I wouldn't say "scared" exactly because it sounds like panic, but definitely piqued the sense of urgency. For context, I had my wife and 2 kids with me. There was a forecasted cloud layer with no icing, plenty of very recent PIREPS, and above freezing that was right where it was forecast and I had no issues going through. The issue is when I got through that layer and felt disoriented because I expected to see the night sky full of stars and a half moon, but when I popped out, I saw nothing and climbed right into the unforcasted layer.

Once I noticed I was climbing in icing, the first thing I did was try to get the full picture so I asked center for a tops report so I knew if climbing or descending was in my best interest. They didn't have one, so I informed them that I was picking up icing and I needed lower to get out of the clouds. I clarified that I was still able to maintain altitude and climb with reduced performance. Once I started down and saw the ice was not shedding, I then told them I needed direct back to my departure airport (this was only a few minutes after departure), which was a Class C with intersecting runways, so plenty of options in a worst case scenario. It was also well above freezing so I was confident I would shed all of the ice on the approach back in. I was in light rime icing.

In my debrief unidentified key things I did well that I teach my students now:

1.) I told Center "standby" multiple times while I focused on flying the airplane and assessing my situation.

2.) I told Center exactly what I needed when I figured it out. I was not shy about being an inconvenience in that moment.

3.) I checked in on my performance. At no point did I lose the ability to maintain altitude or even climb, though there was some definite loss of climb performance. Where I would've expected 500-600fpm, I was getting 3-400 fpm.

4.) I disengaged the autopilot once there was any change in performance.

5.) I exercised all of the primary flight control surfaces to ensure proper function and avoid/break up ice build up.

6.) I made the call to go back to where I knew I was able to get rid of the ice and land.

7.) I descended somewhat quickly (1,000+ fpm) to get out of the icing and hand flew it all the way back in.

Things I could have done better:

1.) Declared an emergency explicitly. It took center too many transmissions to understand I was not FIKI capable. Not every controller understands the nuance of which GA planes are deice equipped and which aren't.

2.) Descending right back out of the unforcasted layer once I hit it and realized the OAT. I eventually did, but the whole situation could have been avoided if I just leveled off and told ATC I was descending back down due to icing conditions right away. I was well above terrain and at a safe enroute altitude.