Woman, 26, who has chosen to die by euthanasia reveals what 'terrifies' her more than dying

Warning: This article contains discussion of assisted dying which some readers may find distressing.

A 26-year-old chronically ill Australian woman has explained how she became 'more at peace with dying than surviving'.

Annaliese Holland is confronting a reality few people her age could imagine, knowing that she will die within a matter of months.

This is because she has been approved for voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in South Australia, after years of living with a rare and debilitating autoimmune condition.

Holland was diagnosed with Autoimmune Autonomic Ganglionopathy (AAG) at the age of just 18, which causes the immune system to attack the nervous system, leaving her in severe pain, with persistent vomiting and serious complications.

Much of her life is now spent in bed or on a sofa, sometimes up to 17 hours a day, and she is unable to eat or drink in the usual way, receiving her nutrition intravenously.

She will soon need to have her teeth removed as her jaw is gradually dissolving.

She has since opened up about how she was once opposed to assisted dying, but now says her experiences of living with chronic illness have changed her views on the right to decide how life ends.

In a new interview, she has revealed what 'terrifies' her more than dying - and that it is the thought of living another five years with her debilitating condition.

Speaking to radio host Emma Georgiadis, she said: "If I think about surviving another five years now, that terrifies me more than dying.

"I'm going to die anyway, and if anyone knows that process or watched anyone go through that, it's not like the movies. You don't shut your eyes and it just happens. It's horrible.

"Having control and autonomy over my body is so important, and if I can't change my illness, I can choose the way it gets me.

"I got sick last year and had sepsis and almost died, and I remember feeling more at peace with dying than surviving."

She continued: "I think I haven't been able to control much in my life with my illness, and I feel like it's the only thing I have control over, to be able to do it my way, my terms, and comfortably.

"We don't have enough time. Like, it's never enough time."

Previously, she revealed that she has chosen the date she will die, but has chosen not to share it to protect her family.

"I went through this with one of my gorgeous friends, and I saw the outcome of what happens when the public knows, it was messy," she recalled to ABC News, adding that she wants to save her family any unnecessary pain.

For advice, support, and more information, you can contact the nurse-led specialist team at Compassion in Dying via their helpline 0800 999 2434. You can also email them at [email protected].

Additionally, if you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.