Does anyone else feel really uncomfortable about travelling on the underground?

[HashtagBlessedHashtagGrateful]

It makes me feel really uneasy, a bit like seeing holes in things makes me feel weird. The thought of being so far underground in a small dark tunnel in a fast moving train that may stop at any minute, or equally being above ground and feeling the ground shake while a tube train goes under where I'm standing. Sitting on an platform with a dark empty tunnel either end <shudders>
I'm working on it because I really want to travel around London - but I just feel so uncomfortable about it!

No not at all

I just want to say that I HATE using the tube. Not only the difficulties you mention, but what if I need to pee?
But I developed claustrophobia to the point where I'd panic in a large supermarket.
@NPET and @DuckieDodgyHedgyPiggy Yes!
I grew up in the London suburbs and used to spend lots of time travelling around London on the tube until one time I was on a tube that got stuck in a tunnel due to signal failure and this is why I hate the tube now. I hear both of you. I'm working on getting better but it's tough!

My mother had claustrophobia and wouldn't travel on it when we visited London, or use lifts anywhere. I have always enjoyed it, especially the looooong escalators.

However it's hopeless for learning about London's geography - how the various streets actually connect together, so walking anywhere I am always consulting a map.

(nb. Seeing an actual map of the Underground rather than Beck's diagram is quite a shock)

I'm not a fan but I just take a deep breath and crack on with it.

I find standing by the door and looking out of the window helps. Oddly I am perfectly fine with the Eurostar.

I'm not a fan of the it when it's underground, it makes me feel travel sick.

Luckily, DH is an East Londoner so most of the time we can get the DLR to where we are going.

I've always hated it...claustrophobic and feeling out of control if it stops in tunnel etc. Got worse after attacks even though I know risk to me personally going forward is tiny.

It's probably the best example of how anxiety limits my life actually, and is something I need to address. On paper the tube is great!

I used to visit London once a week for work but since changing jobs (unrelated to this) I don't need to do that anymore. I live close enough to visit for pleasure but tend to avoid. Its not like anyone would notice this about me IRL particularly...I live a decent life and don't need to go there...but my world is definitely smaller than it should be.

Sorry OP...that was all a bit deeper than you meant it to be!

I think it's best not to think about where you are. The rush hour can be unbearable but otherwise I'm OK. Just like on a plane I never ponder how that great heavy thing stays in the sky.

I walk anywhere in London that is a reasonable distance. By the time you have gone up and down the escalators and walked to the correct line, it's often not much longer.

I don't feel like this but toally understand those who do.

When I’m on stairs, I never think too hard about there being nothing underneath them.

Oh, I perfectly understand and share your aversion! You're definitely not alone.

ETA: what about elevators? I hate them too. I might be claustrophobic too...

I hate the deep level tubes. I travel as far as possible on the Met, District and Circle. These lines are just under the surface, just a few steps down from the road and often have skylights on the platforms. As they are not in 'tubes' the platforms are often double like overground stations so not claustrophobic. The lines are wider and the carriages are wider.

It is tough. I was like that for a few years but I'm pretty much back to normal now. If you have eg an inherited disposition towards it, it only takes one incident like you describe to set it off. Mine happened in some caves - was fine before that. My grandad was the same, I'm told.
If you can get hold of the Paul McKenna hypnosis CD I'd recommend it. I did the Fear of Flying one because I couldn't find a claustrophobia one. But he basically rewires your brain to tell you how safe and secure you feel in those situations.

Doesn't bother me. I rarely travel by tube but mostly find it boring unless I am visiting my friend near Ruislip when we are overground most of the time and I can look into people's gardens!!!

I was a little concerned a while back when listening to Radio 4 when an underground worker commented on the noises (very screechy) and said you should not hear that!!

Yes I can imagine it now! Being stuck in a tunnel and needing to pee! I'd crawl into a corner and squat - trouble is I wouldn't be able to. There'd be people everywhere!

I'm terrified of the tube. Haven't used it in years.
Well, once last year and both me and my elderly mum nearly fell on the escalator and I kept feeling like I was going to fall on the tracks. It was really quite upsetting and exhausting as it was a long journey.

I'm always really scared when it's busy that I'll get jostled, knocked over, or worse, SAd or robbed.

I saw a guy committing suicide in front of a train when I was about 5 which probably doesn't help.

I really appreciated your post. I feel like the OP. My office is in London and mostly I drive in because I worry that I'll leave my laptop/bag and/or lose them. In reality I most probably wouldn't but I think it's my fear of the underground speaking.

I'm considering trying it for my next trip, thanks!

No, I love it, and it's the most efficient way to get around London.

I hate it. I spend the whole time thinking about 7/7 and how petrifying it must have been for people. I also find the speed of people getting on the escalators difficult.

I don’t live in London though so I assume with daily use I’d get over it.

No it doesn’t bother me at all. I quite like the tube, it’s so quick and handy.
I often find the ones who go on about how awful it is usually don’t actually live in London and rarely get the tube.

I work at an open-air tube station. Anxiety is common, and I understand why. You are asking a person at the helm of a 16 tonne metal machine to take you underground where you are at the mercy of only the safety measures TfL have. It's not a natural thing.

After 7/7 we had a drop in customers because people found walking and cycling favourable to being stuck in a tunnel whilst not having complete control over their fate. During and after the pandemic, yet more people bought a bike or got around by other means.

I only use it to cover my journey across town. I am fine using it, but I find it boring. I use buses a lot, and I have an e-bike because some bus journeys take an age to complete and cycling can be quicker still. You have to remember though, that previous underground disasters like Moorgate, Kings Cross and 7/7 have only made it safer to use.

I studied in London and used to travel on the tube without issue.

Recently I worked in London but walked from Waterloo to the office. The only day I needed to go on the Northern Line, it was so utterly filthy, I won't be using the tube again. I'll happily walk instead, or get the overground.

Just revolting.