Samantha & Ben with Jess (10)
The Story of:
Why They Came to Anxend for Help
After speaking to their coach, Samantha and Ben realised that their daughter Jess had been struggling silently for a long time until suddenly seven weeks before they started with us everything came to the surface and Jess was overwhelmed.
Jess started seriously struggling with going to school, finding it difficult to leave Mum's or Dad’s side. Every day presented Jess with an internal battleground, her enemy being school.
Stomach aches, sweat-drenched palms, physical trembling, and a pervading sense of dread made getting ready for school a draining experience which some days resulted in Jess not leaving the house.
Even when she did make it to school, Jess would spend her time in the breakout room and often would not make it to class. Samantha and Ben sought help from their GP who referred them back to the school which was not equipped to help Jess.
It was not a case of Jess not wanting to go to school or see her friends, rather her anxiety had such a frightening effect that she physically could not bear to go to school.
Samantha and Ben reached out to us in search of someone who could help Jess where the GP and school had failed.
How We Assessed and Helped Their Situation
Our initial step was a reassessment of Jess's situation, a task demanding a delicate touch as we worked with Jess to find a coach, she felt comfortable opening up to.
One of our first actions with all families is for our coaches to run a GAD-7 test to establish a baseline for current anxiety levels. Jess scored 16 out of 21 which placed her in the severe category of anxiety making it clear she needed immediate help.
We began by helping Jess to understand the feelings and symptoms she was wrestling with so she could fully comprehend the science behind her anxiety.
This knowledge was a significant step towards reducing her fear of these sensations. Next, we focused on honing Jess's skills to manage her anxiety.
Our methods were a blend of mindfulness, grounding techniques, and adrenaline management. We worked at a pace that did not overtax her, instead, fostering growth gently and persistently.
Simultaneously, we guided Samantha and Ben on creating a more serene and reassuring environment for Jess at home.
The Happy Outcome
The transformation in Jess has been nothing short of inspirational.
Where once anxiety had a firm grip over her life, Jess is now in control, reclaiming her childhood from the anxiety disorder that was causing her family to suffer.
On her final GAD-7 test, Jess scored 4 out of 21 a huge improvement from her initial score of 16. A score of 4 placed Jess in the mild category for anxiety, normal everyday levels.
Jess is no longer seeking constant reassurance from her parents. Her newfound knowledge has empowered her to challenge her boundaries and step out of her comfort zone.
Under her own power Jess has shown huge resilience, pushing through tough times, with kindness and empathy she moves forward every day. With the support of Mum and Dad, Jess is firmly in control of her life and no longer lives under the control of anxiety.