From Decades of Anxiety & Panic to Finding Real Relief with P2P Student Louise

If you’ve been struggling with panic attacks or anxiety for years (or even decades), it’s so easy to believe that nothing will ever help. You try all the strategies... therapy, journaling, meditation, yoga, exposure, and yet you still feel stuck.

That was Louise’s story.

In this week’s episode of the A Healthy Push Podcast, I sat down with Louise, a recent Panic to Peace graduate from Australia, to talk about her journey through decades of anxiety and panic, what kept her stuck for so long, and the surprising shifts that finally helped her find real relief.

Louise’s Story: Living With Panic for Decades

Louise experienced her first panic attack at 19. Now in her mid-40s, she describes anxiety and panic as something that has ebbed and flowed throughout her life, often intensifying during stressful seasons.

Like so many of us, Louise tried everything to make her anxiety go away. She journaled, meditated, practiced yoga, did exposures, and read all the self-help books she could find.

She even worked in the mental health field. But none of it seemed to bring lasting relief.

Instead, it left her frustrated and exhausted, constantly wondering: What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I fix this?

What Kept Her Stuck

Looking back, Louise realized that what was keeping her stuck wasn’t anxiety itself, it was her constant fight against it. She was trying to “fix” and control every thought, sensation, and emotion.

• She searched endlessly for why panic showed up in certain situations.

• She exposed herself to triggering places and situations but kept waiting for the panic to disappear.

• She filled her days with strategies and coping skills, but they only left her more frustrated.

What she didn’t realize was that her approach, trying to out-think, out-strategize, and out-do anxiety was actually fueling the cycle.

The Shift That Changed Everything

When Louise joined Panic to Peace, she came in skeptical (because let’s be real... after decades of trying, who wouldn’t be?). But within the first couple of sessions, she started noticing something different.

Instead of being told to manage or fight her anxiety, she was learning how to:

• Stop digging for reasons and explanations every time panic showed up.

• See anxiety as an emotion, not a sign that something was wrong with her.

• Let go of the need to “fix” herself and instead meet her experiences with compassion.

• Build trust in herself by approaching exposures and daily life in a new way.

And perhaps most importantly, Louise learned how to actually feel her emotions... grief, sadness, frustration, and fear, without stuffing them down or trying to control them.

What Healing Looks Like Now

For the first time in decades, panic and anxiety have started to fade into the background for Louise. She describes moments where she realized, I didn’t even think about it this time.

She’s building confidence, celebrating her wins, and trusting herself to handle life, even when hard moments show up. And while she knows recovery is a process, she finally believes that full healing is possible.

Her story is such a beautiful reminder: you are not broken. You don’t need more strategies or hacks. What you need is a new relationship with yourself, your body, and your emotions.

Listen to the Full Conversation

If you’ve ever felt like anxiety and panic will be part of your life forever, I know Louise’s story will bring you so much hope.

• 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!

  
  

• Learn more about the Panic to Peace program → Check it out here!

  
  

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