“Thinking differently about difficulties and feeling understood”

Our Let’s Talk – Wellbeing service is helping to reduce anxiety and depression in patients diagnosed with dementia. Read about Andrew’s experience here.

As well as the service featured in our blog post from David, Let’s Talk – Wellbeing also offers support to people in Broxtowe with respiratory, cardiac, memory problems and those at risk of admission to hospital as part of its main service. 

The service uses talking therapies to reduce the emotional distress caused by a person’s physical ill health, whilst helping them to better cope with their condition and manage symptoms. 

Here Richard Alvey, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, shares the experience of a recent patient Andrew (real name changed):

“Andrew started to become depressed following a diagnosis of dementia. He started to feel anxious in social situations in case his memory would let him down. He felt less motivated to do things and this concerned him as it was out of character.

“He was referred to the Long Term Conditions Team for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Therapy took place at his home. Andrew’s wife was present for the first appointment and this helped clarify any uncertainty he had about recalling any details. After that, therapy took place on a one to one basis. Extra time was allowed so that Andrew and I could make notes so he would not forget details.

“The therapy focused on how to improve Andrew’s self-esteem. He was tasked with different activities to help challenge his negative thinking and low motivation. He started taking a lead in hill walking with supportive friends. He also began organising his belongings so he could feel prepared for a time when his condition may affect his ability to make decisions. Andrew experimented with stopping logging everything he did in the day, as this sometimes made him feel more stressed. He found that he coped well without this.

“Andrew described therapy as being helpful for increasing his motivation. He described the sessions as helping him think differently about his difficulties and they offered a space where he could feel understood.”

The service is for people registered with a GP in the Broxtowe area of Nottingham and is commissioned by Nottingham West Clinical Commissioning Group. Contact the service Monday to Friday, 8.00am – 5.00pm, on 0115 9560 888.