Tom Chilton’s first panic attack occurred during a college road trip, probably as a result of stress and drug use. But soon, anxiety dominated his everyday life.

Tom’s biggest struggle was with cardiophobia, the fear of heart-related issues. Every skipped beat or strange sensation made him think something was seriously wrong, which only worsened his symptoms – and the more his symptoms intensified, the worse his fear became, and then... you know how that spiral goes.

He was desperate – panic attacks would strike without warning, and he ended up in the emergency room multiple times. He tried everything: therapy, diet changes, even quitting caffeine – but nothing worked.

Tom’s journey finally took a positive turn when he discovered the Bye Bye Panic mentorship program. With the support of the community and the program’s focus on acceptance, he began to regain his confidence. Tom learned to confront anxiety directly instead of avoiding it, and that led him to decide never to let his fears control his life again.

In this week’s episode, Mirka, a mentor from Bye Bye Panic, speaks with Tom about his inspiring recovery and the steps he took to overcome his anxiety.

You don’t want to miss the story of this school teacher from Iowa – tune in now!

Key Takeaways:

• Intro (00:00)
• Tom’s background (01:24)
• Panic and derealization began in 2011 (02:19)
• First panic attack and ongoing cycle of fear (04:22)
• Cardiophobia - the biggest fear (06:16)
• The role of stories in shaping anxiety (07:30)
• Ineffective strategies: therapy, diet, and sobriety (10:18)
• Joining the Bye Bye Panic mentorship program (12:46)
• Living life despite anxiety (24:47)
• Do not base your progress on how you feel (37:12)

Additional Resources:

➡️ To accelerate your recovery journey, book a call to see if the mentorship with Shaan's team will help your specific situation

➡️ Get access to the Desensitization Blueprint

➡️ FREE E-BOOK

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