For former fellow Sanne, her world became smaller and smaller. Because of her anxiety disorder, she barely dared to leave the house. Busy places, unfamiliar environments and new situations would trigger panic. She preferred to stay at home – the only place that still felt safe. Today, she's back in education, takes on challenges she would once have avoided, and has learnt that anxiety can still be there without having to control her life.
Before starting at Yes We Can, Sanne believed the only way to deal with her anxiety was to avoid it. She regularly cancelled plans, missed out on enjoyable experiences and watched people her own age go on holidays, attend parties and embrace new adventures, while she found herself staying at home more and more often. "I hardly dared to do anything."
Starting treatment at Yes We Can felt incredibly daunting for Sanne. Everything was new, and new situations were exactly what usually made her anxiety worse. The first few weeks were tough. She had to adjust to all the new stimuli, being part of a group of other fellows and, most importantly, confronting herself.
During treatment, Sanne realised there was much more beneath her anxiety than she had believed for years. "You really come face to face with yourself." There was even a moment when she wanted to leave. Whenever things became difficult, running away had always been her way of coping with anxiety. During treatment, she was challenged to do the opposite, and she made the decision herself to keep going. As a result, Sanne discovered she was capable of far more than she had ever imagined.
"Whenever things became difficult, running away was my way of coping with anxiety."
One of the biggest lessons Sanne took away from her treatment at Yes We Can was learning how to communicate. Where she used to keep her feelings to herself, she now speaks up much sooner when something is difficult. "I've learnt so much just by saying when something feels difficult or overwhelming." As a result, there are far fewer misunderstandings and arguments at home. Even when a problem can't be solved straight away, Sanne has noticed how much it helps when the people around her understand what's going on.
After treatment, Sanne felt relieved. She started doing things again and slowly began to regain confidence in herself. But that didn't mean everything suddenly became easy. Her family also had to adjust to a new situation. After an intensive day of treatment, she often didn't have the energy to talk at length, so together they had to make new agreements about what she needed. "If I needed some time on my own, that was okay."
Recovery continued to be a process of trial and error. She started looking for work again, learnt to communicate what she needed and even decided to return to education. "It's still scary, but I trust that I can handle it."
Although Sanne has come a long way, her anxiety hasn't simply disappeared. Busy or unfamiliar places can still feel overwhelming, especially on days when she's struggling. The difference is that she no longer automatically runs away from them. That's where she sees just how much she has changed. Not because the anxiety has gone, but because she no longer lets it hold her back.
Looking back on her recovery, there's one lesson that has made the biggest difference. "I've learnt that I'm allowed to be myself." She doesn't have to be perfect. She doesn't have to be strong all the time. Feeling angry, sad or insecure is simply part of being human. "Even when you're feeling sad or angry, just allow yourself to feel it." Where she once focused only on staying safe, she now dares to make her world a little bigger, one step at a time. "Of course I still feel insecure sometimes. Everyone is who they are. And that's absolutely okay."
Would you like to learn more about Yes We Can Youth Clinics and the way we work? Feel free to get in touch with us with no obligation, and we’ll be happy to tell you more.
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