I don't think you should commend my bravery, because since I'm not scared of the dentist, there is no bravery. I think you'd be much better off commending my bravery when engaging in small talk with strangers at church when encouraged to do so by the vicar. (She's very nice on the whole, and I get that church leaders need to be extrovert people persons, but she always includes an annoying bit in the service when we're supposed to turn to our neighbour and ask something utterly banal. I just cannot bear small talk. I go straight to big talk - Monty Python quotes, cults, aliens, kinky sex, arcane theology, supernatural encounters, obscure Polish film directors, etc - and most people run a mile.)