Happiful_May_2019

True LIFE

May 2019 • happiful • 65

Mel found her chronic anxiety initially difficult to understand,

and embarrassing to share. Her fear of the unknown made

her life unbearable. Medication gave her the breathing space

to recover, and she realised that she needed to work on

her reactions and thought patterns. Helped by medication,

she found treatment options that worked for her. Often a

combination of tools (medication, therapy and

challenge) will help us overcome our anxiety.

Now, she is in a place of hope.

Our Expert Says

Graeme Orr | MBACP (Accred) UKRCP (reg)

Reg Ind counsellor

As I sit here, telling you this,
it is unbelievable to think as
to how severe my anxiety
disorder really was, and I
am determined to never let
it swallow me up like that
again. I’ve learnt that anxiety
disorders can be complex to
treat, but this doesn’t mean
that they are not treatable. It
only means that they are not
quick to fix.
The courage that is needed
to stand up and say: ‘I have
a mental illness’, is not easy,
but you cannot fully focus on
getting well if you are treating
it from an arm’s length.

It needs to be accepted as a

part of you, but also know that

mental illness does not define

you, and it never will.

I have also learned that

medication is not the enemy

many people make it out to be.

It played a huge role in saving

my life, and provided the

short-term relief to enable me

to regain enough strength and

focus to decide on a long-term

treatment plan.

As I began to withdraw from

the medication, I was able to

find holistic treatments that I

still use to this day. Treatment

for mental illness is so varied

and it can take trial and error

before you find one that works

for you.

Today, I describe myself as

a recovered anxiety disorder

sufferer, but I am not cured

from the small anxious

moments that creep up on me

every now and again. I remain

on a minimal dosage of only

one anxiety medicine, which is

a withdrawal from more than

80% of what I was on. The

difference now is how I handle

those anxious moments, and

how I react to them.

Anxiety disorders can be

complex to treat, but this

doesn’t mean that they are not

treatable. It only means that

they are not quick to fix

Anxiety is all about

thought processes, and I

am now able to control the

anxious thoughts before

they take hold of me – it’s a

truly liberating feeling. I am

the happiest that I’ve ever

been, and my message to

anyone who has a mental

illness is to show them

how they too can be happy

and healthy, even with a

diagnosis.

No matter how severe your

anxiety disorder is, there is

always hope for you.

Mel and her husband

To see more of Mel’s work

and books, please visit

myanxietycompanion.com