Hi, I’m Rick. I’m 30 years old and I come from a small town in the Netherlands called Wormerveer. I’ve lived with anxiety for more than half of my life.

It started when I was just 16. Out of nowhere, it felt like I was losing control. My heart would race, my vision would blur, and my whole body went into panic mode. I had no idea what was happening to me and it terrified me.

That moment became the beginning of a long cycle. Fear, avoidance, panic, repeat. School, friends, daily life, everything slowly became harder.

Eventually things began to shift.
I discovered breathwork, not as a quick fix, but as a way to reconnect with my body when everything felt out of control. I stopped treating myself as someone who needed to be fixed and started learning how to live with anxiety instead of fighting it every day.

Now I’m a dad to a three-year-old boy. He is my biggest motivation to stay grounded and to show him that strength is not about being perfect, but about continuing to show up even when things are difficult.

That is why I created this book. Not as a doctor or therapist, but as someone who has lived through it. Someone who knows what it feels like to be overwhelmed for no reason. Someone who understands the fear, the shame and the endless search for answers, and how powerful it is to finally find something that actually helps.

If reading this makes you feel even a little less alone, then that means everything to me.

If you ever want to reach out, ask something, share your story, or just say hi, you can contact me anytime.
Email: info@anxietybutstillhere.com

I try to respond to every message.
You’re not alone in this.