Nervousness: questions and Band 8 answers

I'd say speaking in front of large crowds definitely triggers my nerves. Whenever I have to give a presentation at university or speak up in a busy meeting, my palms get slightly sweaty and my heart starts pounding, even if I've prepared thoroughly beforehand.

I usually step away for a minute and focus on deep breathing exercises. If I'm feeling really stressed, I like to listen to some gentle instrumental music through my headphones, which almost always helps me regain my composure before tackling whatever is bothering me.

Yes, absolutely. I was quite a shy kid, so situations like the first day of the school term or taking swimming tests used to fill me with dread. My mum often had to walk me right to the classroom door to reassure me.

Definitely, I think almost everyone gets butterflies in their stomach before addressing an audience. Even experienced performers often admit that a bit of stage fright keeps them sharp, so it's completely natural rather than a sign of weakness.

It's usually a mix of excitement and apprehension. For example, when I recently attended my first bouldering session at an indoor climbing gym, I was a bit jittery at first, but once I got stuck in, the anxiety faded quite quickly.