You may experience a range of emotions when you receive your diagnosis. All of a sudden, you are faced with a new reality that you had not anticipated. There are some of you who may find this step difficult. There are also others who find relief in finally being able to identify what they have been suffering from.

A diagnosis can disrupt your outlook on life, change your plans, affect your sense of self, or affect the people around you. Experiencing unpleasant emotions is therefore completely normal.

You may have already experienced some of the following reactions:

1. Denial: "I don't believe it!"; "It's not possible!";

2. Anger: "It's not fair!"; "Why me?";

3. Sadness or discouragement: "Life isn't worth living"; "Why even bother?";

4. Acceptance: "I can get through this"; "I'll do my best to get better."

It is also possible to feel as if the illness or the symptoms define you in a particular way, further enhancing feelings of self-stigmatization.

In this situation, Louise is discouraged and saddened by this announcement. To feel better, she must first recognize the presence of anxiety in her life, along with its limitations and challenges. This will ease her acceptance of her diagnosis and will gradually lead her to take control of the actions she can take to learn to live with her anxiety.