Businessman tells how he defeated anxiety - with a simple walk around London

A businessman who suffers from anxiety today tells how he overcame his condition when he forced himself to explore the city alone while on a business trip in the capital.

Robert Martin, 31, wishes to share his story in order to encourage others who might feel nervous going to new places to feel more assured in doing so.

While the day of tourism might seem "not much to some" he wrote on a travel forum, he said it was a very rewarding experience for him.

Mr Martin, who works as a financial analyst in Virginia, told the Standard: “Previously I had booked two trips, one to Brazil and the other to Costa Rica, both of which were cancelled out of fear.

“The anxiety is driven by the fear of the unknown combined with a lack of exposure to the real world.”

He said that ahead of a trip he ruminates on concerns such as getting lost, misplacing his passport or being a victim of crime.

“Another factor is that I have Asperger's Syndrome, so these thoughts tend to be amplified and accompanied by a fair amount of distress,” he said.

During his upbringing, going on trips was also not a common activity, and Mr Martin said his family was "sheltering".

However, during his trip on between October 3 and October 6, he decided to break passed his concerns, rather than just stay in his hotel and only go out for work duties.

With this, he fell in love with the city in what he called a “liberating” experience.

“It felt liberating and there was an immense amount of pride. I almost didn't go out. I was going to stay snugly in my hotel room and just enjoy being in a different area. To put it simply, I felt like a kid in a candy store with the world being full of possibilities,” he said, before explaining his adoration of the city.

“I absolutely fell in love with it. A city with a combination of deeply rooted history dating back to Caesar, niche little restaurants, and stunning architecture and scenery creates for a unique experience all its own.”

Now, having conquered his anxiety, he hopes to inspire others to do the same.

Giving his advice to others in his situation, Mr Martin said: “The best way I've found to break through this feeling of fear is to not think, but to just do. The longer we think the more opportunities we allow to talk ourselves out of something that could end up being one of the most memorable experiences of our lives.

“Each time this plateau is broken a little more confidence is gained, which, in turn, leads to our anxious little baby steps becoming strides of self-assuredness.”

Now, with his new found confidence, he intends to travel more with his partner of three years Monica.

They are looking at destinations in Europe as well as considering places such as Japan or Vietnam.

Harking back to his fondness of London, he said: “I would come back in a heartbeat, especially to bring my spouse to see Covent Garden, Soho, and St. James Park.”