With encouragement from his manager, he made the brave decision to reach out to Canopi for support. Chris is sharing his experience in the hope that others will feel empowered to seek support for their mental health too.
“At the time, I wasn’t in crisis, but the stress and constant overthinking had become overwhelming. Work situations were becoming difficult to deal with. The overthinking and negative thoughts were coming through thick and fast. I lost trust in the workplace and felt isolated and guarded. I basically didn’t know who to trust, so I threw myself into my tasks and kept my head down just to get through the day.
But it wasn’t just work it was affecting. The stress spilled into my personal life as well. Outside of work, I kept close to immediate family and avoided social situations unless absolutely necessary.
Therapy: the turning point
Everything began to shift once I started therapy with Canopi. For the first time in a long time, I felt like someone truly listened. I opened up to my therapist about what I’d been through; things I’d kept bottled up for far too long. Getting those thoughts out of my head, using the coping mechanisms we discussed, was a complete game-changer.
It wasn’t just about the techniques, though those were incredibly helpful. It was about the connection. I felt like my therapist and I were working as a team. I realised I had a goal: to learn how to manage everything I was going through. Having someone by my side who genuinely cared helped pull me away from the darkness.
The changes didn’t go unnoticed. One of the most meaningful moments was when my wife told me my sense of humour had come back. That meant the world to me. It makes me happy to know I can still make her laugh. Social situations started to feel less daunting too. I learned how to approach them using practical tools and strategies that helped me feel more confident an in control.
My message to others
Would I recommend Canopi to others? Absolutely. I genuinely hope that if someone’s struggling, their manager or line manager encourages them to consider therapy through Canopi.
The benefits are huge. If you’re in a similar situation, I’d urge you to take a step back and ask yourself: Do I want to keep living in a cycle of overthinking and negative thoughts? Or do I want to feel better and move forward? If your answer is the latter, then make use of the therapy that’s available. It might just be the turning point you’ve been searching for.”
With great thanks to Chris – sharing your story might be the encouragement someone else needs to take the first step to get support.
Support that makes a difference
At Canopi, we’re proud to support individuals through these journeys. If you’re working in social care or the NHS in Wales, Canopi is here to support you too. Fill out a referral form today.
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For more real-life stories, as well as evidence-based mental health and wellbeing recommendations, head over to our blog.