Got trapped on a tube in London and had a huge panic attack

[Drupie]

I'm feeling so embarrassed and upset by what's happened. I've come to London for work and I'm not used to the tube. It stopped in a tunnel and I hate that as have a fear of being tapped in and don't know why. I tried to stay calm but was trapped for about 40 minutes and if was so hot. I stared to feel as though I was going to pass out and had a big panic attack and other commuters had to give me water and try and calm me down. I am now so ashamed and embarrassed and need to know how to stop this fear ruining my life.

[Lexieblue]

OP

The tube is really daunting when you're not used to it, I visited London for the first time a couple of years back and although I loved how quickly you can get about I was on Northern line near Euston at one point and was literally on the brink of a panic attack, the air just felt so heavy!

I really feel for you and can completely relate to having a panic attack because if the tube had stopped I would have had one too! I've been back twice since and have tried to avoid that particular part of the line and have been OK.

[peonyinparadise]

Poor you, OP I am a Londoner and over the years have found travelling on the tube has become intolerable. Being stuck in a tunnel for 40 mins in a hot, crowded carriage is an assault on the senses. Your mind & body reacted in a very natural way to hugely stressful circumstances. Commuting on the tube (and bad weather) are the primary reasons I left London & now live abroad. My mental health really suffered from 2 hours a day travelling on the underground. Don't feel bad or embarrassed about what happened but perhaps use it as a learning opportunity as to how you need to live your life.

[hula008]

I don't this it's that irrational to have had a panic attack on the tube in that situation - they can come on a lot easier when it's hot and o2 levels are low.

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

49 minutes in this heat and climate ? Jesus OP

That's completely understandable don't beat yourself up please

Address it but it's not a strange reaction !!

[ModForLangQ]

I'm having a panic attack just reading this!

Londoners who have no choice but to travel by tube - I salute you!

[emesis]

I bet most the people were just glad it wasn't then, as that would have pushed anyone to the limit. Focusing on you probably distracted people from their own anxiety.

I was going to say this too. You probably made their day, having someone to care about and 'rescue', and it helped them not panic themselves. People like being in that position.

Also you won't see those people again, hopefully! Not like doing something really embarrassing or silly in front of your work colleagues. I have cried a number of times at work and hate it .

[hippyhippyshake]

Hi Drupie, your experience was horrible and I could feel your pain just by reading it. My own way of dealing with it was to only use the Circle, District and Metropolitan lines in the summer. These are lines that are only just below the surface so don't use the deep-level tunnels of the other lines. It may be inconvenient but (possibly psychologically) I never felt panicky on these trains. That was a long time ago when I commuted but I still now only use the deep-level tubes if absolutely necessary.

[eurochick]

I was going to say the same as emesis. I had someone faint onto me on a train once. People were falling over themselves to help. I would have liked to help too but was sort of trapped by her weight. Others did first aid and got her on to the platform.

You allowed some people in a horrible situation to do a good deed. Don't feel bad.

[SavageBeauty73]

Don't worry. I'm a Londoner (born and bred) and I had a huge panic attack a few years ago. I even forgot I had water in my bag and I was crying and someone gave me theirs.

We're used to seeing it on the tube. I remember seeing a butch man having one and everyone was trying to talk him down.