Fear of NYC Subway, and I live here!! Help!!!!!

[iurod]

Hi,

So I live in NYC (13 years now), for the past 6 years I have developed a fear of the NYC subway system. To the point that i haven't taken it in forever. As soon as I get in there panic strikes.

Has anyone from NYC ever felt this and gotten over this? Anyone experience the same situation? If so, any advice would be greatly appreciated, I'm desperate to kick this fear.

My wallet and Uber bill is killing me.

Regards,

[derp]

If it helps, I'm afraid of the NYC subway and I've never even been north of Vegas.

Sometimes my agoraphobia gets bad enough to where I become afraid of driving the same routes that I'll have taken for years. When it gets that bad, I find that a bit of self-exposure therapy helps. Make the trek anyway. Plan to get on the train and go to some far away destination, but be prepared to take it one stop at a time. If you make it to that first stop and feel up to it, go for another. If it's too much and you have to get off and return, don't beat yourself up over it: You rode the subway further than you did yesterday and the next day, just know that you'll do even better. The trick is if you have to give up, DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP. You absolutely have to stay positive no matter how bad it gets. Remind yourself that you can't let panic win.

[Kirk]

I am afraid to ride the subway here in Baltimore also and therefore never have ridden the subway and if I can help it, never will.

[Zena]

The subway is definitely NOT my preferred mode of transportation. I would say to just really try to keep the destination in mind like "this vehicle will get me from point A to point B and once I get to point B, the trip will have been worth it. Just passing through...this isn't permanent. I will be where I want to be soon enough." Focus on where you're headed and not the process of getting there so much. That's at least how I would try to handle it.

[Kirk]

I am afraid of the Subway here in Baltimore due to the crime potential.

[iurod]

My fear is getting stuck and not having an escape. Or more so, having a panic attack on the subway and people noticing and thinking I'm crazy. Derp I really like your thought process and I'm definitely going to give the one spot at a time approach a try.