Do you get anxious in a train?

[MyGiddyAunt1]

I’m really struggling- I’ve struggled with anxiety halfway through my married life. I’m trying my best to manage this and do the normal activities with my daughter. However I’m really struggling to travel be train- not the train per se it’s more when the train enters a tunnel. I feel like I cannot breath and get all panicky. I was able to manage this when the trains were of the old rolling stock where you can open a window- but the new ones feels like I’m sealed shut and terrified thinking that the trains will stop inside a tunnel and I’ll run out of air.

No, I've never felt like that

I don't get anxiety so much actually ON the train, I'm more relieved I've gotten on the right one!

My anxiety comes before the train journey, the different platforms, signs, people in yellow jackets checking tickets, ticket barriers not opening, endless shakes, the 'changes'. To be honest I don't travel alone on trains now because of it.

Just remember that trains have hammers to break the windows in emergency, so IF you ended up trapped in a tunnel with no air, that's what you and others would be doing to get air.

Endless stairs I meant!

Please get professional help.
Not normal behaviour and needs investigated and treated before gets even worse.

I used to feel a bit like that doing road trips though Switzerland and lower Germany/Austria when I was a child. Twice each summer as we had to visit relatives. One tunnel there is 8 kilometres long - at reduced speed, so about 10 minutes total. It helped counting the km signs which told you how much longer until you were out. I also discovered that reading or watching a movie during that time helped and I'd get distracted.

I don't get anxious at all anymore, but still find reading or watching something very effective when I need distracting.

I live with an anxiety disorder but find trains make me feel calm and relaxed.
I think it's the noises and the motion.
However, in a car I'm very anxious.

Can I ask if you are able to travel on an aeroplane ?

I am the same - hate the new electric operated doors and you can’t open the windows! Last time I went on a train was 3 years ago - I travel by car or bus - don’t want to risk having a panic attack! I have tried counselling but didn’t resolve it for me - I also have the same phobia about planes haven’t flown for 24 years!

@shinynewapple22 no I’m not- I’m actually considering getting some medication

I’ve tried cbt but I don’t think it’s working for me. My family is in a different country and I’m petrified that I’ll be ‘stuck’ in the Uk because if this.

im slowly getting myself out of the Covid anxiety and going into crowded places etc. But the claustrophobia seems to have a hard grip on me-

trains it’s running out of air

planes I’m convinced will be a terrorist arrack or a crash coupled with claustrophobia

I’ve been crying myself to sleep the past few nights as I feel I’ll never be able to shake this.

I don't think saying it's not 'normal' to OP is very helpful. Anxiety is very common and takes different forms.

I used to be the same OP; packed London tube travelling to work/packed buses/aeroplanes (I'd have to drink alcohol on flights to get there) would cause major anxiety and sometimes panic attacks. When it started to happen during work meetings I finally saw a doctor about it, there are so many ways to tackle it. I got it sorted in the end with a combination of medication and CBT. It wasn't antidepressants either which I didn't want but everyone's different.

Please see your doctor - they see people in your situation all the time so don't worry about that - best of luck.

Sorry cross posted there OP!

I would recommend persevering with the CBT, have you been doing it for long?

I get anxious but not about the actual trains, it’s the people that scare me and the potential to end up anywhere because I don’t really know my way around. I have CBT though and it’s helped loads, I still get anxious but not enough to stop me travelling. Have you tried any sort of therapy @MyGiddyAunt1 ?

Sorry, cross posted. I would look at a different type of therapy or persevere with CBT. What you’re going through sounds so hard, I hope you get some help.

@BeggyMitchell thank you. I don’t want to take anti depressants- if there are other options I’ll explore those.

im used to people not understanding and calling it as ‘abnormal’ etc.

Yes, I've felt like that in the past. I had a traumatic experience (assault - I was trapped) and it set me off. I think if you're susceptible, it just takes something to set it off and that's it - panic attacks. I used to travel on the tube a lot and was fine but then suddenly wasn't. I went to a job interview by tube and I was in such a state when I got there that I told them the train stopped in the tunnel, but it hadn't for more than a few seconds (normal). I'm claustrophobic in lifts as well.

There are two very short tunnels on my local train route into town and familiarity has made it so that I really don't notice any more. I think I'd be OK if it stopped for a minute. DH actually is the same, but he won't go on a train, plane, bus etc even though he used to in the past.

Anyway. So I would suggest starting on short trips without tunnels, and gradually building up. You do not have to do anything you don't want to! Just don't do it! You might find that a hypnotism session might help you. There was a time when I couldn't go in a plane but I can do that now too, but might struggle if shut in for more than a couple of hours. But yes, there is hope!

Do you travel on South West trains? I have just travelled home on one and it was so stuffy and unpleasant.

I don't suffer from anxiety on trains except on a really bad day, but I do get it on most other forms of transport. I read somewhere that most people who suffer transport phobias also get very badly travel sick (I do). Essentially your brain overreacts to physical discomfort (too hot/cold/stuffy/wobbly/noisy) and you experience it as fear. Then your conscious brain lets you come up with all sorts of horror stories to go alongside the anxiety.

I find the most effective way to combat it is NOT to rationalise it away (it's not helpful to say xyz safety features are installed or abc event is rare because you're still fuelling the stories your brain tells you). Instead, focus on the physical discomfort that is the trigger. Try and make it better if you can (fan, cold drink, sweets or whatever makes you feel good). Concentrate on making yourself as comfortable as possible. Don't think about what happens if the train stops in the tunnel etc etc. It's NOT real it's just you feel uncomfortable.

It's a shame you've had to get used to that. I think things are changing now though and more people are becoming aware of how conditions like anxiety can affect a person.

Do you think you'll make an appointment then, to see your doctor again?

No, but go and see your GP as this is anxiety. You likely need some CBT to reframe your thinking.

in the meantime buy or borrow a book about how to manage anxiety. You obviously know there is plenty of oxygen in train tunnels, and doing some work on countering your irrational fears will help.

.. CBT is cognitive behavioural therapy. It will help you reframe your thinking

I also tried CBT didn’t work for me -everyone reacts different though to CBT - worth a go -

No doesn't bother me at all. Only thing I do t like about tunnels on a train is my ears going funny with the pressure sometimes if someone has a window open!

If you only feel like this when travelling then you could ask your GP to prescribe diazepam just for your journey . I have this for flying . I am normally perfectly fine with train travel and enjoy it - but don't think I like the idea of the channel tunnel .