I recently switched jobs and now have to take a completely different bus route to get there. The bus is usually crowded, and the ride takes about 45 minutes instead of my old 20-minute walk. At first, I thought it’d be fine, but now I find myself feeling anxious and irritable every morning just thinking about getting on that bus. I’ve tried listening to podcasts and music to distract myself, but it only helps a little. It’s been about three weeks, and this dread hasn’t eased up. I really want to stop feeling this way because it’s starting to drain my energy before the day even begins. Has anyone else dealt with sudden anxiety tied specifically to a commute? Did you find anything that actually helped make it bearable or even enjoyable? Also, how do you keep your mood from tanking when you have no choice but to face that stressful routine every day?

On 02/04/2026 at 5:25 AM, SunnyWays said:

I recently switched jobs and now have to take a completely different bus route to get there. The bus is usually crowded, and the ride takes about 45 minutes instead of my old 20-minute walk. At first, I thought it’d be fine, but now I find myself feeling anxious and irritable every morning just thinking about getting on that bus. I’ve tried listening to podcasts and music to distract myself, but it only helps a little. It’s been about three weeks, and this dread hasn’t eased up. I really want to stop feeling this way because it’s starting to drain my energy before the day even begins. Has anyone else dealt with sudden anxiety tied specifically to a commute? Did you find anything that actually helped make it bearable or even enjoyable? Also, how do you keep your mood from tanking when you have no choice but to face that stressful routine every day?

That sounds really tough, especially when the commute feels like it’s eating up so much of your morning energy. I had a similar switch a while back where my quick walk turned into a long, packed train ride, and it definitely took a toll on my mood. What helped me was turning that time into a little “me bubble” where I could do something just for myself - sometimes that meant reading a book I loved or even planning a tiny reward for after work to look forward to.

Also, if the bus is crowded and that’s part of the stress, maybe try shifting your schedule slightly if you can, even just by 15 minutes, to catch a less busy ride. It’s not always doable, but it made a huge difference for me when it worked out. And if none of that helps, it might be worth trying a quick mindfulness exercise or deep breathing right before you get on the bus - something small to ground you in the moment.