Packed, hot, noisy, stuck on the line for hours somewhere between a and b - just the thought is enough to make me feel uneasy. Trains, planes, coaches.. it doesn't matter, if I can't get off, then my anxiety really kicks in big time. I'm starting this thread to talk to others who have problems with public transport like I do and have come to a point in their life where they want to pro-actively do something about it - not just talk about it, but go and do it!
I have had panic attacks on trains, coaches and planes and in the last 8-9 years have pretty much avoided public transport as much as I can, with fleeting episodes where I convince myself 'I can do it!' and then spend the whole time feeling dreadful and stressed. I'm fine on the buses around Brighton and would like to go travelling more to places around the UK, and more importantly abroad. Ultimately, I want to go to Nova Scotia to do an Anne of Green Gables pilgrimage.. and I want to get on the plane and enjoy the experience. I believe it can happen, but I need some help to get me started.
So what am I suggesting? How about a group of us start doing some journeys together? Start off small and always with a nice thing to do at the other end. A day trip to London, Eastbourne, Bournemouth.. it doesn't matter. I propose a mixture of coach journeys, trains and maybe one day, a plane trip, perhaps to Scotland for the night or something... I don't know where this can go, but I personally feel with some support of people that understand how I feel, plus the opportunity to help others who feel the same, will help me in return and I can one day fulfil my dreams of visiting all the places I have always wanted to.
Any thoughts, comments, ideas appreciated xx
