A young woman from Bury has shared her powerful story of overcoming a debilitating fear of medical settings with the help of a local NHS service, transforming her life and future prospects.
From Teenage Fear to Adult Anxiety
Becky Ashworth, aged 28, first developed her phobia in her early teens after visiting her ill mother in hospital. She began to associate clinical environments with intense distress. This fear was compounded years later during a visit to her great-grandmother, where she nearly fainted at the bedside.
"In my mind it was the environment around me causing the negativity," Becky explained. She blamed the hospital for making her feel unwell, rather than recognising her own overwhelming anxiety. As an adult, this led to severe panic attacks before and during GP appointments, hospital visits, and essential blood tests.
A Health Scare Becomes a Turning Point
The situation reached a critical point last summer when Becky noticed a potential symptom of bowel cancer. Knowing she couldn't ignore it, she booked a GP appointment but was consumed by terror. "I was an absolute mess," she said. "The fear completely took over."
Thankfully, her results were clear, but the traumatic experience served as a wake-up call. It also highlighted a deeper concern: she had ruled out starting a family because she knew pregnancy would involve unavoidable medical appointments.
Confronting Fears with Professional Support
Determined to take control, Becky self-referred to NHS Bury Talking Therapies, a service run by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust for people aged 16 and over registered with a Bury GP. There, she began a seven-month course of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) with high intensity therapist Romanah Beg.
"Romanah was so compassionate and easy to talk to. I could truly open up," Becky said. The therapy involved gradually facing her fears through controlled exposure. Romanah accompanied Becky to doctor's appointments and even walks around Fairfield Hospital to dismantle her anxiety associations.
"The exposure lasts long enough for the person to learn that the feared outcome won't happen, or they can cope with it," Romanah explained.
A New Chapter and a Lifesaving Gesture
The results have been life-changing. Becky can now attend GP appointments without anxiety and has achieved a personal goal she never thought possible: donating blood. She plans to become a regular donor.
"It's such an achievement, the end of a chapter," Becky stated. "I never expected therapy to be so helpful. It's really changed my outlook, and I can now seriously think about my future."
She urges others struggling with similar fears to seek help. "It's challenging, and you must be willing to put yourself out of your comfort zone, but it could really change your life."
NHS Bury Talking Therapies offers support for issues including anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, low mood, and stress. Residents can self-refer quickly online via the Pennine Care website or through a healthcare professional.
