Anxiety Success Stories: Two Decades of Panic, Heather’s Agoraphobia Recovery Story

Shannon Jackson
Jun 15
3 min read

Heather’s journey with panic disorder, agoraphobia, and anxiety spans more than 30 years. From her first panic attack at age 14 to becoming housebound and relying on others for even the most basic daily tasks, Heather has lived through the depths of fear and isolation that many people with anxiety know all too well. But today, her story is one of strength, freedom, and self-trust.

In this episode of the A Healthy Push Podcast, Heather shares how she went from structuring her entire life around fear to driving herself to her internship site as a marriage and family therapist in training—alone, on the freeway, with peace.

Heather's Agoraphobia Recovery Story

Panic, Avoidance, and Survival

Heather experienced her first panic attack as a teen and quickly learned to avoid situations that made her feel unsafe. For years, she leaned heavily on safe people—her parents, her husband—and avoided being alone. On the outside, things looked “normal.” She held jobs, traveled, and functioned—but always within the tight framework that fear allowed.

Despite years of therapy, medication, and reading every anxiety resource she could get her hands on, Heather still felt stuck. “I wasn't feeling,” she said. “I was just existing, and doing whatever I could to not feel anxiety.” It wasn’t until a move back to Northern California and discovering the Panic to Peace program that things finally shifted.

Learning to Feel Again

One of Heather’s most transformative realizations was that she had spent years trying to avoid discomfort, believing that feeling panic meant something was terribly wrong. But inside the Panic to Peace community, she learned the opposite: recovery comes through feeling and moving forward with anxiety, not by eliminating it.

“It was really scary,” she admitted. “But I started letting myself feel again. That was the thing I’d been avoiding for 20 years.”

With the support of the group, Heather started taking small, meaningful steps—like walking her dogs to a nearby park. These weren’t just errands or chores—they were moments of healing, proof that she could feel anxious and still live her life.

From Fear to Freedom

Heather began to build a life where she could rely on herself. She moved into a new home, quit her job, and started her master's program—all while working through the discomfort of being alone and sitting with anxious feelings. Slowly but surely, her world expanded.

The biggest milestone? Driving alone on the freeway to her therapist internship. It was something she once believed was impossible. But when the moment came, Heather got in the car and did it. Not without fear. Not without discomfort. But with courage, self-trust, and years of inner work behind her.

“I can have a panic attack and still get in the car and drive,” she said. “That blew my mind.”

What Changed Everything

Heather’s story isn’t about finding the right medication or the perfect therapy technique. It’s about doing the brave, everyday work of showing up, feeling uncomfortable, and choosing not to run. It’s about community, consistency, and the realization that healing doesn’t come from controlling every variable—it comes from trusting yourself to handle what shows up.

Heather said it best:

“I’ve never been in a place that I allowed myself to get there by doing it every single day. And now I feel like a whole person. I don’t have that sad feeling of ‘I can’t.’ I know I can.”

Takeaways from Heather’s Recovery Journey:

Recovery doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built through small, intentional steps.
You don’t have to be “panic-free” to live fully.
Avoidance might bring short-term relief, but it delays true healing.
Feeling your feelings is hard—but it’s the path to freedom.
Community support can make all the difference.
You are capable of building safety within yourself.

Are You Ready to Start Your Journey?

Heather’s story is a beautiful example of what’s possible when you stop avoiding and start building trust in yourself. If you're ready to take your own steps toward healing, here are a few places to start:

You are not broken. You are not alone. And healing is always possible, even after decades!