i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

especially after hearing about the car bomb , I am FREEKING OUT.

I have a concert and an event i am going to in June and I was just talking to my brother about it and my heart was RACING!!!!

I have never been further then Penn station and that alone freaks me the heck out. HOW THE HECK am i going to handle having to go to Radio City. I dont even know how to get there from Penn Station.

So what do I do?

Any idea's on how to get over this fear?

Yes I have never been in Manhattan itself. Never been to anything.

I AM SCARED OUT OF MY MIND

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Don't be scared, that is the whole point of terrorism is to make us live in fear.

I have faith in New York's finest.

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Things happen in NYC all the time and most things are kept from us.
The NYPD and FDNY are in total control and have stopped anything major (or even little) from happening. As many people there are out there that want to hurt us there are millions more that wants everyone to be safe. The worst part is the fear of the unknown and that is what terrorism is all about.
You have to go on with your everyday activities and hope that every night you make it home safe. Chances are you will every time.

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

i'm in the city everyday for work. i used to work in rockefeller center before my compnay moved to 33rd and 10th ave. you'll do just fine. just take it one step at a time

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Xanax.

I go there every day for work. In fact I work right in Times Square. Actually just moved downtown Friday. You have nothing to worry about. From Penn you could go out the 7th Ave/34th st. exit and grab a cab that will take you right there. You can even use your credit/debit card in the cab.

There's nothing to worry about. It's the safest place to be. The best security and the best police there is.

It's not a foreign country. I promise you will be fine.

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

I live in the city and am still alive! Every day I walk these streets and I am still alive! My dh worked in Tower II and is still alive and continues to work downtown. We ride the subway every day.

I have been drunk off my arse and made it home alive and unharmed. Knock wood, I have never been mugged, assaulted, raped. In fact, I have been helped by the most uncanny people. My wallet and it's contents were returned to me 3 months after i lost it by the local homeless guy! There are many good people here.

I have two children who I am raising in the greatest city in the world! I am lucky to live here, most people can't or won't.

You will be fine.

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Honestly, life is way too short to go around scared. You have to live life to the fullest everyday that you are here. You know this better than a lot people. If that means having fun for an afternoon/evening in the most amazing place on Earth, than go get 'em!

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Yesterday morning my DH, DS, DD, my mother and I were in NYC standing on the corner of 45th and 7th for the Revlon Run/Walk.

We proceeded with an incredibly wonderful day, walking for a great cause with our kids. We got home last night and found out that the car with the bomb was at 45th and 7th... RIGHT WHERE WE WERE just hours earlier.

Did it freak me out a bit? Yes. Was I thinking about all the "what ifs?" Absolutely.

But then I realized that there would have been nothing in the world I could have done to know. I can't live my life in fear because I know that this fear will rub off on my children and I don't want that to happen. I want them to grow up and love life (while being cautious at the same time).

Am I thankful that we were all OK yesterday? Yes.

I hope there is a way that you can find to not be scared of going into the city.

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

I think if you go just ONCE and see that it's really not dangerous or unsafe, you'll feel better. The anticipation and fear of something is usually worse then what you are actually afraid of.

You should try to find comfort or safety in the fact that the bomb was discovered, reported and disabled without any injuries, death or destruction. You think what could have happened but didn't simply because people do care and pay attention and more importantly respond to situations. I am amazed by it.

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Message edited 5/2/2010 9:04:48 PM.

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Message edited 5/2/2010 9:15:53 PM.

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

thank you guys for all your words of encouragement. It does help a little. as for why i am so scared it started WAY before 9/11 . I was on a school trip to south street sea port and my mother scared the sh!! out of me. I was in the 3rd grade. I remembered this after talking with her today. I remembered the whole day like it was yesterday.

it is weired how things happen that makes you remember things.

We got off the bus and there where some "strange" men standing by a wall on the way down to the port. my mother grabed me in such away that has me terriffied.

I do not want Kryssy scared and she is not. she has actually gone to the city more then i can count on my 2 hands.

I do not want her scared like me. and thankfully she is not.

i know it is all in my mind. dam when i tell people i have never even seen Central Park they look at me like i have 25 heads.

I dont know , it is sad my little brother and sister live in Brooklyn in the projects
and walk those streets everyday and if i even think about it i panic.

what i am afraid of is that because of how scared i am that one guy who is a mugger , ect will pick me out faster then a speeding bullet and do something to me. no matter how hard i try to keep a strong face on. oh god i need to stop this bull.

Anyone going to be around on the 18th or 19th to help a scared little chicken out and help me get from Penn to radio city?

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Like others have said Manhattan is very safe. I think it is the fear of the unknown and your mother's actions toward you as a child that are paralyzing you with this fear. The only real way to get over fear is to face it.

I feel way safer walking in the sketchiest parts of Manhattan then in many neighborhoods on LI.

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Posted by Jackie24



Don't be scared, that is the whole point of terrorism is to make us live in fear.

I have faith in New York's finest.

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Don't give in to the fear because if you do then the terrorrists win...

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

They are going to increase security so much there that it will be safer than ever

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

I truly believe that if it's your time to go- it's your time to go!
You can be sitting home and a plane can crash into your house- you can get in a car accident etc.

As far as not knowing your way aroudn the city- I'm the same way.
I use the cab stands outside of Penn to get me a cab and just take a cab where I need to go.
It's well worth the money to me!

Message edited 5/3/2010 10:58:40 AM.

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

I can only sympathize. My DH and I both work right in Times Square. Honestly, it was horrifying seeing his building on the news while watching the coverage of the car bomb.

I understand all the rational reasons to not be scared -- that doesn't matter. This type of fear is not rational. No statistics are going to make me feel better or feel safer.

That said, I go on with life, go to work, go where I want to go. The situation is so far removed from my control, I can only try to trust that I will be safe. I refuse to let this fear dictate what I do and where I go. I do believe that is what terrorists want. Still, I have horrible anxiety. I worry about the worst happening. I am counting the days until we move OOS. (We're NOT moving out of NY because of this stuff, though. We're moving for completely different reasons.)

*shrug* It is the world we live in -- and it sucks.

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Don't be scared. That is the whole point of any terrorism attempt, fear.

I've been commuting into the city since 1980, first for high school, then college, then work.

I can't be afraid, otherwise I would never leave my home and be able to enjoy my life.
I refuse to give into the fear.

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Posted by BunnyWife

Posted by BigB

I live in the city and am still alive! Every day I walk these streets and I am still alive! My dh worked in Tower II and is still alive and continues to work downtown. We ride the subway every day.

I have been drunk off my arse and made it home alive and unharmed. Knock wood, I have never been mugged, assaulted, raped. In fact, I have been helped by the most uncanny people. My wallet and it's contents were returned to me 3 months after i lost it by the local homeless guy! There are many good people here.

I have two children who I am raising in the greatest city in the world! I am lucky to live here, most people can't or won't.

You will be fine.

I agree with all of this! We live in Manhattan too. Never been mugged. Never been robbed or even menaced AND I used to live in what some would consider a "bad" neighborhood. Subway at all hours drunk out of my mind. NYC is ridiculously safe. If we ever have a child we will be racing a city kid as well

ETA: And for some solid proof Manhattan South Total Crime Stats

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Not sure what to tell you to make you feel better. I personally couldn't live in fear. I would feel like I missed out on SO much. To live so close to NYC and you've never been past Penn Station? Not trying to judge...I just wish for you to experience life!

no more

Message edited 3/28/2012 8:55:40 PM.

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

Posted by kathyhart21

janet like everyone says life goes on you have to live life to te fullest and not let fear get in your way i dont remember if i ever told you this when i was 10 years old when i was strangled and attacked by a man when i lived in lower manhattan with my parents and i was sitting in front of my building and this man grabbed me and dragged me in the building and strangled and tried to rape me i was lucky that i fought him and got away and i still go out late at night the streets in the city are safe i know you are afraid but you cant let fear get in your way i will be there to get you to radio city maybe we can go to central park and just walk around my sister doris lives right there 2 blocks from central park and her and her son always go out at night love mom heres your borther and sister to help cheer you up

Re: i am so scared of the city, just talking about it is giving me a panic attack

i edited it ok i realized what i wrote so i fixed it ty i was in the process of rewriting it

Message edited 5/11/2010 1:35:47 PM.