SORRY THAT THERE ARE SPACES IN BETWEEN WORDS AND PARAGRAPHS; IT'S COPIED AND PASTED.
Everyday, I experience an annoying tickle in my throat that causes me to cough (this is psychological). It often happens when stress is building up (i.e. I might have to face sitting exams) or due to what could bedeemed anxiety - although I don't think I suffer every symptom of it. I have completed my GCSE examinations, finished Year 11 (thelast academic year for compulsory education). However, because of my frequentcoughing, I was unable to complete Year 11 entirely - for the first time ever,my attendance fell below 98%; I estimate for this year I attended school foraround 87% of the time. I missed most of my school between the 10th March and13th May - beyond the latter date, I had exams which eventually finished on the17th June. Potentially, the absences could have impacted on my exam results.Everyday during these exams, before and during them, I was coughing veryfrequently. Also, I feel as though I have been affected socially. AfterGCSE exams we all get given around 10 weeks off. I have been invited by some ofmy friends to play football but I am unable to do so because I don't feelcomfortable using public transport (I use the bus). I made use of the bus forschool and I was fairly comfortable until I started coughing every singlemorning on the way there. I started to feel nervous everyday in the build up toschool and felt socially drained when I got home. Furthermore, this led me tobeing afraid to going back the next day. The coughing problem seemed to induceanxiety on my part as people began to notice and wonder why I was clearing mythroat every few seconds. Back in November, I started to experience exaggeratedstartle responses as I became more and more socially uncomfortable in publicand at school. For instance, I might be walking down the corridor and someonemay appear out of the blue causing me to jump. I became increasinglyuncomfortable walking the short distance home from the bus stop because I havestartled due to suddenly loud noises. I think the problems stated above are quite concerning. Ihave GCSE Results Day on the 25th August and I'll become extremely nervous. Onthe 2nd September is the first day of Sixth Form. I don't want to drop out ofSixth Form and not pass any A-levels.