Wendy

Wendy was convinced she would never recover. She had had the disorder for twenty-five years, and during that time she had seen many doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists, taken all types of medication and even spent six months in a private hospital, all to little or no avail. She had never been told exactly what was wrong with her, although a doctor had told her she was depressed. She thought it was natural that, feeling the way she did, she was depressed, and wondered why people treated only her depression and not the panic attacks. At the hospital her doctor and the nurses would pat her on the shoulder and tell her to ‘think positive’. She tried, but it was difficult when her life had disintegrated and there seemed no way she could ever get back to ‘normal’. After leaving hospital she refused to see any other doctor or specialist. She was angry and frustrated at the lack of help, but there appeared to be no solution. Gradually Wendy was able to arrange her life around the disorder. She could do her own shopping at the local store, but she spent most of her time at home. Her children grew up with the impression that their mother was a bit ‘odd’, but they accepted her as she was and never questioned her decision not to seek further help.

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