what would you do? *need advice about a transport and anxiety problem
 

I work near Wembley. This weekend there is a big footie match at the Stadium. Which means travelling home via tube or bus will be hell.

Bear in mind that I suffer from agoraphobia with panic attacks, and have PTSD and cannot bear crowds. I dissociate quite severely and can get quite aggressive as the part that feels threatened comes forward to protect me.

But I need to get home from work somehow.

I could walk. I've done that once before. On 7/7 as there was no transport. It takes about an hour and a half ish.

I have 2 hours TOIL to take before I finish there the Saturday after next. But we're short staffed on Saturday and it might not be possible for me to leave early to avoid the crowds.

Do you have any ideas?

Tough on Katie! Im not sure what to suggest! If you can take the toil then do so. If you know the times of the match perhaps you could work around it.

For future occasions could you and the therapist perhaps do some work on dealing with large crowds? Some CBT or hypnosis maybe?

Sorry im pretty useless on this.

Hope you get things sorted!

Matthew xxx

Thanks Matt.
The notice on the tube station says avoid travelling between 5-7pm.
:( Work finishes at 5.

Take the toil!!!! Leave at 3! Set yourself something really scrummy to eat or maybe a DVD or two to watch so it gives you something to look forwards to!!

If we weren't short staffed....

I phoned my Saturday manager, but she'd left work already for the day. I'm to call her from work tomorrow afternoon.

Hmm is there anybody who could pick you up maybe?
Or else prebook a taxi?
Hopefully then you would be out of the crowds, espc if it was prebooked.

Unfortunately there's noone who can pick me up. Unless my manager comes up with someone I haven't thought of.
Snag about travelling on the road is that that's likely to be really congested. Especially down the High Road. A taxi might avoid that, but still its about 6 miles. [I actually work in Wembley suburbs as it were, but still have to travel through Wembley Central].


I really hope I can get TOIL and leave at 3 before the rush starts, and while the match is on.

Failing that, I guess I'll have to walk, and maybe if there's an unbusy bus around pick that up on the way. [walk route is different to public transport route away from Wembley, if that makes sense.]

Looks like I'll have to walk.

I spoke with my manager, but my leaving early depends on whether they can get someone on 'relief' to work all day to cover for the colleague who's on leave.

I am well p'd off, actually.

I am so stressed right now.

OK, if you are going to have to walk then i would suggest planning the journey to make it as stressfree and enjoyable as possible. I dont know what the route consists of but perhaps you could take a more scenic route to make it a bit more of a pretty walk or if you can handle them perhaps drop off at a coffee shop along the way for a hat choc or something? Perhaps little planned stops as mini treats to break up the journey?? Im not sure if that helps at all but if you gonna have to walk then perhaps make the best of a bad situation???

What about walking to a place thats going to be out of the main route of traffic and getting a taxi from there???

Or fit in a shopping trip along the route? MMmmmmm retail therapy :P

Im sure we can sort something out

Yep, I'll cope I guess.

I'm just so so tired.

I am safely home.

I was 'allowed' to leave at 3.30pm.

[feels like that from what my manager's email said, even though I have this TOIL and a recognised health issue...she consulted with her manager and the disabilities rep for crying out loud... a colleague said she probably had to cover herself. but.]

I got the tube, and it was ok. Much less crowded than usually on a Satrurday when I travel later.
I got home just after 4, and feel very relieved.

Glad you're okay Katie :)

x

YAY
Glad you got it sorted.

Thanks. Me too!

excellent!