Ashley Nessman, 23, of Hamburg, New Jersey, was diagnosed with a panic disorder in 2009 after years of misdiagnosis and unsuccessful attempts at treatment. This is her story.
I have struggled with anxiety and depression since I was 13.
I remember one day I was left home alone, and being alone is one of my biggest triggers. I started just sweating and hyperventilating and ruminating. I went somewhere else; I was out of touch with reality completely. I felt almost crazy trying to explain to my parents what I was feeling, and I don’t think they could make sense of it either. Their first reaction was just to take me to a pediatrician. He wanted to just give me medication, but my mom said absolutely not.
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