Hello All! Just joined the community ;)

[issy]

Hi everyone, looking forward to talking to some like minded people :) short intro.. I'm 26 year old female from UK and have been suffering with on off depression for many years, anxiety in the form of social and claustrophobia... haven't been able to cope with getting on a train, plane, some cars, buses, lift for years etc and struggle on a daily basis. I have an amazing family and support system but no one who really understands what I'm going through. Thanks for reading :) x

[Enduronman]

Well, you're at the right place then friend!!

Welcome Issy...

E-Man...:)

[issy]

Thanks E-Man. Nice to meet you :)

[Enduronman]

I can not get on a train, plane, bus or ship...so don't feel bad about that..(I have to be in control)...:)

[issy]

Thanks E-Man I have never meet anyone who understood or had the same fear thanks for sharing. I didn't know I had a problem with boats till recently, I tried to use one to avoid going under the mersey tunnel to Liverpool in a bus and though I could handle the boat better as didn't want to travel under water! but turns out the boat wasn't such a good idea :D I totally freaked out, had a panic attack and advanced my fears more. It's nice to talk to people that understand :)

[NixonRulz]

Hi, Issy

Nice for you to stop by

I'm Michael from the US

Seems most anxious types are from your side of the pond

[issy]

Hey Michael, thanks for the hello from across the pond :)

[NeverToo...Fear]

E-man ! Are you still keeping count of people's locations? You got another UK person to add! http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?24180-Um-ok-so-what-Country ;))

Er, anyways, nice to meet you, Issy.. you'll fit in well with us lovely anxious people :)

[issy]

Thanks NeverToo..Fear, glad to be apart of the community :)

[issy]

You're right .. I see what you mean about UK folks in their 20's on here. I'll add myself to the group then eh :D

[NixonRulz]

You're right .. I see what you mean about UK folks in their 20's on here. I'll add myself to the group then eh :D

That's great. Is Issy your first name? Never heard of it but we beat the British in a war a long time ago. LOL

[issy]

Haha like your style :D! Really never heard of it? It's short for Isabel.

[Enduronman]

E-man ! Are you still keeping count of people's locations? You got another UK person to add! http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?24180-Um-ok-so-what-Country ;))

Er, anyways, nice to meet you, Issy.. you'll fit in well with us lovely anxious people :)

Oh my,,,yes...I have to do a recount asap!!! Thanks NTF!!! :)

[Isabelleva]

Hi Issy, am new here and also fellow Brit in 20's! And my name also Isabelle...but obviously slightly different spelling :)

Not a fan of public transport myself, and always avoid where possible. However living in London means it's not always possible :( tubes for me are the worst, I can cope a bit better now if just people on seats...it's when all crowded :( did have an episode the other week which was awful and nearly blacked out on it. All feels a blur now but found myself sitting on train platform in the rain trying to calm myself down!

But at least we are all in it together on here though :)

[issy]

Hi Issy,

Good to meet you.

Welcome to the community.

I can't go on planes, trains, bus, or be a passenger in a car. I can drive about 15 minutes myself in my car. No long distances though! I am planning on some exposures to those in the near future.

Hi frankiecfc, great to meet you too. Sounds silly but I'm so surprised to see that people have and understand my fears about traveling, I have spent sooo long trying to explain to my loved ones about how I just can't cope with it but they just don't quite understand 'why' which makes me feel abnormal, which anyone without some form of anxiety wouldn't understand why. Thanks for sharing and look forward to keeping in touch :)

[issy]

Hi Issy, am new here and also fellow Brit in 20's! And my name also Isabelle...but obviously slightly different spelling :)

Not a fan of public transport myself, and always avoid where possible. However living in London means it's not always possible. tubes for me are the worst, I can cope a bit better now if just people on seats...it's when all crowded :( did have an episode the other week which was awful and nearly blacked out on it. All feels a blur now but found myself sitting on train platform in the rain trying to calm myself down!

But at least we are all in it together on here though :)

Hi Isabelle! I must say I like your name! lol. Oh wow you're in London too? I totally know what you mean it's so hard to get anywhere in London without the use of public transport. When I first moved to London I was fine with tubes, but my fears starting to manifest when I used to travel down to wales on the train and pass under the river severn, as first I didn't know it was an underwater tunnel until my brother told me one day.. so I started to avoid that route and take another and then I started to hate tunnels in general and trains, etc etc.
After that I stopped using tubes in London which meant longer bus journeys, and just used the bus to get everywhere, but the bus had to be pretty empty otherwise I wouldn't get on due to crowds. Then after finishing Uni everything just got worse and worse and that's where I am today.
Sorry to hear your struggles and everyone else that expresses on here, as you said at least we are all together in this, we are not alone although that's what I used to believe until I signed up here . If you ever need to talk try me :)

[em1]

Hi ya welcome :) I'm Emma I'm from uk
London to

[em1]

Erm, we English are an anxious lot. ! I think it's a big part of why I left London to come to Ireland. No traffic, no crowds etc. everything necessary on the doorstep without needing to travel etc. I hope to sometime come back to Essex so I can see my parents again. I have a ways to go yet though.

Wow that's a big move for you,how long have you been in Ireland now ?

[Cullingford]

What part of Essex do your folks live Frankie?.

[Cullingford]

OOps sorry Issy welcome and very nice to meet you. :p

[issy]

Hi Issy

It is not as uncommon as you may think. People who suffer from panic disorder often experience this as it is to do with escape. An association has been made by us to fear what we can not escape from through our panic attacks and forms of transport are high on that list! After all, we can't control where the plane or train or bus stops can we! The only way to beat it is through exposure. Bit by bit.

Frankie you know what that makes so much sense, never thought of it that way before. It's just crazy how everything escalates from one fear to the next. For example I always had a mild fear of spiders for as long as I can remember and when all my other fears came that fear became 100 times worse. I have to try and stop my mind sometimes from worrying about other things as I fear it will just become another one of my fears.. if that makes sense. It's true the only way to beat it is through exposure.
One thing I have found that has helped me a bit by going on some buses outside of London and some cars is a 'life hammer' it can break through really thick windows and just gives me that extra bit of security in my mind.

[issy]

Hi Em1 and Cullingford. Nice to meet you both, thanks for the welcome :)

[issy]

it's been handy having it but I remember one time I forgot it and freaked out as felt I didn't have the bit of security.. I guess we can come a little too reliant on things! Would love to pop over to visit Ireland one day, just the problem of getting there...lol

[Isabelleva]

Hi Issy It is not as uncommon as you may think. People who suffer from panic disorder often experience this as it is to do with escape. An association has been made by us to fear what we can not escape from through our panic attacks and forms of transport are high on that list! After all, we can't control where the plane or train or bus stops can we! The only way to beat it is through exposure. Bit by bit.

:O that does make sense...I always feel less panicky when I know of an escape route. E.g. I can go into places if I know where the key is, or a doors left open or I know the exit route. I always panic when driving and lost and I don't know the route home...! So it sort of links up in a way, I can't bare the idea of being stuck or lost lol. And for me relationships were always hard when I felt trapped and claustrophobic...I always thought it was commitment but maybe it's link to fear of no escape. That's why I've always loved riding I guess, horses being flight animals and it always gives the feeling of being 'free' :) all adding up for me now lol.

[Isabelleva]

Hi Isabelle! I must say I like your name! lol. Oh wow you're in London too? I totally know what you mean it's so hard to get anywhere in London without the use of public transport. When I first moved to London I was fine with tubes, but my fears starting to manifest when I used to travel down to wales on the train and pass under the river severn, as first I didn't know it was an underwater tunnel until my brother told me one day.. so I started to avoid that route and take another and then I started to hate tunnels in general and trains, etc etc. After that I stopped using tubes in London which meant longer bus journeys, and just used the bus to get everywhere, but the bus had to be pretty empty otherwise I wouldn't get on due to crowds. Then after finishing Uni everything just got worse and worse and that's where I am today. Sorry to hear your struggles and everyone else that expresses on here, as you said at least we are all together in this, we are not alone although that's what I used to believe until I signed up here . If you ever need to talk try me :)

I am indeed, born and bred too! So you'd think I would be used to it by now lol. I'm in North London though so it's much greener and not quite as crowded :) where did you move from? I can't say I've ever travelled to Wales by train...only ever driven and it's a long drive lol :/ I just always focus on moving towards the light and I tend to count in my head, and then next time I know roughly how long it will take so it makes it easier to pass through the tunnels :)

[issy]

I am indeed, born and bred too! So you'd think I would be used to it by now lol. I'm in North London though so it's much greener and not quite as crowded :) where did you move from? I can't say I've ever travelled to Wales by train...only ever driven and it's a long drive lol :/ I just always focus on moving towards the light and I tend to count in my head, and then next time I know roughly how long it will take so it makes it easier to pass through the tunnels :)

Cool a Londoner born and bred :) Never venture to North London much apart from Camden/regents park. I always heard it was a lot greener on the other side of the fence :D I'm close to white city. I think in a strange way the hustle and bustle of London hasn't helped my nerves, always so so busy... but in another way I like the busyness as it makes me feel less alone at times. I'm originally from West Wales (country bumpkin I know) lol and always knew I wanted to live in London. It was a change coming from a town of 12,000 to a population of millions! but that was the excitement for me, and shops were actually open on a Sunday!! haha. Do you find living in London can add to your fears too?

[sarah37]

Hi issy! I too just joined but haven't made an intro. yet...still browsing around. Welcome!