I listened to Boston’s voice for a week after that through a tailored mp3 she’d created for me. The impact was immediate, and a work Zoom call just two days after – an everyday anxiety trigger – went completely differently. Rather than waiting for my turn to speak with dread and anticipation, I felt calm and neutral. My turn came and, surprised, I switched my audio on and spoke clearly. The choke was gone.

I became curious about how far the meditations could take me. On Thursday, five days after my first hypnosis, I agreed to speak on camera during a work event. Ordinarily, my heart would have been pummelling my chest at what felt like 200bpm. I felt nerves pool in my stomach, but when the videographer motioned for me to go, my voice came out crisp and clear. I made a spontaneous joke and then another and he held back laughter in response. “This is so easy,” I thought. I was even enjoying myself.

It will take time to know whether these changes are permanent. Boston tells me there’s no need for me to listen to the recordings any longer, but I’m enjoying them as a start to my morning, much like a quick meditation. Sadly, there’s very little data on how long hypnotherapy effects can last, although many hypnotherapists themselves say the changes can last a lifetime. While it would be easy to call it a miracle cure for anxiety, the reality is not everyone will benefit from hypnotherapy. Dr David Spiegel, a hypnosis expert and professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, said about 20% of people show a “large” response to hypnosis, while 20% barely respond to it. The remaining 60% find themselves somewhere between the two. Whichever level you are at, research shows you cannot change this setting.

I remain hopeful. Nearly a week since the course finished, I’m finding myself feeling excited to further investigate my new relationship with public speaking. It feels like ordering a new gadget or toy and testing out its capabilities – equal parts fun and equal parts curiosity to tackle the unknown, which is a truly novel feeling. This in itself is life-changing. I can’t help but think Boston may have changed my life, and I wish I’d tried hypnotherapy sooner.

“My fear of public speaking controlled my life – until I tried hypnotherapy”