MY ANXIETY MADE ME A BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Christi Daugherty, 46, found solace in writing when her panic attacks peaked

- FRANCESCA WOODSTOCK

Sitting in the Prime Minister’s office at No.10 Downing Street, my palms began sweating and my chest tightened. ‘Breathe,’ I reminded myself, trying to relax.

I watched as politicians disappeared down a staircase, through a mysterious side door, and I let my imagination run wild, conjuring up images of them in meetings in underground vaults, only accessible via a secret tunnel. Snapping back to reality, I realised my anxiety had subsided, and I continued with the job in hand – working as a communications consultant for the Home Office in London.

A SHY CHILD

It was 2009, and although it was a stressful job, I found the world of politics fascinating.