Can I please ask you for your tips on commuting? The SWR strike is pushing me over the edge....

[MadCommuter]

I have been a commuter for 20 years. In that time, the commute has got longer and significantly more congested to the extent that it is practically unbearable.

Unfortunately, I am the breadwinner and I need to keep going and I have a job where I need to get into the office (and I manage a team who need to be here too).

I have seen a therapist before for claustrophobia type anxiety but ultimately, the only way I can deal with this is to keep doing the commute.

Does anyone have any tips? I do the breathing thing, I do the distraction thing (I watch videos) but that overwhelming panic I have when I get stuck in a tunnel and where there's no sign of how long it will be is just getting worse and worse....

so I'm wondering if you struggle like I do, what do you do. This SWR strike means I have half the trains and twice the people on my trains and it's just hideous!

You have my sympathies, I did this for several years with the SE strikes. It was already bad but that made it worse.

Can you work from home on strike days? Although you need to set an example to your team, do you need to be there every day?

I worked sometimes, also took to standing more as it helped with feeling hemmed in. Also taking vitamin D helped a lot during Winter.
I know some people take beta-blockers for anxiety (my manager before presentations!)