[shoez]

Everytime I have to meet someone somewhere, and its in a not very public place, or a place that we're in a room alone together, I start having a severe phobia of being kidnapped, and trafficked.

LITERALLY.

I have a meeting with someone one on one in a non public place for an orientation session and I keep having these nonsensical panic feelings im going to be surrounded, held against my will and never see daylight again, I'm literally spending as much time with my family because of this.

I always do this! the anxiety is so bad.
Does anybody know of any positive reassuring things I could think of to help me see how irrational this is?
The person I'm seeing has no reason, nor does it benefit them to kidnap me, but for some reason I'm freaking out.

I hate HATE anxiety!!

[Citrine]

I understand. I cant tell you how to stop this but I can say Im sorry and I feel for you. In reality you know the chances are next to zero of this happening unyet in your mind you are certain it can and will. Could you have a friend nearby waiting for you? Or keep your phone in your lap for comfort?

[Little Lulu]

I get it and I am sorry you are having these irrational thoughts but I can relate ... today I drove in an out-of-town area for me and I had immense anxiety that I would get sick and go off the road and crash or something spooky ... the upshot is that I drove to my destination and did fine but I didn't feel fine at the time. That is the very nature of anxiety -- irrational thinking that leads to emotional upheaval.

Tonight I can smile about it all because I AM fine and the thoughts I was having seem silly now but this morning they did not.

Talking about it with someone who gets it helps but doesn't make it go away completely ... I have to do the thing I am anxious about and then I feel better. Sorry, but that is how it works for me.

Hugs ... you are not alone. Hugs.

[shoez]

Originally Posted by Little Lulu

I get it and I am sorry you are having these irrational thoughts but I can relate ... today I drove in an out-of-town area for me and I had immense anxiety that I would get sick and go off the road and crash or something spooky ... the upshot is that I drove to my destination and did fine but I didn't feel fine at the time. That is the very nature of anxiety -- irrational thinking that leads to emotional upheaval.

Tonight I can smile about it all because I AM fine and the thoughts I was having seem silly now but this morning they did not.

Talking about it with someone who gets it helps but doesn't make it go away completely ... I have to do the thing I am anxious about and then I feel better. Sorry, but that is how it works for me.

Hugs ... you are not alone. Hugs.

BOY do I know that feeling when you look back and you're like "what was I thinking" but at the time its really not irrational, its really really serious and scary and heart palpitations and freaking out.

It helps a little to know I'm not the only one