Well, first of all, if you know the city of Pittsburgh, it's really hard to find one limit. The only ways to get into the city are by going through a series of tunnels, so for a few minutes you're just chugging along in the Fort Pitt tunnels, then BLAM! The city hits you like a ton of bricks.

I guess you could say I have a fear of the fear... But I only think it's natural to want to avoid discomfort like anxiety! Anyway, the only way I know how to stop the anxiety attacks is by closing my eyes. But if I'm sitting in the front seat of the car like I usually do, I find it hard to do that. It just doesn't feel right or safe... Another anxiety thing, I suppose.

Last year I went to a concert in the city. The fact that I was going to see my favorite band in an amazing venue didn't resolve the problem. In fact, we got caught in traffic, and in retrospect I'm sure a bunch of people were just staring at me from their cars, like, "Why is that girl banging her head against the window...?" Still, I had fun at the concert, and it was definitely worth the trip. I guess I have to find enough events like that.

Sometimes we go to the museum, and every year we go to a park in the area to watch vintage auto racing. I don't like the city. Period.

Of course, I still don't want to be adjudicated. But I could do it if it were anywhere else. I'm definitely not going this year, not just for the phobia, but because I don't want to be a detriment to the band like that.

I've lived in this same house 14 of my 15 years. When I was little, we had to pass through the city to visit my aunt. But we hadn't done that since I was eight or nine. I'd say the fear started maybe two or three years ago. I don't know why... I'll do some thinking on that.