Can You Find Freedom from Agoraphobia? Yes, Says A Healthy Push Community Member Bella
Are You Tired of Feeling Stuck in the Same Anxiety Cycle?
If you've tried everything—from traditional therapy to exposure methods and are ready for real change, you need to hear this. I recently sat down with Bella, a courageous and inspiring member of the Healthy Push Community, to share her raw, honest journey.
Bella’s story is a testament to the fact that no matter how dark the tunnel gets, freedom is always possible. Her path led her from being completely housebound, defined by panic and trauma, to a life where she is now driving, attending huge social events, and finally trusting herself again.
The Breaking Point: When the Foundation Crumbles
For most of her life, Bella believed she didn't have anxiety. She was a high-achieving, A-type people-pleaser in the demanding music industry. But beneath the surface, unhealthy coping mechanisms and a lack of emotional self-regulation were brewing a perfect storm.
The actual breakdown came about six years ago, triggered by intense pressure from starting a new business, a painful friendship breakup, and an emotionally abusive, controlling relationship.
Bella shared: "Bit by bit, my foundation all started to crumble down. I was starting to have a lot of panic attacks. It went from being maybe one a week to one a day to two a day to a point where they were just pretty much rolling."
This crescendoed into a moment of pure crisis: a psychosis-level panic attack that left her unable to speak or regulate herself. Immediately following this event, Bella was completely housebound, relying on friends 24/7 for safety. She was later diagnosed with PTSD and severe agoraphobia.
The Search for a Quick Fix (and Why It Fails)
Like so many of us, Bella spent years chasing a magical cure:
EMDR: This was invaluable for processing the initial trauma and helped her get cleared of her PTSD diagnosis.
Medication: She was prescribed beta-blockers, which helped with the physical panic symptoms but didn't address the root fear.
The "Everything" Approach: Hypnotherapy, mindful coloring, exposure coaching—she tried it all, hoping someone would finally have the answer.
But despite working incredibly hard, a fundamental piece was missing, which often made traditional exposure therapy feel frustrating.
Shannon explained: "Oftentimes it does lead us to exposure therapy when maybe we're not ready for it, or we're just doing that forcing and we don't really understand why we're doing it... I'm walking down the street 25,000 times and I've done it, but I still don't feel safe."
The biggest realization? She was operating in the Perfectionist Trap—believing she could force her way through the anxiety by sheer will, without addressing her fundamental relationship with the emotion of anxiety.
The Real Breakthrough: Letting Go of Control
A pivotal moment came when Bella’s psychotherapist (who went above and beyond typical boundaries) accompanied her on a monumental achievement: driving from the UK to France via the Eurotunnel.
While this was a huge win, she realized afterward that without that external safety net, her agoraphobia quickly returned. It was proof that she was still relying on someone else to create safety, not her own internal trust.
The key breakthrough came when she realized she needed to let go of control and embrace uncertainty.
Bella shared a major win: She was invited to a huge, high-pressure ball in Central London, an event that had caused her to spiral and pull out of the previous year. This time, she went.
"When I just relinquish to the fact that, 'Do you know what? I might be anxious during this. This could go really bad. If I panic, I'm going to panic,'... the possibilities they don't happen. And then it's an enjoyable, less pressured experience."
This shift—moving from fighting anxiety to simply allowing it—is what finally brought her peace in a challenging situation.
From a Flawed Past to a Free Future
It’s easy to look back at life before panic through "rose-tinted glasses," imagining it was perfect. But Bella recognized the lie in that narrative.
Bella reflected: "I had absolutely no healthy coping mechanisms, zero zilch... I would have never had the opportunity to be this version of myself... if I didn't have to have a period of time where I suffered with PTSD and panic disorder."
The trauma, panic, and subsequent recovery forced her to address destructive thought patterns and build healthy coping skills (Bella is now completely sober). She is stronger, more self-aware, and has a deeper, more supportive relationship with herself than ever before.
The Power of Connection and Coaching
After years of traditional one-on-one therapy, Bella landed in the Healthy Push Community looking for something different—something less formal, but still structured.
Bella explained why it worked: "It was just this wonderful, safe space where I could have that comfort and support and share wins with people who understood that... but the coaching piece has been the most helpful for me."
The combination of the weekly coaching sessions (where we offer practical, actionable steps) and the peer-to-peer connection provides the perfect bridge from traditional therapy to real-world freedom. It allows members to continue building their self-trust, offer support to others, and celebrate victories without the fear of burdening friends and family.
Are You Ready to Write Your Own Success Story?
Bella's journey is ongoing, but her progress—from being unable to leave her sofa to navigating a crowded ballroom in a different city—is nothing short of miraculous. If you find yourself relating to her struggle, remember: You are capable. Your freedom hasn't gone anywhere—it's just buried.
You deserve a supportive space that gives you the tools and the connection necessary to reclaim your life.
Next Steps to Find Your Freedom:
Ready to move through your anxiety, build self-trust, and find the community you deserve?
Learn more about the Panic to Peace program and the A Healthy Push Community today!
ready to stop doing it alone?
Inside my 10-week program, Panic to Peace, I’ll guide you through this work step by step and you’ll be surrounded by people who truly get it.
You don’t have to stay stuck. Healing is possible and it’s closer than you think.
Come hang out with me on Instagram → I'd love to connect with you!
