Before Coaching
– I felt trapped every morning, as if I couldn’t escape the thought of going to school.
– I struggled with getting out of bed, walking into lessons, and focusing once I was there.
– I wished I could explain what was bothering me instead of staying silent and missing classes.
Neuroscience insight: When you’re anxious all the time, it’s like your brain’s alarm bell keeps ringing, so you can’t concentrate and it’s much harder to think clearly or plan what to do next.
Why Coaching?
– I wanted help understanding why I kept refusing school and how to face it without panicking.
– Friends, family and teachers offered advice and counselling, but I needed a safe space to open up on my own terms.
– I heard about Unmask Your Potential through my dad’s friend and hoped for practical tools to create lasting change.
Neuroscience insight: When you feel safe and supported by your coach, your brain pumps out extra oxytocin—a feel-good hormone that quietens your panic centre and makes it easier for you to learn new things.
Your Coaching Journey
A practice I loved was the two-minute timer hack: whenever a task felt overwhelming, I’d set my phone timer for just two minutes and promise myself a break when it rang. Almost every time, I’d keep going past those first two minutes—and suddenly I’d finished the work without feeling trapped.
A “wow” moment happened when I volunteered as the timekeeper in our class debate. Using my watch, I kept speakers to 90 seconds, sharpening everyone’s focus. My teacher praised how smoothly I managed the timing—and I realised I could use structure to tame anxiety.
Big Wins
– I now feel more in control of my school day and less trapped by my own worries.
– I started attending three lessons a week, then gradually added more until I was back full-time.
– I joined the drama club and volunteered for a small part in our school play.
– I’ve built a habit of journaling one success each evening—no matter how small.
Neuroscience insight: Repeating successes rewires synaptic connections in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, making calm focus more automatic over time.
How I’ve Grown
– I tackle challenges by breaking them into tiny steps (“today I’ll just walk in, tomorrow I’ll raise my hand”).
– My relationships with teachers improved—I can now ask for help instead of hiding.
– Sharing my story in drama class revealed I’m not alone; that connection reinforced my sense of belonging.
Neuroscience insight: Breaking tasks into tiny, manageable steps is like giving your brain’s control centre a gentle workout. Each small success helps rewire your neural pathways, so you naturally swap unhelpful, negative thoughts for more positive, can-do thinking over time.
Advice for Other Young People
– If you feel stuck or terrified to even go through the school gates, coaching can guide you to understand and overcome that fear.
– Be honest—even if sharing feels awkward, your coach’s job is to listen, not judge.
– Remember: asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
Neuroscience insight: When you talk your fears out loud, you’re using the parts of your brain that handle language and thinking. That helps you look at your worries in a new way, so they don’t feel as overwhelming.
Testimonial
“Coaching with Helen helped me find the courage to face each school day one step at a time.”