The first thing I really liked was having one therapist who saw me through using SilverCloud from start to finish. As I know this therapist from work, I can say she is a genuine person, not a robot! She checked in on how I was doing every couple of weeks, helped me out if I got stuck, and also had extra suggestions to make that were very helpful. I find it reassuring to know that, if I was really struggling, my therapist would have been able to signpost me to other sources of support as well. It was good to know she was there, and she cared.
I get bored pretty quickly, so one of the things I enjoyed was the way the information is presented in different ways. There are stories from other SilverCloud users, and their journey is explained from start to finish, including how they use the different strategies.
There are little video clips as well. I loved the mindfulness exercises, as it gave me permission to switch off from my usual round of worries and stress, and do nothing! Mindfulness is definitely something I will practice more, and it was great that these videos supported me in doing this.
I am very enthusiastic about how SilverCloud explained really clearly things like the link between thoughts, feelings and actions. It presented me with a nifty little model (I do love a model), and then put my own information into it! It was powerful stuff, seeing my own thoughts, feelings and behaviours right there on screen in front of me. I can still remember it now, and that’s saying something.
I also appreciated how there were several different ways of tackling anxieties. ‘Worry time’, for example, worked fab for me, as I found that I actually didn’t want to worry when given permission to do so. I liked the way realistic and unrealistic worries were explained, and the problem-solving steps for realistic worries. I was able to make good real-life use of this technique, and pass it on to my children too.
For me, a huge benefit of SilverCloud is that, for a certain amount of time after finishing the module, I can go back and look at it again. This is a massive bonus, as far as I’m concerned, because I find it really useful re-visiting sections that were a help the first time round. I can also go over anything I didn’t quite understand as well. It’s like having my own personalised therapy, right there, accessible 24-7.
Now I have finished my own SilverCloud journey, I will definitely be encouraging others to use it. For some people, it might be exactly what they need to start making a change right now. For others it could be the first in a series of steps that will help them get the support that they need. So go ahead and try it - SilverCloud - there is nothing to lose, and so much valuable information to gain.
Deborah Shakespeare