“I didn’t think help for something like this even existed”: How NHS bee-keeping experience helped Trafford man’s phobia
Since childhood, Tom from Trafford struggled with a phobia that had an impact on his life. Now 37, Tom shares how he is managing this, with some (rather unconventional) support from Trafford Talking Therapies.
“For as long as I can remember I’ve had a phobia of bees and wasps,” Tom said.
“It started in childhood. My mum was terrified of wasps, and at about 8 years old I experienced a pretty traumatic sting to the neck on holiday. From that point on I did everything I could to avoid them.”
For decades, Tom struggled with his phobia, particularly during summer. He said:
“Eating in the garden, going to beer gardens, being outdoors at certain times of year, my senses would be heightened. I’d feel embarrassed about how I reacted, and worried that my nieces and nephews would pick up the same fear.
“The turning point was when my wife and I got back from a holiday and discovered a bees’ nest outside our front door. I couldn’t use my own front door without feeling panicked. I remember thinking, ‘I need to get on top of this’.”
Following advice from his wife, who was clinical psychologist, and after a quick online search, Tom found Trafford Talking Therapies.
“I did a self-referral online, expecting to wait months, but actually everything moved really quickly. I had an initial triage call, an assessment, and then I was matched with Sophie, my therapist. It all happened within about a month. The timing was perfect too. It was June, right in the middle of bee season.”
Pictured (right to left): Tom and his therapist, Sophie.
Trafford Talking Therapies, run by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), offers free, confidential talking therapy for adults registered with a Trafford GP, who are suffering with an anxiety or depression related problem.
Waiting times are short, with the majority of people referred starting therapy within 12 weeks.
The service offers a range of different options matched to the types of problem experienced and the preferences of the person seeking help. Both video and face-to-face appointments, at a range of venues across Trafford, are available.
The therapies on offer are research-backed and proven to work, with over 75% of people reporting a significant, life-improving reduction in symptoms; and over 50% reporting that they have fully recovered from their problems.
Following an initial assessment, Tom began a course of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) sessions with Trafford talking Therapies.
CBT is a type of talking therapy that helps to change certain patterns of thinking, which can alleviate distress and improve coping mechanisms. There are many different types of CBT, depending on the reasons for having it and the symptoms experienced.
Tom said:
“The early sessions helped me understand my phobia; its history, what triggered it, and why I responded the way I did. I’d never talked about it in that kind of depth before. My friends and family all knew about it, but it had always been a bit of a running joke. Actually sitting down and unpacking it properly helped more than I expected.
“Then we moved into exposure work. The idea was that if we could slowly increase my exposure to bees in a safe and controlled way, my brain would learn to feel less anxious around them, allowing me to gain control.
“We started at the lowest level: cartoon images of bees. Sophie created slideshows that gradually increased in realism, from cartoons to photos to videos, right up to ones of bees stinging people. I would take them home and log my responses to them over time.
“When I was ready, Sophie worked with local partners to ethically source real bees. I started by holding dead bees, and eventually I was given a jar of live ones to take home.
“The key thing is the exposure was never rushed. Sophie was brilliant at pacing it so it challenged me but didn’t overwhelm me.”
The next stages in Tom’s therapy were two in-person to visits to the Manchester District & Beekeeping Association at Heaton Park. The first visit took place in the education room, where Tom and Sophie could observe the hive behind glass.
For his final challenge, Tom was to don a full bee-keeping suit and, alongside Sophie, join the beekeepers who were treating the hives.
“Honestly, months earlier that situation would have been unbearable, Tom said. “I would’ve panicked or bolted, but this time I was calm.
“Every time a beekeeper opened a hive, loads of bees swarmed out. At one point they were right up close to my face net. It was surreal, and I did have moments where I needed to step back, but I still managed it. If you’d have shown me that moment at the beginning of therapy, I’d have said ‘no chance’.
“When I got home afterwards, I felt proud. I knew I would never have been able to do any of that without the therapy and the work I’d put in outside the sessions.
“My goal is to keep putting myself in situations I used to avoid. The real test will be this coming summer, just about a year after starting therapy. But I feel prepared.
“I’ve got my relapse prevention plan, which reminds me of the unhelpful patterns I used to fall into, and the tools I can use instead. It’s not about being ‘cured’; it’s about managing situations so they don’t take over my life.”
Pictured (left to right): Tom and Sophie at the Manchester District & Beekeeping Association, Heaton Park.
One in five adults in England (an estimated 9.4 million) are affected by a common mental health condition, including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, body dysmorphic disorder and phobias.
However, a new survey of 2,002 adults in England has found that nearly two in three people (64%) in the North West delay seeking treatment and support as they feel the conditions are “not serious enough”, with one in six (17%) not seeking help at all.
In response, the NHS has launched a landmark campaign urging those struggling with their mental health to come forward for support by self-referring online.
Reflecting on his experience, Tom said:
“Something I realised through all this is how little we talk about mental health, especially men. For years I just brushed it off or avoided situations that would cause anxiety.
“I didn’t think help for something like this even existed. Talking Therapies wasn’t even on my radar until my wife mentioned CBT.
“But honestly, even just talking to someone who’s non‑judgmental and really listening helps. Sophie was brilliant at that. I never felt embarrassed or silly, even when describing reactions that, deep down, I knew were way out of proportion to the danger.
“To anyone who may be struggling out there, I’d really encourage you to seek support. You’ve got to be willing to push yourself. But having someone there to guide you, challenge you gently, and celebrate progress with you makes all the difference.
“I want to say a huge thank you to Sophie and the Manchester District & Beekeeping Association for all your support.”
Dr Dale Huey, Clinical Lead for Talking Therapies services in Greater Manchester, and Associate Director of Psychological Services at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“We wouldn’t think twice about getting advice and feedback to address many issues, say improving a golf swing, but many of us still persist in keeping things bottled-up, avoiding, withdrawing or distracting ourselves even when this is not solving the problem.
“Accessing talking therapy is the best way of learning strategies that have helped others resolve problems related to anxiety and depression. It is adaptive coping, and a great strength, to seek such support, not any kind of weakness.
“If you’re feeling low, stressed or anxious, if you struggle with panic attacks, have flashbacks of past frightening events, or feel tormented by intrusive thoughts, NHS Talking Therapies is here for you. It is free, confidential and proven to be effective.”
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) delivers NHS Talking Therapies in Bolton, Manchester, Salford, Trafford and Wigan. To find out more information about the service in these areas, or to self-refer, visit: Talking Therapies | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT, or speak with your GP.
If you live anywhere else in the UK, you can find your local Talking Therapies service by visiting www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/find-nhs-talking-therapies-for-anxiety-and-depression.
