Kelly Jeffery, 41, a business operations manager from Hampshire, was left bedridden and unable to wash, brush her teeth, or even look at her son after a nervous breakdown in October 2022. The breakdown was triggered by a relationship breakup and a missed career opportunity, leading to what she describes as a 'full mechanical breakdown'. She was signed off work for three-and-a-half months.
Triggering Events
The combination of a relationship breakdown and a failed promotion interview in 2022 pushed Kelly over the edge. The split was 'largely amicable', but she needed time off to handle practical matters like the mortgage. As a newly single mother, she felt immense pressure to perform well at work to support her son. When the interview panel decided not to progress her promotion, Kelly said it folded her 'like a deck chair'. She recalled: 'In my mind, I heard, "You failed and you're not good enough."'
Impact on Daily Life
During her breakdown, Kelly could barely get out of bed. She would get her son off to school in the morning, then go straight back to bed, staying there most of the day. She would get up just before he came home to try to make everything look normal. She said: 'I could barely even look after my child and I could barely even get out of bed to wash or brush my teeth. It was a full mechanical breakdown of a human being and it shocked the life out of me.'
Therapy Journey
Initially, Kelly received six free therapy sessions through her employer's employee assistance programme. She said these only 'scratched the very tip of the iceberg' and didn't address her thought patterns. After the sessions ended, she switched to private medical insurance and began therapy with Paul Regan in November 2022. Kelly estimates she has received up to 100 hours of online therapy since then, including periods where she struggled again, such as mid-2023 when she felt anxious about a relationship.
Transformation
Kelly said her therapist helped transform her thinking. She went into therapy believing she was 'unlovable, unworthy, not good enough and ugly'. Now, nearly four years later, her core beliefs are 'completely different'. She said: 'I came out of that now with core beliefs that are completely different and I'm not focusing on my outward appearance. There are so many things that I've learnt about myself through this process that I would never have known.'
Wider Context
According to mental health and addiction treatment provider Priory, 46% of women say cost-of-living or financial pressures have impacted their mental health in the last 12 months, while 21% of working-age women say job insecurity or pressure at work has impacted their mental health. Priory has launched a campaign called Support to Find your Way, offering free self-care resources and professional support.
Kelly's Message
Kelly said she feels 'really proud' of how far she has come and 'very grateful' for the support she received. She added: 'Therapy will be the best thing you ever do. That's my message to people – if you really commit, it can make all the difference.'
