Hope Thrift Brings Hope to Help Teen Overcome Anxiety

Sixteen-year-old Lillian is a very different person today than she was seven months ago. Sitting in her Launceston home, sharing an engaging conversation as the grade 11 student talks about her interests and future plans, it’s hard to imagine that Lillian’s anxiety often prevented her from leaving her home. And speaking with strangers simply wasn’t done.

“I never went out, I’d never leave the house,” she said.

“I really wanted a job but I didn’t think I could do it because my anxiety was so high at that time.”

Lillian’s mum Anna is sitting with her on the couch. They share a strong bond and Anna has a special mother’s intuition for what Lillian needs when her anxiety disorder starts to control her life. She suggested that Lillian volunteer at an op shop, which is how she came to be working at Hope Thrift from August last year under the mentorship of store manager and Teen Challenge director Tanya Cavanagh.

“I expected to work out the back all the time, but I was encouraged over time to be out in the shop helping. After two or three months, Tanya suggested I have a go operating the cash register.

“That was pretty nerve-wracking, but Tanya helped me and I really built my social skills. She was so patient. She was really understanding about my anxiety and allowed me to take it slowly.”

Anna said the combination of altering Lillian’s medication and Tanya’s mentoring at Hope Thrift had removed the controlling grip that anxiety had on her life.

“This is the healthiest she’s been in four years. She’s made it to all her classes for the term so far, which just wasn’t possible before.”

Lillian is taking this year slowly, and is studying arts-related subjects that help her maintain a healthy equilibrium. She loves being creative, and Anna has many of her artworks on display around the home. Next year she plans to pick up the subjects required to become a nurse. Going slow and engaging in positive activities, like her volunteer work at Hope Thrift, is how she overcomes her anxiety one day at a time.

“What I tell myself is, you’ve gone through a day like this before,

you can do it again!”