Gillian’s Story

I self referred myself for an online anxiety management course with Malit in the Community through Care Merseyside. Within hours I received a lovely phone call and felt somebody was actually listening to me for the first time in months. The pandemic brought on a whole way of anxiety, I am a nurse and I could no longer keep my head above water. It was consuming everything I did, and occupied all my thoughts.

I had become distant and could almost feel myself fading as the anxiety got worse.

I agreed to attend these online anxiety management sessions and I have to say, if you are consumed by your anxious thoughts- please give it a try. My anxiety hasn’t gone away but after just a few sessions I feel I am managing better and even though I am still anxious, I am only experiencing this for parts of the day. Before, it was all day, everyday!

I find myself remembering Anna and Megan’s words when I’m struggling and I keep telling myself to only focus on what I can control. Writing down my stresses has helped me too.

Unfortunately, I  was confirmed Covid-positive two weeks ago but I am not coming out the other side. During the darkest days of the illness I found myself calm and thinking ‘this will pass.’ When anxiety is controlling you, it’s hard to to remember your self worth.

I now feel I am controlling my anxiety to some degree and surviving Covid has proven I am strong, and the fear of something can actually be worse than the thing itself. I enjoy the sessions as it gives me an opportunity to get comfortable and just listen to some positivity when the world around me seems so strange and negative right now.