"I was Googling symptoms 3 hours a day. My GP said I was fine — I didn't believe her."
How Sarah broke a 4-year cycle of symptom-checking, GP visits, and health catastrophising using CBT's Theory A vs Theory B and ACT defusion techniques.
"My first panic attack was on the Tube. Within a month I couldn't get on a train."
How James went from daily panic attacks and complete avoidance of public transport to commuting freely — using graded exposure and interoceptive exposure.
"I stopped going to lectures because I was terrified people were judging me."
How Priya challenged her mind-reading distortions and rebuilt her social confidence through behavioural experiments and graded exposure during her second year.
"I'd lie awake replaying every decision I'd made that day, convinced I'd missed something."
How Mark broke a decade-long pattern of rumination and catastrophic overthinking using worry postponement, thought records, and ACT values work.
"I checked if my baby was breathing every 15 minutes. I was exhausted but couldn't stop."
How Emma recognised postnatal anxiety as a condition — not a parenting instinct — and used response prevention and cognitive restructuring to break the checking cycle.
"I'd dread going to bed. 3am was my enemy — wide awake, heart racing, mind spiralling."
How Tom used CBT-I, worry postponement, and the brain dump technique to break a 2-year cycle of anxiety-driven insomnia after a traumatic shift.
"Every time my partner didn't reply within an hour, I was convinced he was leaving me."
How Rachel unpicked a pattern of anxious attachment, fortune-telling distortions, and reassurance-seeking that was destroying her relationships.
"I was predicted A*s but I was so paralysed by the fear of failure I couldn't revise."
How Dan used CBT's behavioural experiments and ACT values work to separate his self-worth from his grades and finally sit his exams with confidence.
"I'd wake at 5am with my heart pounding and a feeling of absolute dread about the day ahead."
How Lisa addressed the cortisol awakening response, chronic work stress, and the catastrophising habit that was turning every school day into a crisis.
"After the accident I couldn't drive above 30mph. My livelihood depended on it."
How Ahmed used graded exposure, cognitive restructuring, and the fear ladder to return to motorway driving 4 months after a road traffic accident.
"I was a partner at the firm and still convinced they'd realise I didn't belong."
How Kate challenged a lifetime of discounting the positive, mind reading, and should statements to finally own her professional success without constant anxiety.
"I'd check the door was locked 15 times before bed. I knew it was locked. I still checked."
How Michael used ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) and ACT acceptance to break a 20-year pattern of checking compulsions that had taken over his retirement.
