Anxiety Success Stories: Tessa’s Journey With Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, & Becoming a New Mom

Shannon Jackson
May 4
4 min read

When my previous Panic to Peace student Tessa joined me on the A Healthy Push podcast, I knew it was going to be a powerful conversation. What unfolded was a deeply honest and inspiring story of healing, one that highlights the courage it takes to slow down, to feel, and to truly face what’s underneath anxiety and agoraphobia.

For over two decades, Tessa lived in survival mode. Like so many of us, she coped through control, managing every piece of her life to avoid discomfort and fear. “I hardly had panic attacks,” she shared, “because I was managing and controlling so much.” But eventually, she reached a breaking point. The strategies that once helped her survive were keeping her stuck. That’s when she realized she had to do things differently.

The Struggle: Years of Managing Anxiety

Tessa’s journey with anxiety started at a young age. She lived much of her life by controlling and managing her emotions to avoid panic attacks, believing that if she could control her surroundings and behavior, she could keep the anxiety at bay. But this method came at a cost.

"I thought I was fine because I was able to control it," she shared. "But I was just managing, not healing."

Like so many others, Tessa believed that controlling her environment was the answer. But she didn’t realize that she was constantly living in fight-or-flight mode, pushing herself beyond her limits, and ignoring the underlying causes of her anxiety.

The Wake-Up Call: A Shift Toward Real Healing

It wasn’t until Tessa reached a breaking point that she recognized the need for deeper healing. She realized that she couldn’t keep living in a cycle of avoidance and fear. The turning point came when she acknowledged that there was a deeper, more profound healing available to her—one that required slowing down and reconnecting with her body.

“Slowing down was a huge revelation for me. I lived so much in my head, and my body never felt safe. I realized that if I wanted to heal, I had to reconnect with myself and the world around me in a gentler way.”

This moment of clarity led her to a more somatic approach to healing, which emphasized listening to her body and releasing the need to control every aspect of her life. But it was through her participation in the Panic to Peace program that she truly began to transform her approach to anxiety.

How Panic to Peace Helped Tessa Step Into True Healing

A huge turning point in Tessa’s journey came when she joined the Panic to Peace program. After years of trying to manage her anxiety through control and avoidance, she realized she needed a different approach—one that empowered her to face fear with compassion and take intentional, supportive action.

Through the program, Tessa began learning how to gently challenge herself, regulate her nervous system, and reconnect with her body in a way she never had before. It wasn’t about pushing herself too hard or rushing the process—it was about building trust and safety, one step at a time.

She shared that one of the most valuable things Panic to Peace gave her was a clear, structured path that didn’t just teach her what to do, but how to do it with care. She learned how to take exposures at her own pace, stop hunting for the “perfect fix,” and start meeting herself where she was.

“The program helped me shift from coping and managing to actually living. I finally felt like I had the tools and support to do this in a sustainable, kind, and empowering way.”

Today, Tessa is doing things she once thought she’d never be able to do—like driving her son to the arcade and staying the entire time. Her healing didn’t come from quick fixes; it came from the steady, supportive work of showing up for herself, and Panic to Peace was a big part of helping her get there.

The Power of Slowing Down

One of the key themes in Tessa’s story is the power of slowing down. She shared that the constant rush to "get better" and the pressure to "fix" her anxiety made her nervous system even more fragile. It wasn’t until she gave herself permission to slow down that true healing began.

“Living in survival mode for so long left me disconnected from my body. I had to slow down and start feeling the sensations in my body again. That’s where the healing started.”

Through this practice, Tessa was able to re-establish a relationship with herself, focusing on being present in each moment instead of constantly pushing toward an idealized version of recovery. This shift has been crucial in her continued success and growth.

Embracing Imperfection and Continuous Growth

Tessa’s recovery has been an ongoing process. She acknowledges that there are no quick fixes and that the road to healing is not linear. It’s filled with setbacks, challenges, and moments of discomfort. But through it all, she’s learned to embrace imperfection.

“It’s not about being perfect. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and knowing that some days will be harder than others.”

Tessa’s healing journey is a beautiful reminder that recovery doesn’t have to be about achieving perfection. It’s about learning to be compassionate with yourself, trusting the process, and taking one step at a time—even if those steps are small.

Tessa’s Message to You

“Expand the bubble slowly,” she encourages. “That’s how you build confidence. And let the healing unfold naturally. You don’t have to hunt for it. Your body will tell you when it’s ready.”

If you’re in the thick of it—managing panic, avoiding situations, feeling stuck in fear—Tessa’s story is proof that healing is possible. Not by pushing harder, but by softening. Not by controlling everything, but by learning to trust your body and its wisdom.

And as Tessa beautifully said, “I just knew there was deeper healing available for me. And I’m so glad I listened.”