CFS’s Adult Intensive Outpatient Program gave Nancy the tools to move from fear and overwhelm to confidence and peace

When Nancy and her husband became empty nesters, she expected a new season of life. Instead, years of anxiety rooted in a childhood marked by instability surfaced in overwhelming ways.

“That’s when things really hit rock bottom.”

A Life Shaped by Anxiety and Instability

Nancy had lived with anxiety since college, but the roots went deeper. Growing up with an alcoholic mother, repeated family instability, and the emotional neglect she experienced as a child left lasting wounds. Those early experiences shaped the way she related to others and eventually affected her own relationships with her husband and children as she struggled with codependency.

At her lowest point, Nancy felt completely overwhelmed and lacked the tools to regulate her nervous system and manage her emotions. Nights became especially difficult, sometimes leading to extreme distress and even wandering the streets. Eventually, her condition worsened to the point that she needed inpatient care at a local hospital.

“I was afraid of ending up there again.”

Searching for Help and Not Finding It

Determined to get help, Nancy sought care at intensive day treatment programs with behavioral health providers near her home. But instead of relief, she felt more disoriented.

“I didn’t understand what was happening. It was overwhelming.”

She longed for clarity and stability but found neither.

A Different Experience with CFS

Everything changed when Nancy came to Christian Family Solutions (CFS) and began their Adult Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). The program involved structured group therapy four days a week for about three hours at a time, a significant commitment designed to help individuals stabilize and experience meaningful progress more quickly. She worked closely with the CFS counselor leading the program and found something she hadn’t experienced before: clarity, safety, and understanding.

Before coming to CFS, Nancy often heard generic encouragement and surface-level reassurances from counselors, but they didn’t feel believable to her. She lived in fear of returning to rock bottom, of more sleepless nights and another hospitalization. Early in her care at CFS, a provider told her, “You don’t ever have to be there again.” That moment marked a turning point, giving her a sense of hope she hadn’t felt before.

“Working with my CFS counselor, I never felt overwhelmed. I understood what was happening, and I could always ask questions.”

After completing the Adult IOP program, Nancy continued counseling with the same therapist while also participating in a DBT skills group. Because her providers worked together at CFS, her care felt seamless, with everyone reinforcing the same goals.

Learning the Skills to Heal

At CFS, Nancy didn’t just talk about her struggles. She gained practical tools to navigate them.

She learned how to calm her nervous system through:

• Daily mindfulness habits
• Grounding exercises like deep breathing and focusing on her five senses
• “Urge surfing” to help manage unwanted behaviors
• TIPP (Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, Paired relaxation) techniques. For example, using a cold pack to help calm emotional distress.

Nancy developed interpersonal effectiveness skills, learning how to communicate clearly, set boundaries, and navigate relationships in healthier ways.  She also engaged with CFS resources like the online Resilience Project to reinforce what she learned in counseling.

For the first time, Nancy felt equipped, not just to survive difficult moments, but to move through them.

Real Change, Real Growth

Today, Nancy can manage big emotions without fear. She understands what’s happening in her mind and body and has the tools to respond instead of react.

“I’m not afraid of my emotions anymore.”

Her relationships have also begun to heal. She can talk openly about her feelings, and the growth she’s experienced has positively impacted her family.

The Difference Faith Made

What truly set CFS apart was the integration of faith into every aspect of her care.

“Faith made all the difference.”

Nancy began to see her struggles through a different lens. Earthly trials were temporary because her identity and future were secure in Christ.

“Heaven is my home. That’s where there will be peace, stability, safety, and security.”

This perspective became an anchor. When things felt overwhelming, she could return to God’s promises, truths that didn’t depend on how she felt in the moment.

A Message of Hope

Nancy’s message to others is simple:

“There is hope, even if it doesn’t feel like it. Change is possible. It won’t always be like this.”

Today, she no longer lives in fear of returning to where she once was. The words spoken to her early in treatment have become her reality:

“You don’t ever have to be there again.”

We are grateful to our partner congregations and our donors who help make care accessible to more people.

Nancy’s story is shared with permission.