A lot of older people laugh about things that used to terrify them. That’s what time can do for you too.

Fear is specific to the stage you are in, and most of it does not survive that stage ending. Adults laughing about a test, a rejection or a public humiliation are not being dismissive. They have simply watched the thing lose its power over them completely. Time does that to nearly everything frightening you right now.

Ask somebody older what terrified them at your age and how it turned out. One concrete example does more for your own fear than any amount of being told not to worry.