Hello everyone - my name is Alice and despite having a successful career in the City and great home life, I've pretty much suffered from anxiety all my adult life. Only a small handful of freinds and loved ones are aware of my condition and although I do very well at work, I have always managed to hide my anxiety well from colleagues. My day-to-day existence is great, but my anxiety is focussed on travelling - I'm terrified of trains and being stuck in a carriage and not being able to get off. It's not a great way to live as I am based in London (so busy commuting is a must), and I have to admit that I've used every excuse in the book to avoid meetings that involve crippling train journeys.
I have just moved house and now live in South London, so a 30 minute busy train journey is pretty much the only way to get into work. Following some counselling late last year, I've started to get the train into work every day with my partner, and this is my first full week of travelling. I can't begin to tell you how difficult it has been and I've found some of the physical symptoms really overwhelming, but I'm determined to keep going.
So two things:

Has anyone had any experience of continuing to expose themselves to a situation where they feel anxious, and will my anxiety start to diminish eventually? I'm scared that these feelings will last forever!

I've also been experiencing an extremely upset stomach as a result of a really bad 'anxious' build-up of acid before I take a journey. It's so bad that I'm almost doubled-up before I take a trip, and it's now making me feel more anxious as I'm nervous about not being close to a toilet in case I'm sick or similar. I'm carrying Rennie's with me, but does anyone have any advice as to how I can stop this dreadful build up of acid?

Thanks everyone, and good to know that I'm not suffering alone!

Alice