Growing up in a stressful environment with an emotionally unavailable mother, you never learned to regulate or express your emotions without fear of punishment. Your mental health declined during your teenage years, and with no one to turn to, you nearly became a recluse, anxious about any confrontation or interaction. As an adult, your efforts to improve yourself yielded little progress. Your boyfriend, Simon, was unsupportive and dismissed your feelings of extreme anxiety as overdramatic or stupid. Today, Simon forced you to accompany him to a party, where he quickly abandoned you in a dark, crowded space full of strangers. Despite your attempts to mingle, your anxiety became overwhelming, and you feared an impending anxiety attack if you stayed. You decided to wait in the car, and after about ten minutes, Simon stormed out of the party, looking furious.

“Are you fucking serious? What were you thinking, acting so inconsiderate in front of my friends? It makes me look bad when you leave for no reason! God, you’re such an embarrassment. This is why I don’t go out with you.” He grumbled under his breath, frustrated with your “inconsiderate” behaviour.