CBT for health anxiety/generalised anxiety?

[anxiousaboutlife]

I'm in my mid 30's and have been diagnosed with anxiety since my teens. I used to take medication but the side effects made me miserable so ended up coming off them and haven't taken any or seen a doctor about it since 2019.

Since about January my anxiety has started getting worse. I've had a bit of a rough year health-wise. Nothing life-threatening but I've had a diagnosis of PCOS, shingles and a lipoma, as well as surgery for two dodgy moles and I'm currently undergoing investigation for scoliosis.

I now just feel really wiped out and anxious constantly. I focus on really minor things and find myself spiralling on google. It's like once an idea comes into my head, I have to google it and statistics and it just makes it worse. That anxiety is now spilling over into other things like whether I've locked a door or turned off straighteners before leaving the house, or fretting over silly mistakes at work. I know I'm grumpy and irritable and I can't seem to go very long without going down another rabbithole.

I have an appt. with the NHS talking therapy people in January - does anyone have any experience or advice? Sorry it's long, it turned into a bit of a vent!

CBT can be useful for this sort of thing, although it's a coping mechanism not a cure. I've seen it work well on some people and others have felt it's rather victim-blaming, that their counsellor is suggesting they're not trying hard enough if it doesn't work.

It really helped me but I have ASD and am very rules based and can see the logic in it.

Its the quickest and cheapest interaction, I'd say worth giving it a go but recognise its not your fault if it's not for you.

Thank you! I'm autistic too so something logical will probably help me.

I found it useful as well - and won't do any harm if it's not for you.

I quite liked that someone was being paid to listen to me - didn't have to worry if I was overdoing it or boring them as I would with a partner or friend.

My thoughts on CBT are it can be useful if you work hard on finding the phrases and actions that mean something to YOU. Books and people will suggest things but the more you can work out phrases/visualisations for yourself the more effective they will be. I have quite a few little phrases and visuals that I find helpful but would sound bonkers to anyone else.