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People who have Long Term Conditions (LTC’s) are more likely to experience anxiety and low mood, and these emotional difficulties can make the physical symptoms of their LTC worse.

Physical symptoms caused by a LTC can be distressing and difficult to control, and this often leads to worry, overthinking, avoidance, and withdrawal.

Experiencing these symptoms can understandably reduce a person’s quality of life. Please know that you are not alone, and we want to support you in taking the steps to manage your emotional wellbeing and physical health condition.

If you would like support then please make a self-referral here by selecting your NHS service.

Once we receive your referral, we can book you in for an initial telephone conversation to discuss what support may be best for your difficulties.

Self-refer

If you are suffering from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, low mood or excessive worry, NHS Talking Therapies can provide you with advice, guidance and support.

How can Talking Therapies help?

Watch our video to listen to Tammy Stone, long term physical health conditions lead at Vita Health Group outlines the mental health support available for those struggling.

Our NHS Talking Therapies services can help to:

  • Explore strategies and skills to manage your symptoms of anxiety and low mood which in turn will help you to manage your LTC.
  • Improve your quality of life.
  • Look at the links between your thoughts, behaviours, physical symptoms and emotions, and then practice key tools to make some helpful adaptations, with an aim to help you live well with a LTC

CBT can help with self-managing your long term condition, focus on improving symptoms of anxiety and low mood, which can help reduce symptoms related to your long-term health condition. CBT techniques  CBT uses strategies to help people improve their quality of life and self-manage their condition.

 Some of the key areas you might address in therapy, may include:

 

  • How CBT can help with the self-management.
  • How mental health and physical health symptoms link together.
  • How to manage triggers and warning signs.
  • The fight or flight response.
  • How to manage anxiety provoking thoughts.
  • How to manage safety behaviours and learning to pace yourself.
  • Relaxation techniques.
  • How to recognise and manage worry and overthinking.
  • The role of safety, avoidance and withdrawal behaviours, and how to include rewarding activities in your week and overcome barriers.
  • Developing self-compassion.
  • How to stay well and how to maintain the strategies learned.

Improvements can include:

  • Reduced low mood and anxiety
  • Improved quality of life
  • Improved relationships
  • Improved self-management

Self-help support

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Mental Health

Struggling with your mental health can affect all aspects of your life. You don't need to navigate your struggles alone, we provide a range of self-help guidance to help you manage your thoughts, feelings, and symptoms.   <p class="p1"></p>

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