WEEK IN THE LIFE: Going back to uni, feeling super anxious | #31  

You speak so well, anxiety aside, you’d be a great public speaker! 😊

You did so well. Anxiety sucks. It can only get better from here x

I've suffered from panic attacks most of my adult life, its exhausting! The ridiculous thing is that I started my own company that required me to do a lot of public speaking. I still remember my first big engagement, an auditorium at a convention center with an audience of about 300 (to me it seemed like 3,000) and I was being introduced and had a full blown panic attack. My vision was distorted, I was hyperventilating, you get the picture I'm sure. And I completely forgot my practiced speech. So I said "Hi, I'm Lia and I'm an alcoholic..." the room went dead and then someone, roared laughing and set the whole room off. It really helped. From then on I just focused on nailing the first sentence of a speech, not to be funny or clever, just a great sentence that would engage the audience and from that point on it would become easier. So that's my advice, nail the first sentence. For every other panic inducing situation I think of Monty Python's adage "It could be worse". If I feel exposed, trapped, vulnerable in some way I think of how it would be worse and it helps stop the hyperventilating. Sorry for the long comment, I don't usually do them, but I hope it helps x

39 here.... sending you love and support for starting school, having never gone myself.

Seriously Kaitlyn well done I also have bad anxiety and I know how much nerve that took! Be proud 👏 ❤ x

So so well done Kaitlyn. I really felt for you but, you did it. Well done girly. xx

Well done for your first week! Sounds interesting. Xx

So very proud of you Kaitlyn. This is so good for you. Also, how good is it that you are making friends with some neighbours? Well done! Take care Lovely. 💌💐🐨

Well done kaitlyn so proud of you

I went back at 48. It’s a good thing. Can be exhausting. You will be fine. Take it moment by moment. At 65 some universities offer courses free to sit in and learn. If you are looking for something to do to stimulate the mind consider that.

Wow ..... i feel you have done so well. Do you have social anxiety at all ? I find it really difficult to be around people , feel like they laughing at how i look, things i say etc.... then i get all hot and sweaty and then feel even more embarrassed. It stops me doing sooooo much so well dun u. Massive achievement. Hope you can stick with it 😊😊

I am exactly like you Kaitlyn, and I think that you are amazing that you have taken the bull by the horns, and just gone ahead and done it! You have started your course, and you got through that first day. You ever enjoyed the lectures. Have you told your lovely lectures your fears and issues, as at least if they are aware of them, they will know what to do if you were to faint - to tell folk to leave you alone? Also, to understand that you need to be near an exit, and if you have to do a presentation, how you are going to cope with that. Maybe you could put things into pictures, and a screen, so you do not have to stand up in front of people, you could be sitting down, and the people would be watching the screen, and not you? I can not eat before I have to do something, even meeting a friend in the field by me, to let out dogs have a zoomie. I am drinking too much g & ts just to get through my day, and only go out to walk my dog. I got to the point that if I went out in my car, I would be chocking after about 10 mins and then had to stop and be sick, so I gave up the car. I can not go with other folk in their car, as I have to be the driver! I am a person who needs to feel in control to feel safe, yet I do not feel in control at all most of the time! You have taken control, and gone and done something really worth while, and I take my hat off to you. xxx