Last week, I had the privilege of meeting some students in a local school. This time it wasn’t to tell stories, but to talk about my job as a storyteller.

I was just one of many doing this, for there were all types of occupations represented, giving the children the chance to find out about the world of work.

After I’d given my talk on how I became a storyteller and what it involved, the students asked lots of different questions.

One of them was: “I suffer from anxiety, so do you think it would be possible for me to be a storyteller?”

I felt the question was honest and important. I explained that I also suffered from anxiety and always felt exceptionally anxious before any storytelling session.

When I was then asked how I managed to overcome that anxiety, I gave a brief reply.

“When I feel that way, I tell myself a story.”

I didn’t have time to elaborate on this, and besides, it wasn’t the appropriate place or time to do so. But the question raised an issue which is such a vital one for so many of us, especially our young people.

It’s clear from research that levels of anxiety have increased dramatically since the Covid lockdowns, and that has been my experience also.

I luckily never really suffered from anxiety before Covid. Of course, I’d get nervous or worried about certain events or issues, but that’s to be expected.

Few people go through exams, or a wedding or challenging financial situation, without a degree of worry and anxiety.

That’s “normal anxiety” and the worry subsides after the event or issue is addressed.

But when anxiety becomes a constant state, it’s different. It embeds itself into your being and can become debilitating.

There are many ways that anxiety can manifest itself but for me it’s a horrible, constant gnawing that seems to eat away at my insides.

Most of the time I don’t even know what I’m supposed to be worried about, but my body feels awash with adrenaline and cortisol, as if a sabre-toothed tiger was about to attack me at any moment.

That sounds dramatic, but it’s how it feels.

And when it’s bad it doesn’t go away, not even in sleep, as the anxiety often haunts my dreams, and I wake with a racing heart, which keeps me awake and so sleep deprivation makes it worse.

I do my best to live my philosophy of living every day with as much joy as possible.

I regularly remind myself I’m “rich as rich can be”, with an amazing family and a job I love, I am living in a beautiful part of the world and know how to enjoy nature and the gifts of simple things.

But the anxiety is like a demon who does its best to destroy that joy.

I’m aware there are different strategies which can help. But alongside the increase in the numbers of people experiencing anxiety, there has been a decrease in the ability to get this support.

Overworked staff in schools and mental health organisations do their best, and often work wonders in individual cases. But the sad truth is that so many people are left without the support and help they need. That includes our young people.

School and growing up is hard enough for most, with the added impact these days of social media.

But add the hugely increased levels of chronic and acute anxiety to that, and we begin to understand that mental health should be the number one priority in every school. After all, learning doesn’t happen when your body constantly thinks a sabre-toothed tiger is about to attack you.

That’s why the question from that student was so honest and important.

Anxiety is nothing to be ashamed of, and acknowledging it allows us to name it, understand it, and find ways to cope with it.

Different strategies will work for different people. But my reply that I tell myself a story wasn’t flippant. It’s exactly what I do, and, for me, it works.

The stories I use remind me of my resilience and how I have overcome other situations in which anxiety had threatened to derail me.

The stories empower me, and while they may not completely eradicate anxiety, they help me cope with it.

For the time being, anxiety remains my unwanted companion, as it does for so many of us, including our children. Mental health is the horse that needs to be put before the cart of learning.

That’s why that student’s question was so important.

If anxiety is affecting your daily life, contact your GP; they can help and offer advice.