How can i help yoou today?

Well, over the past four months ever since i moved down here. I don’t feel that i can cope. Every
thing i do seems to go wrong.

When you say “go wrong” what do you mean by that ?

I don’t seem to be getting on with my life. Sometimes it’s so hard. I don’t see the point in carrying
on, really

It sounds as though you’re feeling pretty down

No, i wouldn’t say down. Because i still do things, i enjoy and make me happy. Lately i’ve been
experiencing these terrifying incidents

Incidents ?

Yes, things that happen to me and place i go, and situations i find myself in, but they really are
teerifying.

Tell me about these incidents. How do you describe your feelings ?

Suddenly i’m overcome with an overwhelming sense of anxiety, and i think i’m going to die

You say they happen when you’re out about. Do they ever come on unexpectedly ?

The generally happen when i am out and mmm . if i’m walking down the street, i get to feel so
nervous

Do they ever happen at home?

No, never at home, not with my family or with my wife.

They only happen when you’re on your own ?

And when i’m out

How long do these feelings last ?

Oh, not very long. They come on very quickly and they only last a few minutes. I feel like i’m going to
die, then i’m overcome and can’t do anything.

Do you ever have any warning signs that this is going to happen ?

No, they come on so quickly

These feelings seem to be really frightening, could you be scared of something that might trigger
these feelings?

Well, this one thing happened to me not long after i moved here, and it might have something to do
with that

Could you tell me more about that ?

When i first moved here, i didn’t know the area very well. It’s one cold day about a moth ago i was
walking home. It was getting dark. I wasn’t paying attention to what was aound me. Suddenly i saw
two teenage boys, jogging towards me. I thought, hang on, are they going to attack me or something
?

What happened ?

Well i thought it best to get out of there, so i started walking, and it was like they were following me,
so i thought .....

Did you get out of the situation ?

I sped up, started running, but it was all so fast. They were beginning to overtake me. Now they’re
really going to get me. Something is going to happen. Suddenly there was this bus coming out
nowhere. I stuck my hand out, jumped on the bus and managed to get away!

And what happened to the boys ?

I didn’t look, i was too scared. I was relieved to be on the bus. It was the worst thing of my life. My
heart pounding, out of breath, shaking like a leaf and sweating

How do you know they were after you ?

They were so young and menacing. With my suit and briefcase, well, they had to be after me

Couldn’t they just have been two boys out for a run ?

No, they were definitely after me. It was really, really scary

Do you have flashbacks, where you relive this, like at home?

No, never at home, but when i’m out in the street, especially at night. I think the same thing coould
happen again.

Has it stopped you being able to go out or use the buses ?

Oh, of course. I have no problem with buses.... i feel really safe. But it’s when i’m on the street.

What about waiting for a bus ?

Sometimes. Downtown at the bus station, that’s all right, because there’s a lot of people about, but
not just anywhere

So you only feel comfortable at certain bus stops now?

Yes, it has to be in a safe area

Do you find these events or incidents have affectes your day to day life ?

I’m a salesman, so i have to go from house to house selling things. I’m alright normally. With a plan i
can keep things straightforward