CLAIRE EASTHAM

30, AUTHOR

‘Social anxiety is a bully. She tells me I’m an embarrassment; that I should hide rather than seek out the things I want from the world.

I had my first panic attack at school. My symptoms lessened at university but came back with a vengeance when I got a job in publishing. Raised to think whining gets you nowhere, I kept quiet – until I pushed myself to breaking point.

Within minutes of explaining my symptoms to my GP, he diagnosed social anxiety disorder. I was signed off work, put on antidepressants, and given CBT to disrupt the negative thoughts.

I thought asking for help meant I’d lose everything.

But it changed my life for the better. Colleagues were happy to have me back; friends rallied round; and the man I’d feared would run a mile married me.’