breakdown during uni exams this year (a very extreme stress reaction/anxiety).

Decided I can't go through that again, and thought I might look into CBT. Has anyone on here tried it, and if so, how did you go about finding a practitioner? Through your GP, or privately? I've been having a scoot round the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies website, but wondered what people's experiences were of the technique.

Thanks!

Reply 1

victoria52

hi,
iv never had CBT but i do spend alot of time with those who use it as part of their therapy and i would say 95% of those people found or are finding it very helpful. in studies in the uk and america the results have been very positive and encouraging. to be referred to a CBT specialist you can go via gp but there will more than likely be a waiting list or go private where you wont have to wait but will be paying an awful lot

Reply 2

eeyor

My doctor's referred me for it, in Cheshire it can apparently be 12-18 months on a waiting list, although I know of someone who apparently got theirs in a month or two, but they lived in the south somewhere.

Reply 3

black_mamba

So is cbt available on the nhs? :eek:

Reply 4

Anonymous #2

My brother had it, seemed to have a bit of an impact.

The benefits are better for some people than others.

Go seee the GPeee

Reply 5

Anonymous #3

I'm sorry to hear about your breakdown...I went through a similar experience at Christmas time. My GP referred me for CBT, and I was so desperate I actually paid privately for a session with the person who sees people in my doctor's surgery once a week. After that, I waited for about 2-3 months until they were available on the NHS.

As for it working, it's definitely helped me to get my thoughts together, although you do have to put in work to get something out of it; it's more (or more accurately, should be more) than having someone listen to you whilst you pour out your feelings.

Reply 6

RieLouise

I have had it for my ED.* I found it moderately helpful and it was in conjunction with the SSRI: Fluvoxamine.

*It was part of a trial to test the efficacy of this drug with this kind of illness so the Fluvoxamine I was taking might have been a placebo. I don't think it was though as I experienced some side effects.

Reply 7

Anonymous #1

I'm going to wait until I've got my exam results (due the end of this week), and see exactly how things went, then I'll book an appointment with my GP.

Going to see a Dr about exam stress does seem a bit 'non-problemish', but it was an horrific experience, and I'm worried that as I've been through it once, the next set of exams could be so much worse...

Reply 8

Anonymous #4

I have had 9 months of CBT and am currently on a waiting list for more. I have had CBT for an acute phobia. It was very helpful. You have to put in alot of work but the results can be really good. Its alot of list writing and working through ideas of situations that bother you - and then changing your thoughts towards your situation. You can get CBT both privatly and on the NHS. The nhs waiting lists can be very long (its 18months in my area :redface:

) But if you are able to then private sessions could be an option as you would only need a few to see an improvement - although long term treatment is also very effective. You can get a referal for CBT on the nhs through your gp so that is a good starting point. Good luck