Andrew's Story - Compassion

November 01, 2025

I had my first experience with depression and anxiety in high school. Back then, it felt manageable - something I could navigate with the help of my parents. But when I got to college, pieces started to unravel.

For the first few years, life looked great from the outside. I was a D1 college athlete, and known as a steady support system for my teammates and friends. I seemed to have it all together. But inside, things were falling apart.

My anxiety intensified, morphing into a panic disorder far beyond anything I had experienced before. It started small, skipping class here and there, but eventually, I could barely make it through a day. I found myself leaning on nicotine to try and quiet the chaos inside of me. My grades slipped, and by my final spring semester, I decided to withdraw to focus on my mental health.

When I moved back home with my parents, I hit a low so deep I barely left my room for a month. That was the moment we all realized I needed real, sustained support.

HopeWay felt like an opportunity to finally reclaim my life. I was tired of feeling stuck. I was nervous, but also motivated. I was ready to trust the process, and hopeful that healing was finally possible.

From my first day in the Residential program, I felt a sense of belonging. I met other clients around my age I easily connected with. Although they didn’t share my diagnosis, everyone understood what it felt like to struggle in their own way. Because of this, there was an unspoken level of compassion in every interaction, and a shared understanding that none of us were alone.

One of the most impactful parts of my journey was exposure therapy. My psychiatrist and therapist went above and beyond to help me face my panic disorder. It wasn’t easy; it took extreme amounts of vulnerability and trust. But eventually, I started seeing results. Through this process, I learned that showing compassion doesn’t always mean offering comfort. It means showing up for someone even when it’s hard, and gently pushing when you know they’re capable of more. That balance of empathy and encouragement was the foundation of my healing.

Every part of HopeWay, from the clinical support to the quiet moments of kindness, taught me how to manage my anxiety and rebuild my confidence. More importantly, it showed me how powerful true compassion can be in helping someone rediscover their own inner strength.