Train journey.

[susiemamma]

Tomorrow I need to do an hour train journey alone.
Ideas please to help with anxiety and panic attacks.
Can I spend the whole time hiding in the toilet 🙈

Yes, you could. Might be smelly and cold and very inconvenient to your fellow travellers but that's not your concern. Alternatively you could spend the whole journey looking out of the window looking for birds, or red cars, or cows in fields.

OP try to identify what it is you are afraid of and work out strategies to cope. Im guessing train travel isn’t the only time you feel anxious. What do you do then?

Tell us a bit more and maybe someone will have some suggestions

@susiemamma I am stuck at gome at the moment on sick leave. If you want to use this thread as a running commentary, I am happy to keep you virtual company if you let me know the start time. You can just chat and discuss what you can see out of the windows - I think being diverted and feeling you are not alone is best.
I would get a seat if you can. I find Rescue Remedy spray and gummies are good for calming peaks of anxiety.

Happy to be there virtually if it will help. I'm sure others will keep you company along with me.

Awwww thank you so much. I have terrible anxiety and never go anywhere unless in my car. I am trying to help myself by doing more things. If that makes sense. So I decided last month I would visit my son by train. Great idea at the time. So once I get there I will spend 3-4 hours with my son then have to travel back 🫤. He will be meeting me at train station. We will go for food and a look around. Return with me to the train station and I will come home alone again.
I usually drive to see him but it works out quicker and cheaper to go by train, and thought this would help get a grip on my anxiety. How wrong was I.
My main problem is that I am stuck there until my stop. Feeling enclosed and trapped.

If it's not too full, would moving carriages every 15 mins or so make you feel less trapped?

https://www.healthline.com/health/box-breathing used by us navy seals etc?
take headphones and some music you love.
do you have the calm or headspace app? Treat yourself to a glossy magazine?

Thank you.

And well done for stepping out of your comfort zone.

If my mind starts to wonder towards those spiralling anxious thoughts whilst on a train, I tune in to the sounds the train is making. I find it quite relaxing hearing it gently chugging along 😊.

I hope you have a wonderful day OP. Might be worth trying a natural remedy to ease the anxiety in a given stressful situation (like Rescue Remedies). They work well for me.

Thank you everyone. I will let you know how it goes.

On train. Only 20 mins left. I am alive 🙄

Only just seen your thread but well done! Usually the first step is the hardest. Now you're on I hope it hasn't been as bad as you feared.

Hooray! Have a good day and a safe trip back home

Well done.
You are doing great.

If the anxiety issues you grapple with are severe enough to be considered an invisible disability you can get help on any train journey through Passenger Assistance
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/help-and-assistance/passenger-assist/ lists the phone numbers for each train company.

Well done!