Case study
Case Study
This extract from an interview with Gem Cooke, who lives with anxiety, illustrates common signs and indications of the condition, how it can develop over time and factors that can aggravate it. Please watch this video for the full interview
Q: How did your anxiety change or develop over time?
Gem Cooke (GC): “I developed an eating disorder. I suffered with anorexia from about the age of 15 until probably well into my 30s. My mistrust of doctors grew. I don’t actually remember having any therapy or counselling. They diagnosed me with mania and paranoia. They said they would hospitalise me if I went below six stone. So of course, I just stayed above six stone. They put me on lithium and Valium and Seroxat, and whatever else they tried. But I always had horrendous reactions. And often after a day of being like a zombie or throwing up, I would just throw them in the bin. And they still could not seem to make me normal. By now I was working in a restaurant. I still took recreational drugs but I hid it. And then I had a fall at work. Had this absolutely excruciating pain in my shoulder but no consultant seemed to know what was wrong. I also found out I was six months pregnant. I had not realised because I didn’t have a period due to the anorexia. I gave birth to my daughter. I was convinced she would be deformed or dead because of not knowing I was carrying her. And then I was petrified she would be taken off me. I then met my son’s father and spent seven years in a domestic violence relationship. And I continued to abuse drugs and alcohol. I was being abused. Then my step-father committed suicide. I was too scared to ask for help for my anxiety because my partner at that time convinced me that both my children would be taken into care because I was nuts. I managed to escape from the relationship, but he still bullied me and stalked me. Then I did have some [domestic violence] DV counselling. But I still never felt able to talk to anyone about my anxiety because if you’re a single parent, there’s often no respite and you cannot just say I can’t cope… I was nearly forty and finally got diagnosed with segmental dystonia [for the shoulder pain]. It felt like the first time a doctor listened to me without judgement. He said he wouldn’t force me, but I should have CBT at least to try and deal with the trauma.”
If you are affected by this story, please seek appropriate support from a colleague, friend or healthcare professional, or visit the Supporting you section of the CPPE website for resources on resilience and wellbeing.