Anxiety disorder - Story of Woman (31 years old)
For learning more about anxiety disorder we got the opportunity to talk with an affected person, who wants to stay anonymous. She realized in her teenager years that she has an anxiety disorder. She said: “Social situations always caused me stress.” The turning point came when her symptoms started severely restricting her daily life. She reached a stage where she could no longer work or socialize effectively and her overall well-being was profoundly affected.
This was the point when she realized thar she needed therapy to manage her anxiety. These everyday challenges highlighted the need for professional help, but it was really difficult for her to find a therapist, the only option was a group therapy in a day clinic. She said: “Outpatient psychotherapy practices have waiting times of two years sometimes.” The most beneficial aspects for her were the discussions with other participants, professional input on coping strategies, and relaxation techniques. Engaging with others who shared similar experiences provided a sense of support and understanding, while professional guidance offered practical tools for managing the anxiety. Learning and practicing relaxation methods also played a crucial role in reducing stress levels. Understanding the causes of the illness and applying coping strategies, slowly regaining the confidence to do certain things, support from the environment and time for herself are ways for her to feel better.
Her friends and family reacted to her diagnosis with understanding and support. Many of them were already aware of her struggles from previous conversations, so the diagnosis did not come as a surprise for her. This supportive environment made it easier for her to share her experiences and to seek help. “As I can talk very openly with those around me and know that there are many people who have already undergone psychological therapy, it wasn't difficult for me to tell them about the therapy,” she said.
Although the group therapy was helpful, it was not sufficient to completely eliminate all her symptoms. Achieving complete symptom-free status is challenging, but her condition has significantly improved. She can now engage in normal every-day activities again without causing stress, but she still has not fully recovered from her anxiety disorders: “You have to accept that it will always be there somewhere, but it's important that it doesn't restrict your life too strongly.”
Story of woman (27 years old)
We spoke with a 27-year-old woman who preferred to stay anonymous. She is undergoing therapy for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. We asked her a few questions about her experience. When questioned about her decision to seek therapy, she said, "I started to realize that I had some problems to solve.” She attributed these issues to unpleasant childhood experiences with her father.
She continued, sharing the challenges of finding a therapy spot. "It was really difficult. I went to my general practitioner in June 2022 and spent six months searching for a place," she explained.
Regarding the treatment methods used in therapy, she noted, "We started with trauma therapy, which is quite intense. I had to close my eyes and recall all the things that happened to me, as a method to overcome the trauma." She also described how people in her life reacted to her decision to seek therapy. "I have talked with my boyfriend, and he was very proud of me, saying that it was a good thing for me to do. My mother didn’t really care, but my siblings were supportive and thought it might help,” she says. After one and a half years of therapy, she is pleased with the results. "Starting therapy was difficult for me to address my issues and deal with my trauma, but now, I find it easier to talk about it and process my thoughts."
She continues her therapy, hopeful for further improvement.
Story of Marco
For a better understanding of anxiety disorder from the perspective of someone affected, we had the opportunity to speak with Marco about his experience with psychotherapy.
He told us that his symptoms began early last year. His wife was ill for several months, and a friend died in the first quarter of the year. Initially, he did not realise that his distress was linked to his psychological condition, but eventually, he suspected it might be the reason. A few years ago, he lost his father and witnessed a major traffic accident, which had a huge impact on him. He thought he needed help but did not seek therapy or ask for help. A couple of years later, he promised himself, "If I find myself in a similar situation in the future, I will pay more attention to my body's signals and will look for help." That resolution came true within a few weeks. "I experienced what felt like a breakdown, and I had this image in my mind of my knees being weaker than usual. I was slightly down, but physically I was fine. However, I realised this was due to my poor psychological state. The fact that my mother also became ill was the final sign that I needed to find a therapist." Marco recalled the moment he approached his general practitioner for help.
Fortunately, finding a therapist was not difficult for him. Marco researched online to find therapists nearby. He found a psychotherapist approximately five kilometres from his home. "I just sent her an email after reading her website, which resonated with me because I consider myself generally strong. The website suggested she specialised in this type of disorder," he explained.
He is not certain about the specific methods his therapist uses but mentioned that they engage in extensive discussion to pinpoint his core issues. Marco noted that his therapist identified his difficulty with losing people and losing things as well, among other issues. "We also discovered that I felt guilty about undergoing therapy because I believed others needed it more than I did. Identifying and addressing these real problems is now my top priority," he added. He admitted he had neglected himself and had the feeling he lost himself a little bit. Now, he tries to feel happy and to help himself, and he feels much better with knowing that he has got some practical tools so that he can work and he function in his everyday life.
Regarding others' reactions to his diagnosis, he decided there was nothing to hide. "My colleagues in my team encouraged me to take care of myself, get better, and return to my personal life," he shared, which is why he chose to be open about his therapy.
Marco is not sure if he is completely recovered from his disorder, but he believes he is on the right path. He does not feel at risk of another breakdown. "I have the opportunity to see my therapist once a month to discuss recent events. But let's say, during the phases when we don't meet, I manage on my own," he said.
Story of Vlad
Burnout is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion often resulting from excessive stress and overwork. It significantly impacts daily life and relationships with close associates. Typical symptoms include chronic tiredness, neglect of self-care, memory issues, decision-making difficulties, loss of motivation, feelings of emptiness, restlessness, and sleep problems.
We interviewed a person who had suffered from burnout earlier in his life. His name is Vlad, and his burnout was caused by intense stress experienced during his university time. He could not spend much time with his friends and avoided social interactions. He remarked, "I mean, I had friends, but I couldn't spend much time with them, and I was doing everything but connecting with close people." His relationship with his girlfriend also suffered due to his burnout. "I think my relationship with my girlfriend back then was quite tense because I was all into these activities, and when I was burning out, it was even worse because I was very tired, really exhausted, and it was difficult to connect with people around me," he said.
He recalled a particularly unusual day from this period if his life: "I remember coming home from university, lying on the couch and crying, then falling asleep. Two hours later, I woke up. It was very strange to me." He slowly realised that he was pushing himself too hard in pursuits he didn't genuinely enjoy. Consequently, he began to take better care of himself and opted out of events he had previously forced himself to attend. "I was doing less. They invited me to participate in some activities, some events, and I just didn't go because I didn’t want to," Vlad explained. He mentioned how disconnected he felt at that time, but from that point, he began to reconnect with himself and others. Today, he believes he has fully recovered from his burnout: "It was a long process. I mean, I started doing some sports and also didn't work as much."
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