Table 2.

Illustrative quotes from the participant subgroups (N=20).

Subgroup	Participants, n (%)	Illustrative quotes
Big changes	4 (20)	“It’s very different now, I can open my curtains and look out my window, I can go out to local shops and places, I can meet up with friends and family, I can do such a lot more.” [Participant 27] “Before I would never do that, ever. But I did that and I was talking to new people and I was having a great time. It’s just being in social situations instead of hiding from them, I’m just trying to embrace them.” [Participant 8]
Better ways to cope	9 (45)	“It definitely helped with anxiety. I still suffer from some of the things I did, well, all of the things I did before, but it’s definitely, definitely helped it in some way.” [Participant 3] “Before I’m just looking at the floor wherever I’m going but now I’m looking at everyone, like, in their eyes and stuff. Even though I’m still too scared to go to the supermarket on my own, I have been able to walk past it on my own, like walk up there and past it, whereas before I wouldn’t have been able to do that. I’ve been in small shops on my own and the bus, I can do that on my own now without worrying.” [Participant 25]
Hard to say or hard to hang onto	5 (25)	“Now because my mood is quite good, I’m thinking, ‘Yeah, actually. I did take away stuff.’ But when I’m really anxious, like I have been really anxious over the last couple of weeks...and then I’m like, I haven’t learnt anything.” [Participant 17] “I mean I wasn’t too bad with a lot of the situations anyway, so I don’t know if I’ve taken a lot from it, but I’d like to think I have but I’m not entirely sure. I’m not entirely sure if it’s had any massively notable impact on me.” [Participant 13]
Struggling on	2 (10)	“It has not really made a magical difference for me, unfortunately, but I can see how it can be very helpful. I think I’m just too entrenched in my avoidance little bubble, that it wasn’t strong enough to pull me out of it. It’s just the same.” [Participant 19] “Like, I say, still go to cafes, still get on the bus, go shopping. I didn’t go food shopping yesterday. I was really, really anxious yesterday in town with the boys. I couldn’t do my food shopping. My body wouldn’t let me do it. My mind affects my body.” [Participant 26]