(Anonymous testimonial) — Anxiety joined my life when I was just 18 years old.

No invitation, no forewarning; it simply barged in uninvited and set up camp within me. There

was no apparent reason for its arrival, no trigger to point to; it was as mysterious as a sudden

summer squall on a cloudless day. The terror it brought with it was undeniable.

 

With anxiety’s arrival, my life took an unexpected turn. It felt like a tempest raging within me,

leaving me breathless, my heart pounding wildly like a trapped bird, and an unsettling sense of

detachment from reality. How does one navigate life’s exciting prime when fear fiercely grips the

soul? The world outside became daunting, and I found myself withdrawing into the safety of my

home, seeking solace in its familiarity.

 

Like a dedicated doctor rotating through various hospital departments, I made my rounds to

medical facilities with such frequency my quest for answers paralleled a tireless pursuit of

knowledge and healing. Convinced of an underlying and serious condition, I sought reassurance

in every corner of the healthcare world.

 

Agoraphobia clutched at me like an unwelcome companion, and I knew I couldn’t allow this

storm to reign over my life. I wanted to break free from its stifling grip, for myself and for those

around me. That’s when I decided to seek help from a specialist, a physician well-versed in the

intricacies of anxiety.

 

I must admit, I was hesitant about the prescribed path of Cognitive Behavior Therapy, for it

sounded like an enigma wrapped in jargon. “Thought stopping” seemed like wishful thinking, but

I would try anything to reclaim my life. Instead of turning to medications as an easy fix, I opted

for this cognitive journey.

It wasn’t an instant remedy, though. At first, I struggled with the process, growing impatient with

the slow progress. I longed to be out with friends, revelling in life’s delights, dancing in clubs,

savouring meals at restaurants, and basking in the warmth of friendship’s embrace. But I

persevered, determined to wrestle back control from anxiety’s insidious grip.

 

As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, a subtle shift began to take place. It was

almost imperceptible at first, but the once constant barrage of anxiety attacks began to relent. The

frequency decreased, and I found myself with newfound moments of clarity and calm.