96. When Anxiety Derails Your Life: How One Young Woman Found Herself Again

What does it really take for a young person to rebuild their life after anxiety derails high school and college plans? In this powerful episode Zack sits down with Mountain Valley Treatment Center resident Becca Gorelick, just 48 hours before her graduation from the program. Becca shares how a traumatic home invasion intensified her anxiety, school avoidance, and panic attacks—ultimately leading her to seek residential treatment at Mountain Valley. With honesty and insight, she reflects on her first stay, her return to college at the University of Utah, and how unresolved anxiety, identity struggles, and academic pressure led her back for a second round of support.

For parents of teens and young adults struggling with anxiety, OCD, trauma, or college transitions, Becca's story offers real hope. She speaks candidly about exposure therapy (including a memorable and life-changing public "smoothie" exposure), EMDR work around trauma, learning to tolerate uncertainty, and rebuilding trust in herself. Most importantly, she shares how Mountain Valley's structure, community, and anxiety-specific treatment helped her move from simply surviving to rediscovering who she is. This episode is a moving reminder that recovery isn't linear—and sometimes asking for help again is the bravest step forward.

Zack's Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from Mariann Williamson, about ways to grow as a person and learn to Fear Less.

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.