Firstly, I want you to set a reminder or press record on your TV for this Sunday 8:10pm on ch7.
Thank you. Now I will tell you my story.
For many of you the idea of having a stranger rifle through your personal possessions and give advice on how to handle them better is terrifying. Many of my clients can be extremely anxious before I arrive and during my visit. Dry mouth, heart palpitations, sweaty palms, the feeling of wanting to run away or have me leave – I’ve seen it all before. I don’t take it personally and even though my clients don’t always believe me, I understand. I really do.
You see most of my life I’ve had a phobia of birds.My first memories are going into the chicken coup at my grandparents hobby farm to get the eggs. I hated it when the chickens flapped about. I remember the fear growing when dealing with those wretched magpies while I walked to and from school in the spring time. The next vivid memory was going to Wilsons Promotory and feeding the rainbow lorikeets and being pranked by my brothers.
Fast forward to being a grown up, having kids and the like. My anxiety towards birds had escalated to such a state that I couldn’t go to food court alone because of the pigeons, beach outings were a nightmare with those terrifying seagulls and on really bad days a moth could set me into a full blown panic attack. It was horrible. It was embarrassing. It was crippling. My fear had taken over and controlled my thoughts and actions.
This Sunday on the Sunday Night program on Channel 7 my story will be shared – showing before, during and after a new treatment for phobias.
I would love you to watch.
I have shared my story and try this new treatment for several reasons
- to help to enlighten and educate those that don’t suffer from anxiety or phobias
- to speak for those that due to their anxiety cannot
- to show that change can happen
- And because as a psychology student I had to try it.
Like you inviting me into your home to work through your clutter issues, I invite you into my life to see another side of me. I hope it inspires you to overcome a fear, or to be patient with someone you may know who struggles with anxiety. As I write this I am both terrified and excited that my secret will be out.
So watch the show and find out how I now handle birds.