Me and My Anxiety is your podcast about anxiety, panic attacks, stress, and the nervous system. I’m Christina Hillesheim, a German bestselling author, and I know what it’s like to struggle with anxiety, panic attacks, and burnout. In this podcast, I share my personal experiences, helpful insights, practical tips, and simple exercises to help you better understand your anxiety, feel less alone, and find your way back to a calmer, more confident life.
You can listen to Me and My Anxiety for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major podcast platforms. New episodes are released every Tuesday. I’d love for you to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode! ❤️
What does it really feel like to live with anxiety, panic attacks, and depression? And when fear starts taking over your everyday life, is it possible to find your way back to yourself?
In the first episode of Me and My Anxiety, Christina Hillesheim shares her personal journey with anxiety — from experiencing health anxiety as a child to her first panic attacks in her twenties and a particularly difficult period of insomnia, overwhelming fear, and depression.
This is an honest story about struggling with mental health, reaching a breaking point, seeking professional support, and gradually discovering that life can change again.
Anxiety doesn’t always begin with a dramatic panic attack. Sometimes, it starts quietly: worrying about your health, noticing unusual physical sensations, or imagining that something terrible might happen.
For Christina, fears about illness were already part of her childhood. Later, those fears took on new forms, eventually leading to experiences that affected her confidence, sleep, and everyday life.
In this episode, Christina looks back at those early experiences and shares what it felt like when anxiety became more than occasional worry.
Her story may feel familiar if you’ve ever struggled with constant overthinking, fear of physical symptoms, or the feeling that your mind won’t let you relax.
A panic attack can be frightening, especially when you don’t understand what’s happening to your body.
Sudden fear and intense physical sensations can make you feel as though something is seriously wrong. And sometimes, the fear of experiencing another panic attack becomes an additional burden.
Christina talks openly about her first panic attack in her twenties and how her relationship with anxiety developed afterward.
She also explores why the experience of panic can stay with you long after the most intense feelings have passed.
In 2016, Christina experienced one of the most difficult periods of her life.
She could barely sleep, felt constantly anxious, and struggled to carry on. Anxiety and depression affected her sense of stability and made everyday life increasingly difficult.
When anxiety and sleep problems happen together, even ordinary responsibilities can begin to feel overwhelming. The exhaustion, uncertainty, and emotional strain can make it difficult to imagine feeling better again.
In this deeply personal episode, Christina shares what that period was like for her — without pretending that recovery was simple or that there was one quick solution.
When you’re struggling with anxiety or depression, asking for help can be an important step.
Christina shares why professional support mattered in her own recovery and how she gradually began rebuilding confidence and rediscovering moments of joy.
Her experiences also raise an important question: What changes when you stop seeing anxiety as something that defines who you are?
Rather than presenting a universal formula for overcoming anxiety, Christina offers an honest perspective on personal growth, difficult emotions, and learning to relate to fear differently.
When anxiety has shaped your life for a long time, it can be hard to remember what feeling relaxed, confident, or hopeful was like.
But your current experience doesn’t have to determine your entire future.
In this episode, Christina reflects on the changes that helped her move forward and explains why she believes that meaningful progress is possible, even after very difficult periods.
Her story is not a promise of recovery for everyone. It’s a personal reminder that struggling with anxiety or depression doesn’t mean you have to face everything alone.
Can life feel different again after years of anxiety and panic attacks? Listen to the first episode of Me and My Anxiety to hear Christina’s personal story, discover what helped her begin moving forward, and find a little encouragement for your own journey.
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