I helped a close friend with her big event on Saturday night and realized that it was an exposure opportunity. I have so many controls and safety behaviors and this challenged many of them. Long story short but I committed to this several weeks ago, it started at 9:00pm (I can't fathom anything starting after 7:00pm), I went out to eat with her and others prior to it (so more than one plan in a day), I drove as a passenger to the event (I usually insist to always drive myself), there were over 1,500 people at the event and it was loud, and I drove home in a severe thunderstorm very late at night. Needless to say, I had intrusive thoughts and feelings of panic starting, but I sat with the discomfort most of the time. I even had opportunities to back out due to a minor back injury, but as Peter pointed out in a different response, it's helpful to avoid backing out/escape opportunities and that was helpful; I committed.
