subway anxiety....

I take the G, nuff said.


Oh, and beer.

I had some after 9/11. I just try to remind myself that statistically, it's a pretty safe way to travel.

What is it you are afraid of? Terrorism? something else?

Subject: Re: subway anxiety....

gretel wrote: In general, subway anxiety....
Do you have it? How do you deal with it?

sertraline hcl works for me

also for anxiety off of the subway

Subject: Subway fear

I had it REEEEAL bad when I was younger. Now, I pray B4 I leave home
(23rd psalm) and I don't do anything or go any where that I'm not willing 2 die 4. It helps me get through anything. Try surrendering yourself to God and then control the mind, you'll hear the right things 2 do and be where you should be. Have U ever heard a person say (after something bad happens to them, that they should have listened to their first thought B4 doing whatever? That was the voice of the Almighty. (whatever your religion, trust it, it talks to you, depending on your faith).
Be not afraid, I am with you always. (it's in the bible).
The people that joke on this site is probably always afraid.
Peace to you

don't do anything or go anywhere you aren't willing to die for? how am I supposed to return these shoes to Macy's?

Subject: Re: subway anxiety....

gretel wrote: In general, subway anxiety....
Do you have it? How do you deal with it?

This is a serious question and I am gonna give it a shot as a serious answer. I have lived in the City all my life (age 59) and on and off I have this anxiety. In other ways I can't say I have anxiety attacks or even anxious feelings as I move through my City.

I know this started in my teens when we had the "first" black out. I was on my way up to Columbia University where I was studying and the train stopped in the Bowling Green station and never started. I won't give you the whole story. I did get myself home..alone.. back to Brooklyn and the next day I was back on the rails. In more recent years I use the subways less and notice I try to avoid them if I am alone. After 9/11 the anxiety became more pronounced. But, I refuse to give in to this and have some strategies that work for me.

I listen to my Ipod (like what seems like 75% of riders do.

I always take water and taking afew sips of water seems to help.

Sometimes I read.

Sometimes I knit.

I always try to get a seat at the end of the cars where the shorter seats are. I think that helps to feel like I am in my own enclosed smaller space.

I chew gum.

I close my eyes and not fall asleep but do lite meditation at the beginning of the ride.. which always seems to be the worst time.

I hope some of these suggestions help. I know you posed this question in sincerity and I hope some of the replies are not put downs or, snide remarks or jokes. From sharing how I feel with friends I have learned that some level of anxiety on the subways is very common and the way that many people have learned to deal with is by developing their own coping skills.

I had some issues for a while. Antidepressants fixed it, since many of them also address anxiety.

BigGuy wrote: I had some issues for a while. Antidepressants fixed it, since many of them also address anxiety.

BigGuy had issues? If the Rifleman has issues with the subway, then I don't stand a chance. Driving to work from now on.


On a more serious note, OP, I hope you do find a solution and some relief.

I would say don't give up on the meds yet, especially if you are also suffering from depression. It took me 8 months of trying before I found medication that worked for me without significant side effects. There may well be medications out there that don't affect you badly.

I'm familiar with the feedback loop that happens in panic attacks. I think for a lot of people, anxiety creates physical symptoms (heart pounding, chest tightness etc.), which creates more anxiety, which creates more symptoms etc. I got to the point where I could shut it down pretty well just by understanding the loop and forcing it to stop. It sounds like your focus may be more on the reactions of other people but I imagine the concept is similar.

Like I said it all disappeared for me with antidepressants (currently Pristiq). I'm also a big believer in Cognitive Therapy.

doctorj wrote: Since we're all sharing, I feel like I ought to come out and say it:

I'm not currently using any medication prescribed by a doctor

Ah, so it's medication not prescribed by a doctor, then?

8)

this thread was dormant for almost a year.

exercise, meds, yoga, diet and therapy

Here's a list of private therapists. Some may participate in health insurance plans...

http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/county/NY/Kings.html

Never had train anxiety, but have recently experienced it while driving - which is obviously quite unnerving and unsafe. Once, I had to pull off of the roadway - out of state, car full of kids. After about almost an hour, realizing I couldn't stay out in the middle of nowhere, what actually helped me was plugging in my daughter's friend's ipod and cranking up Jay-Z. I listened all the way home. I stopped shaking, regained control of my hands, and was able to focus on the road as I bopped along to the songs all the way back home. After that I wouldn't drive anywhere for 2 months. I was too terrified of having another attack behind the wheel. It happened to me again a couple of months after I went back to driving. This time I just had the radio and there wasn't any music I could find as driving or intense as the Jay-Z stuff. What I did find to listen to wasn't as effective as the Jay-Z record, but it did help though.

It may sound silly, but if you don't want to take meds, I say try listening to some type of music that will help redirect your thinking away from your anxiety. It darn sure helped me.