“Shortly after beginning CBT, I was able to discontinue medication and stop seeing a therapist.”
An excellent student, a talented singer and musician, a competitive athlete. That’s how I appeared on the outside as a young child, but I felt as though I were trapped in a nightmare that would never end. Years later, and after a lot of hard work, my bad dream is finally over. 
Fear of Being Alone
Growing up, I knew I was different. I lived with my mother and brother. My parents were divorced. My father had left and he never came back. It wasn’t the easiest of circumstances, especially for a six-year-old.
As I later discovered, the abandonment triggered my anxiety attacks. I feared being alone, unwanted, unpopular, and unloved.
My Symptoms
First period, ninth-grade religion class: The teacher asked me to walk in front of the class and set up a presentation. Simple enough, right? I couldn’t do it. I was having an anxiety attack—soaked in sweat, shaking, and nauseous. My symptoms began every morning fro