To be nervous about travelling on public transport?

[Literallynoonecares]

I live in a semi rural area where I drive everywhere and have not had to use trains and public transport for many many years. However I have a trip today and for medical reasons I cannot drive so I am having to use trains. I am travelling alone.

The trip involves 2 train changes at large train stations and I have woken up this morning as nervous as hell. I think its a combination of travelling on stuffy trains, lots of people around and the general hustle and bustle of the whole thing. Plus feeling nervous of not making my onward connections. I am just not used to train travel anymore and am also used to a much quieter way of life and would normally avoid these kind of situations
.
Its a trip I have to do as its going to see my daughter at Uni in a major City and I want to go and am excited to see her, but wow, I can't believe how nervous and overwhelmed I feel about it this morning.

I leave in 30 minutes and my stomach is churning.

Please tell me I am being ridiculous and that I am a grown woman and can do this!!

Then please correct my ignorance for my benefit and that of others reading the thread who may have the same misconceptions

Trains when not busy or delayed are fine.

However an incident caused many delays and massive hold ups at a major London terminus recently - Thousands of people jostling surging and literally jumping to try and get through the crowds to get to a train that was rammed, all down the aisles.

People with a small child or dog, or physically slim and frail in that melee are actually in danger of being trampled.

Being a strong, tall, fit young man {the main pushers and jumpers} are at an advantage in thick crowds.

See, I haven’t evolved to respond to other people’s disingenuousness.

🤣

Didn't think you'd be able to answer either questions

Leave yourself plenty of time so you’re not rushing.

Ask for help and be honest. If you say to staff, you’re not sure where you’re going and you’re a bit nervous about crowded spaces, they will most likely fall over themselves to help you. As will most members of the public.

Well you've had some spectacularly unsympathetic replies 😂

I get it. You're not actually worried but your body and brain have decided between them that yes actually you are worried in a general kind of way.

Last summer I did a trip abroad on my own - I was fine in my head but somehow this huge anxiety appeared that was almost crippling. I couldn't think it away. I just had to fight through it and it was fine.

But all those saying what in earth could go wrong...I did get on the wrong train in one part of the trip and ended up in completely the wrong place with limited time to get where I needed to be. I still can't work out how I managed it 🤦🏻‍♀️

Take it one thing at a time OP and treat yourself when you can, make it as fun as you can. And you'll feel great afterwards having got through it and knowing you can do it again.

Thank you so much to those of you who actually gave me tips and ideas for the trip to run smoothly. I did the itinerary and wrote it down and checked the platforms and station maps to get an idea before I left this morning. It was really helpful.

As it goes I had a good journey. All trains on time and connections made. A few platforms I couldn’t locate initially but there were always staff available to ask who were really helpful. In the end I actually enjoyed the journey.

But it’s a stark reminder of how weird the real
world seems when you don’t have to deal with it very often. But it’s not as scary as I imagined!
😂 I am now enjoying seeing my daughter and looking forward to a days shopping tomorrow and her showing me around ‘her City’

That’s great news OP!

Well done OP - glad you had a good journey 😁.

I find train travel far more relaxing than cars, glad it went well