How talk therapy helped me cope with a chronic health issue

A goodtalk client opens up dealing with a chronic health issue with therapy. She found her therapist on goodtalk.uk. We thank her for sharing her story with others!

Getting a diagnosis itself can be harrowing. For a long time I was told that it was “all in my head” and “periods were meant to be painful”. Ironically, when they finally diagnosed my Endometriosis, rather than sulking in despair at having to live with an “incurable” condition, I was just relieved that it was not “all in my head”. Still, the sinking into despair was to come later and without any warning.

Endometriosis is a debilitating condition that affects about 10% of women in the UK. It is chronic, painful, has a long and slow route to being diagnosed and is without a successful permanent cure in modern medicine.

The first few weeks and months were spent researching every Pubmed article and clinical outcome — but the horrors of the prognosis were not easy to deal with. Then I moved on to looking at alternative and complementary therapies and started to see some light but no promises there too.

All I had to deal with this life changing condition was my own mind and body. No machine or medicine would help.

Coming to terms with a damning health diagnosis is complicated. Making the connection between your mental and physical health is a long and painful road. And there’s not very much support in between.

It is then that one truly begins to feel lost. Where do you start? How do you “will yourself healthy”? Working through feelings such as “why me?” is not for the fainthearted. Something you tell yourself one day may not stick with you the next. What sticks is the pain, mood swings and general disinterest in leading an active life.

By a stroke of much needed luck, I read in an endometriosis forum on how therapy had helped one of the women take control of her situation. By that time, I had begun to feel so exhausted physically and emotionally, that all I wanted and needed — was to feel better. I thought talking to someone who I didn’t know might help: I booked myself an hour’s session with a talking therapist on goodtalk. I was suggested a choice of three therapists and I chose one.

This was my first therapy session. I didn’t know what to really say but thankfully, this wasn’t the therapist’s first. She spoke to me gently and with the voice of someone who truly understood. After the first session, I felt as if an inexplicably heavy burden had been lifted. The relief itself must have been medicinal because I felt I had taken a strong painkiller. Gradually as the sessions went on, and we worked through details and practicalities, I could find the strength to deal with all the new changes in my life. Many more sessions later I can just about see where to find my spark again.

It’s surprising that the current care models for Endometriosis, or other such health issues, don’t even suggest talking therapy as a way to help you live a full life.

All I needed was to feel better, to feel understood and be propped up at times, and thankfully goodtalk came to my rescue. Anyone suffering from Endometriosis deserves at least as much. She needs to be able to find the strength within herself to cope and to develop a voice and stance that will carry her through.

If you are dealing with a health issue, newly diagnosed or chronic, or looking after a family member who needs care and support, we have specialists on our panel who can help you overcome health anxiety. Get help now.

We can help you have a session within a day or less. Write to us @hello@goodtalk.uk.

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