FACING FORWARD Outpatient Clinic for Anxiety Disorders The life of Margaret Gwneth I have always been bullied as a child. "Do not tell the teacher or else I‘ll beat you up again", the rascal threatened. One day at school, my classmate accused me of stealing his possessions, and I was so embarrassed that I hid at home for three days without leaving the house. Despite the misfortune, I have managed to go to university and then, applied for a job as a business analyst. At work, pressures arose from meeting deadlines and I began having temper tantrums, and signs of perspiration and trembling. Stress from work transferred to obsessions at home. I would notice slight differences in the way objects are placed and would panic immediately, thinking that a thief had entered my home. To reduce my fear, I frequently checked whether the doors to my house are locked, and the windows fastened - 45 times every night. My rituals grew and I started to avoid anything black in colour. I do not know why, but having a feeling of comfort, and protection after I had chewed my food 158 times had reduced my anxiety significantly. At times, I felt agitated and the only way that overcame my fear was to ask my husband to perform the same ritual. He was cooperative at first, but soon after, he suggested I should seek help. I have been hospitalized two times and am presently taking medication, but I still feel physically and mentally distressed by this syndrome. I suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder. My name is Margaret and I am 48 years old. The Irrational Fear Everyone experiences anxiety at times. It is when anxiousness overwhelms the individual, and disrupts their lives would this be a form of anxiety disorder. The Outpatient Clinic for Anxiety Disorders provides treatment for patients with phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and agoraphobia which is the fear of unfamiliar surroundings. The Outpatient Clinic for Anxiety Disorders is a place where patients leave their worries behind. As one steps into the zone around the clinic, it is as if they forgot they are anxious. When memory returns, patients and caregivers seek treatment and recover together. Patients are also empowered to become more independent as they stroll inside this calm and protective environment.