Suzie came to the practice with a number of concerns that she wanted to address. The pain and embarrassment of her IBS suffering had led her to increased irritability, frustration and full-blown red mist encounters with her partner and her children. She was exhausted and frustrated with herself for not seeking help before, but she came to the practice with a sense of hope and a great deal of willingness to give her all.
Having attempted numerous diets, Suzie removed certain foods to alleviate the symptoms of cramping, and had tried practising mindfulness too, all of which had some impact (although some not lasting that long, she explained), she was now looking for something more significant. I had been recommended to Suzie through a friend.
Having emailed sometime before her initial consultation, she stated how difficult it had been to reach out, and how frustrating it had been to only now take the first steps months after our first communication.
Presenting Concern
Having lived with IBS and anxiety for many years, when it flared up, at its worst Suzie said that she struggled daily with terrible stomach cramps, nausea, and regular visits to the toilet. These weeks she had to plan her travel around public toilets or on some days, stay close to home.
Work became unmanageable, parenting became impossible, and she became irritable and distant from her partner and felt it easier to self-isolate during these days.
She sensed the loss of a normal state of mind and body, leaving her in a confused state and further fuelling her anxious thoughts, but was managing ‘just enough’ to get by without others noticing.
The Approach
Early into sessions, Suzie and I began to look to create some calm space for her to slow down her rapid and chaotic thinking, enabling her to find some clarity so that she could focus on a few specific aims and goals.
Helping her simplify things by minimising the less important needs allowed her to reduce the overwhelming to-do list she had running in her mind. She picked out the three key areas of improvement that she said would ‘change her life’, and she began to create small, sometimes micro steps towards an improved place.
By being consistent in her goals, persistent in her efforts and patient with her progress, she started to see a life beyond her concerns and symptoms, something she felt she had never even considered.
Soon, Suzie began to experience more positive emotions and different outcomes, in both life and in the way she was feeling, and by adding a little more structure to her day and setting more realistic (but still challenging) aims for her week, she started to create more order in her life, reducing the symptoms associated with worry and concern, and returning herself to a place that she felt was calmer, more carefree, and fun, and a little more spontaneous.
Suzie’s Words
“I was really struggling with bad anxiety.
I felt like my world was slowly falling apart. I just wanted to feel “normal” again. I had always been very reluctant to get help but eventually knew I needed to see someone. I booked my first appointment with Nick.
I met Nick and he made me feel at ease right away. Nick made everything seem so simple and yet it was so powerful and even after just my first session I left feeling inspired and that it was possible to feel good again.
I continued to see Nick and my progress was remarkable. I will always be so grateful to Nick for helping me to return to the positive happy person I used to be and wanted to be again.”
