While thinking of some of the scariest times of my life, I thought about what I had overcome. I had overcome different challenges, and I have encountered moments where I didn’t know what to do. I have suffered from mental health problems and the loss of close friends and family, but this is what scared me the most.

I have encountered it many times in my life, with this year being no exception, the same fear I have had so many times before.

What is the scariest time of my life?

Let’s start from the beginning. I went to university and loved it, a new city, new friends and a new life. While I have always been independent, the university gave me the chance to build my future. I studied for three years, working at the same time to finally graduate.

When coming to the end of my course, my part-time job position was made redundant but was hoping to find a career based on my degree. I applied for everything, with only four weeks until I had to move from my student house, fear started to grow.

Most of my friends had planned to move back home now, but this wasn’t an option for me. I could not claim any financial support as was still a student; I had no employment, little money left and was about to have nowhere to live.

I felt alone and isolated; I didn’t know what I was going to do or where I was going to go. I began selling everything I owned until I finally had nothing left. I made just under £100 which I knew would not get me far, but I knew it could get me a train ticket if I could find someone to stay with.

It was the final few days before I had to move out, I had been sleeping on the floor, living on one packet of 8p noodles a day, making sure to maximise my money. I didn’t hear back from any jobs at this time, some friends could put me up for a couple of days but what was I going to do after that.

I remember feeling so depressed, I had failed to make it on my own, and was ready to breakdown emotionally. I took a walk and bumped into someone I met at the start of my university experience. We had a coffee and talk about what we are doing now. I had put on a strong front that I had everything under control but finally broke down. I was scared, alone and didn’t know what to do.

My friend listened, and even though we barely knew each other at the time, offered me their sofa in their house until I got back on my feet. I stayed with them for six months, sleeping on a hard two-seater sofa in the kitchen. While it wasn’t comfy, I remember the first night sleeping on it as the best sleep I ever had, for the first time I was no longer scared, I felt safe.

I managed to get back on my feet within a couple of weeks of staying on the sofa, working four jobs to get a place of my own. A couple of years later I found out the same friend was going through the same experience after finishing university and was able to return the support they gave me.

What I found most scary was being alone, having no options ahead of me, being trapped in a situation and not seeing a way out. I thought it was about money at first, which plays a factor, but knowing you have support from friends and people around you can open doors of opportunities.

Have you had similar scary moments? What are the scariest moments of your life? Have you helped someone in this situation? What would you have done in my situation? #TellYourStory