i read your chapter nine. i've never used therapy or drugs to overcome my serious fears.

i was born in 1943 to very poor parents and learned early that not doing what you needed to do was probably going to affect you in a not so pleasant way. i.e. you the bulld that you were afraid of..... you rode the horse that bucked you off occasionally or ran off with you...you looked for strays where you knew there were bears..then being too fearful to ride the schoolbus with the lecherous driver meant you didn't get to school and you couldn't have a perfect attendance. (you didn't tell that sort of thing then to an adult)

as an adult, i just continued trudging down that path and faced off whatever i had to. the first time i went on a major, major photography assignment i was so scared that i couldn't talk....but the creative side of me was the stronger side. so i stayed and got the job done. the first time i camped in 20,000 acres (with only my dogs) i was so scared i couldn't sleep. but i wanted those photographs more than i wanted the sleep.

i've been in charge of patients that i was fearful of, but never let it show.

but......i do have "anxiety attacks" over meaningless, to me, small things. i occasionally take a med for it and meditate and play ALOT of music. (did i pay that bill or take that book back or something minor and i build it into a "bigger" issue for awhile.)

but as far as letting a big fear get the best of my work, i wasn't given that choice as a child and i've never taken it was an adult.

i don't know if this interests you, but it's how i've dealt with fear all of my life. i've turned in portfolios, interviewed subjects and fell flat on my face. but there's a part of me that gets back on the horse.