thats all fairly common but is quite OK because you are getting out, and surely that is the most important thing 
people hold the keys to give a feeling of being in some control, also squeezing the keys until it hurts the hand can take your mind off anxiety producing things
the long time to get ready suggests OCD, an anxiety complaint, it helps to have a detailed checklist of things to do before leaving home
many find that an insurance dose of xanax before leaving helps, with more on hand to disolve under the tongue if needed helps a lot sometimes just knowing you have the extra xanax is enough and you dont actually need to take it