Becky Ashworth, 28, from Bury, says the support she received from NHS Bury Talking Therapies not only helped her conquer her deep fear of medical environments but also gave her hope for the future.
Ms Ashworth developed the phobia in her early teens after visiting her mother in hospital.
The distressing experience led her to associate hospitals and clinical settings with anxiety, a feeling that only grew stronger over time.
Ms Ashworth donating blood (Image: Supplied)
She said: “In my mind, it was the environment around me causing the negativity.
“On one occasion, I nearly fainted at my great-grandmother’s bedside.
“It really shook me, and I blamed the hospital for making me sick, rather than the likelihood I was overwhelmed and hadn’t eaten that morning.”
Even routine medical appointments became a source of panic, often triggering severe anxiety and panic attacks in waiting rooms.
The situation came to a head when Ms Ashworth noticed blood in her stool and feared it could be a sign of bowel cancer.
She said: “I couldn’t ignore it.
“I booked an appointment with my GP and immediately felt my anxiety levels rising.
“Rather than being anxious about my health and what the tests would show, I could only think about how scared I was of needing medical interventions and more appointments.”
Although her test results were clear, the experience convinced her she needed professional help.
She self-referred to NHS Bury Talking Therapies and began working with high-intensity therapist Romanah Beg.
Over seven months, Ms Ashworth confronted and worked through her fears.
She said: “Romanah was so compassionate and easy to talk to.
“I could truly open up and be honest about how I felt.
“She was empathetic and made me feel heard and understood.”
Ms Beg explained that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be highly effective for phobias.
She said: “Cognitive behaviour therapy helps people manage fears and phobias by changing their beliefs about danger and gradually facing the things they fear.”
Through exposure therapy, Ms Beg accompanied Ms Ashworth to medical settings and appointments, helping her gradually become more comfortable.
Ms Ashworth can now attend GP appointments without anxiety and has even achieved her goal of donating blood.
She said: “It’s such an achievement, the end of a chapter.
“It’s really changed my outlook, and I can now seriously think about my future.”