The work behind the workbook: Melissa’s story
I have worked to CouRage Against a ‘pentagon of panic’ my whole life. My pentagon consists of eating disorders, depression, generalised anxiety disorder, autism and ADHD. We all have something to battle, these are my foes.
When I recovered from anorexia nervosa in 2014, I felt pride and strength. In 2016, I proved my anxiety wrong and moved across the country to a new city. This is a terrifying thing when you have never lived on your own, and an anxiety disorder will magnify this. Regardless, I started an awesome new job at a cool creative agency. Surrounded by bustling hipster cafes, I went out and explored the world I never knew.
My comfort zone before this move was the house I never left. Well, besides to go to work and the occasional panic-filled journey to get groceries. This was due to agoraphobia, the fear of the outside. Its pronunciation: ‘ag-uh-ruh-FOE-be-uh’ could not be more accurate. Existential grunting with a ‘foe’ in the middle.
Escaping this comfort zone was one of the most courageous moves of my life, and it was the best thing I ever did. Not only for my career, but for my self-growth, social life and love of food (hipsters make some damn good burgers). It was going swimmingly, but I still needed floaties.
Not long after the move I experienced chronic physical illness. My days consisted of vomiting, sharp abdominal pains, cold sweats, dizziness and exhaustion. I lost my will to do anything productive or social in my free time, most days, I felt paralysed. I was no longer underweight, I had conquered the big move and had a job I loved, so why was I so ill?
After a year of tests and hospital visits — turns out my illness was due to anxiety! Mum was right when she said “You’ll worry yourself sick!”
For the first time in my life, I felt confidence.
Fed up of the destruction my anxiety was doing to my health, I researched all I could about anxiety. The effect it has on the body, how to reduce it, how to cope and break out of my new comfort zone. I tried all the suggestions, learnt so much, and for the first time in my life, I felt confidence!
As I put courage into practise, I saw results I never thought possible AND I was no longer vomiting 10 times a day, win/win! I created CouRage Against Anxiety: A Self-Help Workbook to share my tools for courage with you.
Autism and ADHD
In 2023, I was diagnosed as autistic (ASD Level 2) and with ADHD. After a long journey of self-discovery and research, I’m updating this workbook to support other neurodivergent people too. The second edition is coming in 2027.
Many autistic people and people with ADHD also live with anxiety, so this website includes tools adapted for neurodivergent brains, and the second edition of the workbook will too.