Bianca experienced ongoing challenges related to a dysregulated nervous system, and over a period of twelve years, her symptoms gradually became more severe. She first entered Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)  at the age of 16, after reaching out to her school guidance counsellor during a time when she felt she might not make it through the week. Then later, as a young adult, she was under the Mental Health Services system, into her mid-20s.

As a child, Bianca was bright and happy, but around the age of twelve, she began to notice changes in her ability to cope with everyday situations. She started experiencing high levels of anxiety, difficulty falling and staying asleep, and intrusive negative thoughts that she found hard to manage. Despite her family’s ongoing efforts to seek appropriate support, Bianca’s mental health continued to decline.

By her late teens, she was living with severe depression, persistent suicidal thoughts (which were often acted upon) and an eating disorder. She also experienced periods of intense emotional distress, racing thoughts, excessive worry, and overthinking. Echolalia haunted her through repetitive words, phrases, and songs that made it impossible for her mind to rest.

During this period, Bianca required several short-term hospital admissions each year to maintain her safety and stabilise her condition. Over time, she was prescribed a range of medications, including antidepressants for anxiety and depression, and antipsychotic medication to help manage symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Unfortunately, these treatments provided only limited relief. In an attempt to self-manage her symptoms—particularly her difficulty sleeping—Bianca began using cannabis to help calm her mind.

At the age of 23, Bianca was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and prescribed Ritalin, which initially improved her focus and concentration. However, after several months, the medication caused distressing side effects and a sense of being “out of control,” leading her to discontinue its use.

Following the tragic loss of two close friends to suicide, Bianca’s mental health declined even further. She began experiencing frequent dissociative episodes, some accompanied by psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES)—involuntary seizure-like movements that could last up to 90 minutes. During this period, she required monthly hospital admissions for monitoring and support.

By this stage, Bianca had almost lost hope, believing that recovery was beyond reach and that her ongoing mental health challenges were something she would have to live with indefinitely. Her mother, however, refused to give up. Recognising that traditional approaches such as medication and talk therapy had provided limited benefit, she began exploring alternative, evidence-based interventions. After extensive research, Bianca’s mother contacted me, and in July 2025, we began a course of neurofeedback therapy to support Bianca’s recovery.

Weeks 4–7
It is typically around sessions four to seven that clients begin to notice changes. In Bianca’s case, however, she was still too emotionally shut down to recognise any progress herself. Her mother, who had supported her through every difficult stage, began to observe subtle but significant shifts that Bianca couldn’t yet see.

These included:
• Sleeping with the light off: For the first time in over ten years, Bianca was falling asleep without needing her bedroom light on.
• Reconnecting with her mother: After years of avoiding shared activities, Bianca began saying “yes” to spending time together. Twice in one week, she joined her mum and their dog for beach walks—something that soon became a regular part of their routine.
• Socialising beyond her comfort zone: For more than a decade, Bianca had only spent time with others who experienced similar mental health struggles, believing this was where she would be most accepted. She began engaging with people outside that circle, broadening her social experiences and sense of connection.

• Becoming mindful of her pain medication: For years, Bianca had taken pain medication reactively—whenever the pain became too much to bear, often exceeding recommended doses. One day, her mother was taken aback when Bianca calmly mentioned that she couldn’t take another dose yet because she’d already had some three hours earlier. It was a small moment, but a clear sign of new awareness and self-regulation.

• A change in focus: Bianca’s once constant talk about “only wanting to die” began to fade. In its place, she started expressing concern about her health, worrying about things like getting cancer. While this might seem minor, it marked an important turning point: Bianca was beginning to care about her future, believing she would now have one! 

• Taking initiative: After years of feeling powerless and dependent, Bianca began to show initiative in her daily life. She started to do things on her own—tasks she once believed she couldn’t manage, that were ignored previously or that she would ask family to do for her. Her growing confidence was becoming visible, one small step at a time.

Weeks 8–12
As the sessions continued, small but powerful changes began to emerge—subtle shifts that reflected a growing sense of self-awareness and control. One of the most moving changes was the way Bianca began to reach out to her family again. Laughter, genuine conversation, and warmth slowly started to replace the silence and distance that had once filled their home. She made a deliberate effort to leave her bedroom—to sit with her family, join in discussions, and simply be present.

For years, her room had been both her refuge and her prison; she would retreat there with her hoodie pulled over her head, cocooned in blankets, trying to shield herself from a world that felt too painful to face. Now, those walls no longer held her captive. Instead of withdrawing from life, Bianca was beginning to rejoin it—step by step, moment by moment—rediscovering connection, belonging, and the comfort of being seen and loved.

• A lightness returning: Small glimpses of Bianca’s old personality began to shine through again. Her family hadn’t seen this joyful, light-hearted side of her since she was a child.

• Emotional stability: It had been months since Bianca experienced one of her emotionally overwhelming episodes—those moments when her mother would have to drive out to collect her, or when she’d arrive home but remain sitting in the car, unable to come inside. Once a weekly occurrence, these episodes had now disappeared completely.

• Healthier thought patterns: Bianca’s thinking and the words she used shifted significantly. For years, her words had reflected pain, hopelessness, and bitterness—it was rare to hear anything positive. But now, she began speaking with calm and clarity about things that happened in her part-time work or in social settings. Her conversations were no longer fuelled by anger or resentment; instead, they carried balance, reason, and hope.

• A calmer emotional presence: Alongside these changes, Bianca’s overall energy felt different. The tension that once surrounded her had eased. She appeared more grounded, more peaceful—responding rather than reacting, and allowing space for understanding and perspective to take root where chaos once lived.

• Trying New Things: Bianca began showing a growing willingness to take risks and explore activities she had long avoided. For years, anxiety had kept her from stepping outside her comfort zone. But now, small moments of curiosity began to appear. One evening, her mother was delighted to hear the gentle sounds of a toy piano coming from Bianca’s room—a gift she had recently bought for herself. The notes were far from perfect, but that wasn’t the point. The act of experimenting with music, of allowing herself to play, symbolised something powerful: Bianca was rediscovering confidence, creativity, and a sense of joy in trying.

• Public Recognition: Not long after, Bianca came home with news that filled her mother with pride—she had been named Employee of the Month. Though she only worked part-time, Bianca had been with her organisation for nearly three years, and her boss had always shown kindness and flexibility toward her mental health journey. But this moment was different. This recognition wasn’t about sympathy—it was about respect. Her colleagues had voted overwhelmingly for her, praising her kindness, reliability, and positive attitude. For someone who once struggled to see any good in herself or the world, this was a remarkable milestone—a reflection not just of how far she had come, but how brightly others now saw her light shining. 

Weeks 13–16
By this stage, Bianca began to sense that something inside her was changing. For the first time in many years, she started to believe that recovery might actually be possible. The heavy hopelessness that had once seemed permanent was slowly giving way to a quiet strength and a growing sense of self-trust.