For years, I lived with silent battles. Trauma from the past, constant stress, and endless worries I never spoke about weighed heavily on me. I thought I was strong enough to keep going, to handle everything on my own. But little by little, my body began to show me the truth.

When the Symptoms Took Over

At first, I dismissed the dizziness, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. I blamed it on being tired or overworked. But soon, the symptoms became too frightening to ignore. Add to that the burning in my stomach and acid rising in my throat, I felt trapped in a cycle I didn’t understand.

Every time it happened, it felt like I was dying. And the scariest part was not knowing whether it was my anxiety or my GERD triggering it. One would set off the other until I was left overwhelmed and afraid.

How It Changed My Life

My diagnosis of Anxiety Disorder and GERD completely shifted the way I lived.

• My daily routine changed. Simple things I used to do with ease suddenly felt impossible.
• Even going out made me anxious. I feared an attack would hit me at any moment.
• I constantly battled between fighting the symptoms and trying to live normally.

But in the middle of that struggle, I kept reminding myself: I have to be strong for my children. They are my reason to keep moving forward, no matter how heavy the days felt.

Finding Support and Clarity

Getting the diagnosis was both scary and relieving. Scary, because it meant I had conditions I needed to manage. But relieving, because it gave me clarity — this wasn’t just “all in my head.” THIS WASN’T JUST BEING DRAMATIC. My body was responding to years of trauma, stress, and silent suffering.

I am deeply thankful for my family, who stood by me during the hardest moments. Their support reminded me that I don’t have to carry everything alone. Together, we’ve learned not to let stress consume us and instead to pray, trust, and believe that everything will be all right.

Learning to Heal

My journey isn’t perfect, and the anxiety and GERD haven’t magically disappeared. But I’m learning.

• To breathe through the panic.
• To eat and live more mindfully.
• To release the worries I can’t control.
• To treat my body and mind with more kindness.

Healing is not about erasing the pain—it’s about living through it, day by day, and finding strength in the process.

A Message to Anyone Going Through the Same Thing

If you’ve ever felt that overwhelming fear—like you’re dying every time it happens—please know this: you are not alone. Your struggles are valid, and your healing is possible.

Anxiety and GERD may be part of my life, but they no longer control me. And if you’re walking this same path, I hope you remember: you are stronger than you think.