How I Was Able To Feel "Back To My Old Self Again": Andrea's Story

Medically reviewed by Arianna Williams
Updated February 20, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team
A woman wearing glasses is standing up in a room; she is looking straight ahead and is smiling.
Getty/AnnaStills
Not sure how to get started on your mental health journey?

Andrea's experience with BetterHelp

Recently, I was having a lot of anxiety and depression that was pretty much consuming my entire life. I felt drab and very sad and it was really hard to smile and have fun. I felt like I was under a dark cloud constantly. I had a lot of regret and feelings of sadness.

I decided to seek out support and Googled "help with anxiety," and BetterHelp popped up. I poked around the website a bit and figured it was certainly worth a try.

BetterHelp was the first online counseling service I have ever used. I enjoyed face-to-face counseling in college, but I did not feel as though it was super effective. It was hard to find time to get in for appointments, and sometimes I felt self-conscious about talking about things face to face. …I had heard about online [counseling] and wanted to try it.

Once I realized that I could message my counselor in addition to having regular phone sessions, I felt it was a much better value than paying for face-to-face counseling. Plus, I felt like it was there when I needed it. A lot of times an anxiety attack can happen at 2AM, and I wanted to write down what I was feeling. Also, I could use the app on my phone anywhere/anytime to write down my feelings.

I started working with my counselor, Kristin, on BetterHelp in winter of 2017, and she helped me through some difficult times. I paused counseling in June of 2017, and I recently reached back out to deal with a few small things that had popped up.

Getty/Vadym Pastukh

BetterHelp has made a huge difference in my life. After I was done working with Kristin in June of 2017, I felt back like my old self again. She taught me things to keep in my mind when the obsessive/bad thoughts come in.

She taught me to put myself first in my thoughts and not to dwell on the past. She gave me a lot of tips and tricks that greatly improved my thinking and coping with anxious thoughts.

I also loved being able to speak with an objective third-party person that is really on my side and wanted to help me work through things. She really taught me that at the end of the day, I need to be happy, and she gave me tips on how to accomplish that in my own mind. To let things go. To not dwell.

After working with Kristin, I feel like my old self again. I am happy, have dreams, and I smile. My mind is at peace. I do yoga now and love to be mindful and fill my mind with peace and love. I really credit BetterHelp to helping me through my troubles. Kristin was a great counselor…

Try online therapy

If you’re interested in trying therapy but are reluctant to visit a therapist’s office, you might try online therapy, which research has shown to be just as effective as traditional in-person therapy. Online therapy may be especially helpful if you’re just not feeling like yourself and don’t want to leave home.

Getty
Not sure how to get started on your mental health journey?

With online therapy at BetterHelp, you can connect with a licensed therapist via phone or videoconferencing at a time that works for your schedule. You can also communicate with them in between sessions via in-app messaging, and they’ll get back to you as soon as they can. 

Takeaway

If you’re experiencing anxious thoughts, depression, or any other mental health concern, you don’t have to face it alone. Help is available for whatever you’re going through. BetterHelp has a network of more than 25,000 licensed therapists, so you can be matched with a therapist with experience helping people with your specific concerns. If needed, you can always change therapists until you find the right fit for your specific needs. Take the first step to feeling like your old self again and contact BetterHelp today.
Build your own success story
The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.
Get the support you need from one of our therapistsGet started