Doctors Said I Had Anxiety for 5 Years, Until One Test Changed Everything

We all dream about what we want our lives to look like when we get older. For me, that vision centered around marriage and raising a family.

In 2018, I was in my late 20s, and I truly had everything I ever wanted. I was married to the man I love, Tim, and a stay-at-home mom for my two beautiful children. I took my kids all over for adventures; we would go to the zoo, water parks, vacations, and we had our dream family home in the South Dakota countryside.

Everything felt perfect. But life has a funny way of working out, and by the end of July 2018, it all started to unravel.

‘Feels Like My Body Has Been Poisoned’

A few months in, I began suspecting Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome, conditions caused by a tick bite. But seeking answers felt impossible as doctors would not test me.

I went to the ER many times and it was always attributed to panic disorder. I did not believe that explanation, but over time—after repeated dismissals—I began to question myself. It was an incredibly difficult period because I was researching and felt something was seriously wrong.

About a year in, I was tentatively diagnosed with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS). I was repeatedly advised to seek psychiatric evaluation and to try anti-anxiety medication or birth control. However, birth control worsened my hormonal symptoms, and one anti-anxiety medication caused serotonin syndrome. I reported my symptoms but was told my body needed time to adjust.

I could no longer walk up the stairs without my heart rate reaching 180 beats per minute. I could not even push my children in a stroller down our street. Eventually, we had to sell our home because it was no longer safe for me. I was blacking out and my son would hide behind the chair. I was supposed to protect them from the scary things in life and I couldn’t.

My immune system is compromised from years of going untreated and I still deal with concussion-like symptoms. I can’t do multiple activities in one day, and visiting others is very draining due to fatigue, pain, and neurological symptoms. It feels like my body has been poisoned. My blood pressure still drops with activity, and my body has very limited tolerance.

I do my best every day as a mother, but I carry a lot of guilt over missed activities and not being the mother I once envisioned.

Whitney Goetsch sitting outside, and receiving treatment.

‘There Are Many Out There Like Me Suffering in Silence’

I was officially diagnosed in 2023 after comprehensive testing. I connected with multiple doctors in Minnesota who all confirmed late-stage Lyme disease as the underlying cause of my chronic illness. I was in tears or relief. I felt this release of every time I thought I was going insane. Deep down, I always knew something like this was the cause. Finally having confirmation was both emotional and validating.

I was also diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome, a severe allergy triggered by a tick bite. I have multiple doctors involved in my care, including a neurologist, neurosurgeon, ENT, primary care physician, and Lyme-literate providers. I am being treated for MCAS through a functional medicine doctor.

I am still doing supportive oligonucleotide therapy (SOT) for Lyme disease, but my treatment has to move slowly, and my liver also struggles to process many therapies.

Whitney Goetsch at the Lyme disease facility and with her family.

My case went undiagnosed for years, which is what ultimately led to the severity of my condition. Shortly after I was diagnosed, we also tested my mother, who had been battling fibromyalgia for years. She tested positive for Lyme disease, leading to the suspicion that I may have contracted it congenitally.

I had a healthy childhood for the most part, but I got sick easily. The tick bite in 2018 is believed to have activated a previously dormant infection, which also led to the development of alpha-gal syndrome and multiple co-infections, including Ehrlichiosis, Bartonella, Babesia and Anaplasmosis. I was like a cup that overflowed, resulting in chronic illness. It felt as though my body had reached a breaking point.

Research is ongoing, which is why I am being followed as a case study for chronic Lyme through HHS. While my history may have increased susceptibility, I don’t believe my experience is impossible or unique. I believe there are many out there like me suffering in silence, having their condition blamed on anxiety.

Our stories matter. It takes many voices to create change. If you feel something is wrong and the explanation doesn’t make sense, keep seeking answers and advocating for yourself.

Whitney Goetsch with her husband Tim and their two children.

My husband has been my biggest supporter throughout this process and has played a major role in my journey. Without him, I would not be here today. While many people warned me that chronic illness could strain or even end a marriage, he stayed. He has been my greatest advocate and one of the strongest supporters of both my healing journey and my writing career.

Around the time I was diagnosed, I began writing and illustrating books to cope with everything I was going through. That eventually led me to write my memoir about my Lyme disease journey. I also continue to write children’s books and novels, with the hope of inspiring others to persevere through the suffering.

Whitney Goetsch, 35, from South Dakota started sharing her experience on social media (@mystorymatters2) to educate others on the impact of Lyme disease. Her memoir, Waves: A Memoir of Perseverance in Battling Chronic Lyme Disease, was released in October 2024 and tells the story of her five-year battle to reach a diagnosis.

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