At the end of September 2015 I was signed off of work for two weeks. “It will just give you a bit of a break” I was told.

That two week break turned into a 7 month hiatus, during which my anxiety manifested itself in many, many physical symptoms.

That for me was the hardest thing to deal with. I hated that my heart would beat so fast that it permanently felt like it was going to come out of my chest. I hated that my hands would shake continuously and that they, along with my feet, would tingle all the time. I would sweat constantly even when I was cold. My legs would twitch and I could never, ever, sit still. My mouth was always dry, I couldn’t concentrate on anything and the constant knot in my stomach was unbearable. I would lie awake at night, wide awake every night and would think about anything and everything over and over and over.

I was constantly exhausted, yet on constant alert. Very quickly I became so overwhelmingly withdrawn that I couldn’t do anything, see anyone or go anywhere. At the age of 33 I was back staying with my parents to be ‘looked after’. Together we spent a fortune on therapists, psychotherapists, hypnotherapists, acupuncturists…..you name it, I tried it. But nothing made a difference. Well not for more than a few moments anyway. It was horrendous for me but equally heartbreaking for my husband and parents, who had watched their beloved wife and daughter turn from one of the most sociable butterflies they knew into this sad, withdrawn and frightened individual.

Around five months into my period of suffering we came across the Linden Method retreat. I remember arriving at the retreat like it was just yesterday. And I remember specifically thinking ‘why are all these other people here – they don’t look remotely anxious’. All the other clients appeared to be chatting freely and openly and I remember thinking that it wasn’t going to do anything for me. After all, how could it when I was so much worse than anyone else?!

Well, how wrong could I have been! Now I am not saying that I came away completely cured – that process took a few weeks, but straight away I contacted my boss about returning to work on a phased return and on the 4 May 2018 I will have been back in work for two years. Yes two whole years! And since my return to work I haven’t experienced one panic attack or one episode of inappropriate anxiety.

So what changed? Simple – I followed and complied to The Linden Method fully.

In June 2016, around just six weeks after I returned to work, I attended Glastonbury festival with my friends! But this time I drove myself and met my friends there on day two (I can no longer handle a five day stint at Glastonbury, but that is simply due to age and stamina and nothing to do with anxiety!).

My ticket was purchased for me when I was first off of work and at that time I had absolutely no intention of going. After all, how could I possibly have coped?

If you had told me in the January before that is what I would be doing just a few months down the line I wouldn’t have believed you in a million years!

Yet, it was the best Glastonbury I have experienced to date. It might have been ‘the year of the mud’ but it was the most enjoyable, amazing experience and I shall remember that particular festival with fond memories for the rest of my life

A few months further down the line my husband decided to start his own business in his trade as a carpenter. In years gone by I have always steered him away from taking that step on the basis that it was too much of a risk. But this time I encouraged him all the way with not a hint of panic in sight! He is now well into a very successful business and I couldn’t be more proud. And I am doing all of his paperwork for him, which is a far cry from the days of his Mum having to write his invoices because I just couldn’t bear to do it