How I faced my biggest (professional) fear

and the surprising realisation that followed...

It was the summer before I was due to start university, I’d just returned from six months in India and Thailand and I was anxious.

My biggest fear?

Having to talk in front of my class, and do presentations.

My mum bought me the book ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’ and a CBT workbook.

Both were incredibly helpful and validating.

But I needed more support.

So I booked in for a hypnotherapy appointment in Covent Garden, in the Oasis leisure centre.

My (then) boyfriend wanted to know why I needed hypnotherapy and I tentatively explained my fear and anxiety to him but he didn’t get it.

There was no obvious trauma, so he thought I should just get on with it.

I felt embarrassed to be so scared and wished I hadn’t told him.

Too late, I had.