AIBU to think that I'll be fine at the Trafford Centre?

[BurtMacklinsWife]

Supposed to be nipping to the Trafford Centre tonight for a last few bits for Christmas. We live 15 minutes away.

I'm surprised to find that everyone I've mentioned it to has said 'Oh, I wouldn't go.' Each worried because of the terrorist threat. My mum and gran have actually asked me not to, because they will worry. My gran said to ring her when I get back if I do go, so that she knows I'm safe!

Am I missing something?? I have quite bad anxiety, worse at the moment as having a stressful time with DD's health problems, so I'm a bit upset by all of this scaremongering!

Who here would happily go?

I would. I might be worried about parking but not about terrorism!

i would never happily go to the trafford centre
not because of terrorism - it's just shite.

I would. I get the tube every day on the central line, I work in a tourist hot spot. I work here, live here and play here. Manchester is no different. You'll miss out on life if you apply the 'what if' to everything

What, a specific threat? Or just generally, ooh terror?

The only thing that would put me off is the crowds!

I would if I had to. Fear and What Ifs? are a corrosive side effect of terrorist acts.

Me. I'd go. Don't let 'what if's' stop you doing anything.

The same terrorist threat bollocks has been going round about the Trafford centre, the Bullring and London in general for months. It's so crap and see through, but people still believe it, for some reason.

I'd go in a heartbeat. Parking will suck, the crowds will probably be horrendous, but that's Christmas shopping, right?!

Just general terror threat, apparently.

I did say to my gran that I would text, but if something did happen - it would probably be on the news, and so unless that happens she can assume I'm fine!

I'm no fan of the Trafford Centre, just the closest place for what I need to get unfortunately. I've done everything else online!

We went last weekend and came out unscathed. Just .

You'll be fine.

Yeah I can see that you are at less risk of terrorism if you are in a tiny village or a yurt on a mountain or something, but if you actually spend time in cities then pretty much anywhere is a terrorist target isn't it? I mean, you wouldn't have picked out leytonstow tube station or the marais or an eagles of death metal (!) concert in advance.

I would refuse to let people know when you're home. Your family are not helping with your anxiety.

if you've got to go, I find going in the morning for when the shops open the only civilised way of doing it - the traffic for late night shopping near christmas gets hellish.

I was there yesterday and honestly "terror threats" won't turn me away from shopping!! It was no problem at all!

I'm off to the Trafford centre tomorrow (booked to take dd to see Santa). I have never found it too busy at Christmas time or at least it doesn't tend to be as busy as the centre of Manchester which is my only other realistic option and doesn't have a John Lewis. Besides where terrorism is concerned due to being from Preston originally I tend to see the Trafford centre as the safer option.

Thanks everyone.

Yes, I'm annoyed that they are feeling my diagnosed anxiety. I did call them out on it and just heard, 'Oh we're all just worriers, like you! That's all. We just worry about you.' Agh. No wonder I'm in therapy.

*fueling

It'll be fine - and IME, it's dead in the evening this close to Christmas Day. I go every year around the 22nd, and it's a very pleasant trip.

I wouldn't go because it will probably take you an hour and a half to get there!

YABVU. It'll be packed.

You're more likely to get injured in a parking spat. We survived the IRA, don't worry.

I've just got back from a massive shopping centre, it was deserted. They didn't have what I wanted so I called into my local high street on the way home which was packed. I think a lot of people are worried about threats at the moment. It didn't even cross my mind while I was there, I certainly didn't feel unsafe.

I think you've already formed the insight that your anxious nature is learned behaviour, right? I agree with a PP that you shouldn't fuel their catastrophising by ringing or texting while you're there or when you get home.

Also, if you give into stuff like this, the terrorists win.

We're going on Wednesday, I don't want to go, not because of terrorism, because it's probably going to be a nightmare. I've managed to avoid shops so far but it's unavoidable. Bah humbug! I have bad anxiety too, write a list of what you need to buy and the shops you need to buy them in and have a plan. I find if I'm winding myself up, then i attempt to minimise stress by having a list and sticking to it. And if I'm struggling I go sit in the car for ten minutes.

Sheesh. I expected this to be a thread about the general horror that is the Trafford Centre at any time, and the seventh circle of hell at Christmas.

I wouldn't go.

But not because of a prospective terrorist incident.