Catching public transport makes me anxious, leaving the house makes me anxious

[MoominGirl]

I am a wheelchair user, I have been physically assaulted multiple times on trains by strangers. (Four assaults in the last 2 months alone.) That gave me anxiety, and now I take an SSRI.

But even with the SSRI, I feel scared and anxious to leave the house/catch trains.

I tell myself "the person who assaulted me was just one person, most people aren't like that", but then I get assaulted by different strangers again and again and again, a different person each time. I am not doing anything at all to provoke the assaults except being a wheelchair user.

It's gotten to the point that I am cancelling medical appointments rather than take the train.

[Zeal]

Hello,

Welcome to the forum!

I am so sorry that you have been assaulted multiple times - that is scary. Can someone go with you when you catch trains or need to attend an appointment? Do you live with a parent, partner or friend? You are brave and resilient to have told yourself that most people are not cruel like those strangers were to you. Unfortunately, some people mistreat those who are more vulnerable, and being wheelchair-bound is seen as a vulnerability or weakness by these cruel individuals. It is horrible that people take advantage of good people who are minding their own business.

Could you carry a whistle to draw attention if someone makes you uncomfortable? People won't want to get caught out, so noise could deter them from hurting you.
Talking to a counsellor would be of benefit. Being assaulted is traumatic, so emotional support is crucial.

I really hope you have more positive experiences in the future - you deserve it!

Best wishes,

SM

[MoominGirl]

Hi,

I live alone - there isn't anyone who can catch the train with me, my friends are busy with their jobs and their kids.

[white knight]

Hi welcome here

Always if possible travel in the first carriage nearest the driver. Ask the driver if you can travel with him.

Pick out couples or females to remain close to as you travel. If they all leave and you are left alone with undesirables then move carriages discreetly at the next station.

The whistle idea is good. You can get really loud personal alarm hand held ones that are even better. A loud piercing noise.

Have your phone handy. Ring 000 if you need to. Mentally take a description of the people. Listen for names they call themselves, clothing, tattoos, where they got on the train, hair colour etc.

Can you get financial assistance for cabs?

Hope that helps.

Tony WK

[MoominGirl]

Thank you for your suggestions, I appreciate them. ^_^

Unfortunately, because of the way the train is set up, some of them are not possible.

Always if possible travel in the first carriage nearest the driver. Ask the driver if you can travel with him.

In the city where I live, the driver is in a cabin that is always locked, passengers are not allowed inside ever. There's a very thick door between the passenger carriage and the driver's cabin, I'm not sure how well sound passes through the thick door.

Also, on the train line that I catch, you always have to get into the middle carriages, because there is a larger gap between train and platform at both the front and end of the train (because the train line curves).

If I try to get on/off the train at the first carriage (the very front of the train, near the driver) my wheels will get stuck in the gap between the platform and the train. I know this because it has happened many times, and each time I needed a lot of help getting unstuck. Once the train started to pull away from the station when I was still stuck half in, half out of the doorway!

So, I always have to catch the train in the middle of the train.