Hi! First post here!
Today I was on the train sitting in priority seating. It was a packed train, a few people standing. An older woman(maybe 60 years old) came onto the train. The lady next to me makes a very obvious show about offering her seat to the woman, saying to her, “They’re just selfish, don’t even care about their surroundings,” talking about me.
I’m a pretty anxious person and have had FND for coming up to 4 years. I’ve just recently gotten an acrod and am 21 years old. I have gait issues sometimes and so sometimes use a walking stick. I can’t stand for very long as I get easily fatigued, dizzy and lightheaded. Most of the time it’s totally invisible.
I am aware and pretty anxious of how it looks parking in acrod spaces and sitting in priority seating on the train, as a seemingly healthy and young person. I often don’t use my acrod because of this, as ‘others might need it more’.
Today it finally happened. And it felt really horrible. On the train ride home I refused to sit down, too anxious that I shouldn’t be taking up a seat that people older than me should have.
I’m feeling pretty anxious about taking public transport again.