Taking the bus alone to Colchester. Done today!! I’m so thrilled with that one :-) 5 years ago

I’m doing this a lot more easily now – I still get a bit nervous at times but not often. I went three stops up the railway line to meet a woman I’d only met once before, to go to a BookCrossing meet on Saturday – I thought that was quite brave of me! She was nice though, and very supportive. 6 years ago

After my solo trip into London on Thursday night, I can honestly say that this is definitely getting a lot easier, but I’m not gonna say it’s complete yet. I’d like to be able to get from Hertfordshire to home or vice versa on my own, eventually. And when I move to Herts, I’ve got to contend with the public transport system down tehre as well, get used to using their buses and trains more regularly.

But I’m making progress. 7 years ago

I took the train into London Liverpool Street by myself last Friday. It was not a pleasant experience but I coped and I managed it.

wipes sweat from brow

I don’t claim this one is done yet because I’m still a bit scared most of the time when I do these things on my own. But I like to think I’m making significant strides forward. 7 years ago

This is really going well now. I’ve gone as far as the next suburb on the bus to Colchester, which feels like another step forward. I’m tentatively thinking about going to Colchester alone eventually… I think I need to do this one cos it’ll help to make me really strong. I do feel a lot stronger now, I seem to cope with it a lot better and the Network Walkman really has helped.

I think that I will be able to claim this one as done if I can do Colchester on the bus alone, and go into Liverpool Street station on the train to meet Jimmy, alone.

I’m kicking my own agoraphobic ass after all these years and I’m kinda shocked, but I’m just so happy with myself. I really am. 7 years ago

Today I travelled from London Liverpool Street to Marks Tey by train, alone.

It was scary but I did it and I know it’s a leap forward for me :-) 7 years ago

Went into town on the bus again, stayed for an hour instead of half an hour and roamed a bit further.

It was a bit easier this time. I reckon I should try and do this every Thursday if I’m not working. 7 years ago

Went into town alone on a bus and shopped today.

Spent £52 I shouldn’t have spent, but I like to reward myself when I’ve done something like this. I was very nervous and had to hold myself very firmly together, but I managed it.

I’ll do it again very soon – probably Monday. I really want to get on top of this one. 7 years ago

Like I said. Two fingers sticking up at terrorists when it comes to using public transport.

You can shake us, you can try to break us… but we will not be broken. 7 years ago

Well it’s all down to the Agoraphobia, isn’t it? It’s a lot to explain but it all boils down to my old fear of being trapped on a vehicle and not being able to get off because the vehicle won’t stop until it gets to a proper place to stop. It’s linked to my motion sickness thing as well.

I’m doing better though. I’ve taken the bus into town alone and taken a 20 minutes train ride alone.

I’m working on it! 7 years ago