Agoraphobia Recovery Story: Mila’s Journey of Facing Panic and Finding Freedom

Mila's Agoraphobia Recovery Story

What happens when anxiety and panic take over so much of your life that even walking to the mailbox feels impossible? For my former Panic to Peace student Mila, this was her reality. But through small, consistent steps and a whole lot of self-compassion, she’s now building a life of freedom, trust, and courage. Her story is such a beautiful reminder that no matter how stuck you feel right now, healing is possible.

Living with Anxiety from Childhood

Mila remembers experiencing intense anxiety as early as five years old. She often felt overwhelmed, trapped, and unsafe but at the time, she didn’t have the language to understand what was happening. Like many of us, she carried these feelings into her teen years, where panic attacks became more frequent and disruptive.

She recalls trying to push through, distract herself, and “keep up appearances,” but underneath it all, the anxiety kept building. Eventually, she found herself caught in cycles of fear, shame, and self-criticism that left her feeling isolated and alone.

The Panic Attack That Changed Everything

Fast forward to 2020, Mila’s world came crashing down during a terrifying panic attack while driving across a bridge in New York. She was forced to pull over mid-bridge, shaking and overwhelmed. From that point on, driving became unbearable. Soon after, her anxiety grew so severe that she couldn’t work, continue school, or even ride as a passenger in a car.

Eventually, Mila found herself completely agoraphobic, unable to leave her home, and even something as simple as walking to the mailbox felt impossible.

Finding Community and Support

At her lowest point, Mila stumbled across A Healthy Push on Instagram. For the first time, she felt understood. She joined my Panic to Peace program, where she found a community of people who truly got it.

And while she didn’t complete every lesson, she realized something so important: she wasn’t alone, and she wasn’t broken. This sense of connection gave her the courage to start taking small, doable steps toward freedom.

Building Self-Trust Through Small Steps

For Mila, recovery hasn’t been about quick fixes, it’s been about learning to slow down, listen to her body, and trust herself again. Instead of pushing to “get rid” of anxiety, she’s leaned into the discomfort with tools like journaling, nervous system regulation, and meditation.

She began with baby steps, like sitting in a parked car for a few minutes or taking her dog for short walks just a few steps further each day. These tiny wins added up and helped her rebuild confidence.

As Mila puts it, “That’s how you build self-trust by pushing through those hard moments, even when it feels scary.”

Where Mila Is Today

Today, Mila’s life looks so different. While she still experiences anxiety at times (and even the occasional panic attack), she no longer sees them as setbacks. Instead, she meets them with self-compassion and acceptance.

She can drive again, go shopping, walk her dog, and live her life without feeling trapped. Most importantly, she’s no longer hiding. She’s allowing herself to be seen, to feel her emotions, and to move forward with confidence.

Mila’s Message to You

If you’re in the place Mila once was feeling stuck, scared, and unsure if things can ever change, she wants you to know this:

“Lean into it. Stop running away from your feelings. Start journaling, start getting curious, and let yourself be supported. This isn’t your identity, it’s just a bump in the road. Keep showing up, and you’ll look back one day and realize how far you’ve come.”

✨ If Mila’s agoraphobia recovery story resonated with you, know that you don’t have to do this alone. My 10-week program Panic to Peace was created to help you break free from panic and agoraphobia, and to guide you step-by-step in building the confidence and freedom you deserve.

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• Sign up for my FREE live class on 9/10/25: How to build trust & safety in yourself (even when it feels like anxiety has taken over) → Sign up here!

  
  

• Come hang out with me on Instagram → I'd love to connect with you!