Living with a long-term physical health condition can weigh heavily on people.  The discomfort of symptoms, changes to activity, waiting for test results, worrying about an uncertain future, and unpleasant treatment side-effects can all pose a potential threat to mood. 

If this is something that you can relate to, you may have noticed a sense of loss in your role, purpose and even identity.  It’s perhaps not surprising that people who have chronic problems with their health are more likely to experience low mood and anxiety. 

Feeling down, flat, angry or anxious can often be helped with support from family and friends.  Other supports can include finding out more about your condition from trustworthy sources.  Participating in services run by third sector and community groups can also be useful.  Some of these offer the chance to meet up with others who know exactly what is you are going through, which can be very therapeutic.

When things are more problematic, and normal supports don’t help to shake off unhelpful thoughts and feelings, there is the Clinical Health Psychology service. 

The team is made up of Clinical Psychologists, Counselling Psychologists and Specialist Psychological Therapists.  Occasionally we are joined by trainee psychologists who are working towards their professional qualification.