Jamesf, learn from it, and if you continue your training, and one day become a CFI, use your experience to teach your brand new private students. When I taught private pilots, before they soloed I always made sure they had at least 5 hours of ACTUAL instrument, simulated or hood work would not suffice for my sign off. There is not one pilot with a decent amount of experience who has not been scared once or twice, so don't let it end your flying if it's what you really want to do, after some experience flying in IMC will be no more difficult than flying VMC.
Good luck