Nervous about London tomorrow

[Realitea]

AIBU to be so nervous about getting the tube tomorrow? Will need to use it a lot throughout the day and I am making myself worse by reading the news online and the threats etc.
Dh is cross with me but he is from London and doesn't really think about it. I think the marathon being on heightens the danger. I feel very anxious about this

I am glad I live in a sleepy backwater if rural Scotland. We are of no interest to anyone thankfully.

I'm taking DD to London today, not for the marathon but just to see her brother, DS1 who lives there.
I would never stay away. London is an amazing place.
I worked in the City during the IRA campaign and DH was trapped in his office for several hours during the 7/7 bombings.
I remember when there used to be alerts announced in the city and everyone would cheer and carry on working.
I still kind of like that 'fuck you' reaction.
The point is for us to be scared. I hate the underground because it's crowded and claustrophobic to me but I'm buffered if I'm letting a bunch of arseholes scare me.

Thanks everyone. I do have CBT for an anxiety disorder and I'm now off medication so I feel just by going despite my worries is a big step for me.

OP I think you've been given a hard time by some who clearly don't understand how awful anxiety can be.

The likelihood of anything happening is miniscule so I hope you manage to have a lovely day

pearly as long as a terrorist bomb doesn't blow up a plane right above your sleepy Scottish backwater...and a local madman doesn't decide to go and shoot some primary school children...

I have anxiety. I take medication for anxiety.
that doesn't change my comments.

Pagwatch my dh has the same outlook as you and it actually helps me. To see that others aren't afraid to do what they want in London and anywhere else makes me realise my worries aren't that logical

It's really hard isn't it ?

My anxiety is about driving and I try and make myself process rationally and calm myself down before I drive. It's like having a Minh battle in my head to control the irrational fear before it just cuts lose.

I had some counselling and that helped to. Mindfulness was good for me because if I get stressed in the car and I can quickly focus on my breathing and that helps too.

I had a period when my DH just tried to cover all the driving. It was great but it made it harder long term and I hated modelling that fear, and giving into it, for my DC.

It is a bit step that you are going. Good for you. It will be fine and that will help for next time

Ahem, around 6 billion people in the world, not 60 billion.

I take my 20 mth old on the tube a few times a week, I understand your apprehension but you can't let terrorists dictate your life.

I have lived in London all my life, i don't worry about these things because what else can we do, hide indoors and never go out?

London is safe, my ex boyfriend is a firearms officer in London and i know that they are on the ball with stuff like this.
The Underground has the BTP and their own firearms officers too and they are always vigilant.
My kids use the underground to go to school and i am a tube driver on the underground too.
I drive on one of the lines that had a bomb on it but its not something that crosses my mind to be honest.
Yes i am aware that it may happen again but as a new driver i'm more worried about people getting trapped in the doors, falling in front of my train or me not stopping in time when i see a read signal.

Please don't worry yourself about using the tube.

I'm in London this weekend, there's masses going on and there is a real carnival atmosphere about the place. Had a short walk along Embankment earlier and I was bursting with pride at the commitment and enthusiasm of all the volunteers/spectators/participants along the marathon route.

Please don't let your anxiety get in the way of experiencing this.

Op
I'm back from our day at the marathon, and hope you are too

If your day was anything like mine, you will have seen policemen cheering on runners, police horses letting people stroke them and police sniffer dogs quietly working through the crowds

You will have seen hundreds of thousands of people having a wonderful day out cheering on amazing runners in wonderful costumes.

Above all, you will be back home safe and sound because our security services and police frankly know what they are doing

I just got back. There were police everywhere including on all the platforms of the bigger stations (East Croydon, Clapham etc). There were also some police around Horse Guards Parade holding some serious looking guns which I haven't seen before in London. Either way I never felt unsafe :)

Glad you went! There's often firearms police where there's big crowds so wasn't anything untoward

I went and loved it. Once on the Tube I felt fine I think I just build up worries in my head but once I actually do it, it's fine. I had a wonderful time. I love London! I want to go back already.

I feel safer in London than I do in Brussels, and I live near the latter.

Good on you Realitea. I also have anxiety and try to manage it through medication and counselling, so hats off to you for facing your fear head on and working through it.

Excellent!

I always try to remember, that there's nothing to fear but fear itself.

Well done. Glad you enjoyed your day.