Murder accused Dunedin man Clayton Weatherston has told the jury at his murder trial about his childhood anxieties.

The 33-year-old, who claims he was provoked into killing his former girlfriend Sophie Elliott, is giving evidence at the High Court in Christchurch.

Weatherston told the court he excelled at sports and study at primary and high school, but did not like going away on school sports trip because he wet the bed.

"Bedwetting was an issue. Very infrequently but still an issue when I was 10 or 11, but frequent enough to be an issue, to have uncertainty. As well as the separation from my parents."

Weatherston said later in his schooling he often became sick around exam time and had to sit tests at a later date, because he was so anxious. He said he enjoyed the academic side of primary and secondary school and was at or near the top of his classes throughout his education.

The murder-accused told the court he first saw a psychotherapist at Otago University in 2000 and was referred to a psychiatrist who prescribed anti-depressants. He said he continued seeing a counselor when he moved to Wellington for a job at the Treasury, because of stress.

"I'd sort of settled into Wellington but the job wasn't the most satisfying. I was a little bit frustrated in the role . . . I had flatmate troubles;we had a violent flatmate, flatmates not paying."

Weatherston said his mental wellbeing took a blow from living in the capital and he eventually returned to Dunedin to begin his PhD studies.

Earlier defence counsel Greg King told the jury members they do not have to like Weatherston, but asked them to listen to him.