Anxiety at Disney?

[cobright]

I'll be taking a full prescription of Clonzapam (sp?) for sure. Also buying battery chargers for the phones because getting lost or separated is another big issue for me. Might have to make a rule about meeting at a specific place in case of that.

This sounds like pretty severe general anxiety disorder. Do you also have panic issues?

I ask because I got so much relief for my generalized anxiety when I began managing my panic disorder better. A lot of my anxiety was over whether I would have a panic attack.

One thing you might consider speaking with your physician about is a reletively higher dose of a faster acting benzo. Klonopin is .. it's just great... but if you have a concern about panic attacks, try keeping ativan in your pocket. It comes in faster and stays in only about an hour. It will arrest a panic attack and then give you the rest of your day back. Once you know that you can escape the pain of a panic attack, an immense amount of worry is lifted.

As for keeping others away, mumbling helps. Learn a couple Hindi lullabys and rock a phantom infant to sleep. It sounds silly, but you can clear a path using nothing but the cultural biases of others.

 

[darnheather]

This sounds like pretty severe general anxiety disorder. Do you also have panic issues?

I ask because I got so much relief for my generalized anxiety when I began managing my panic disorder better. A lot of my anxiety was over whether I would have a panic attack.

One thing you might consider speaking with your physician about is a reletively higher dose of a faster acting benzo. Klonopin is .. it's just great... but if you have a concern about panic attacks, try keeping ativan in your pocket. It comes in faster and stays in only about an hour. It will arrest a panic attack and then give you the rest of your day back. Once you know that you can escape the pain of a panic attack, an immense amount of worry is lifted.

As for keeping others away, mumbling helps. Learn a couple Hindi lullabys and rock a phantom infant to sleep. It sounds silly, but you can clear a path using nothing but the cultural biases of others.

Thank you so much. It helps to talk to people who understand. I'll be getting a new doctor soon (moving) so I will discuss the upcoming trip, anxiety issues, etc. I do have panic attacks and can usually feel them coming on (if that makes sense) and remove myself from the situation if at all possible. If I can't then I have some repetitive games on my phone that I find help me zone out and remain somewhat calm until I can get out and get to my medicine. Some times I just start the day super edgy and go ahead and take the Klonpin even though it makes me a bit sleepy.

 

[KPeveler]

I also have an anxiety disorder which manifests with social phobias, and I go to Disneyland weekly. I use a wheelchair which provides a little bit of a buffer, or not much.

unfortunately, one of the realities you must prepare yourself for is that you are going to be bumped into and jostled constantly. I generally avoid Disney land on crazy days, but even when it is not very crowded they are constantly people who are too busy looking at maps or texting or even just looking around and they end up running into you.

Also, Disney has no problem on most days cramming ride vehicles/boats with as many people as possible. this is especially true of theatres with benches instead of individual seats. Even in the off-season, the Lion King show or the Safari is incredibly popular, and the CMs put as many people in each ride vehicle as is safe, to make the line move more quickly.

I am not trying to discourage you from going. As I said, I am in Disney every week. I just had to learn how to prepare myself for the more crowded situations. I also switched off between the more taxing events and rides, like roller coasters or anything with individual seats, so I could give myself a "people break."

My wife and I also swear by Ativan when the panic sets in and is too much to handle.

A good thing to know is that there is a First Aid center in each park where you can lie down, relax, and take a break from people. I have been to the First Aid centers in Disneyland so often that the nurses know me on sight. This is an absolutely wonderful resource, and I have definitely been known to pick a cot, pull the soft blanket they give you are my head, and wait until I wind down.

when it comes to fireworks or parades, at least in Disneyland, there are a few places where the viewing area is only one person deep. Usually there is more room, which is how things get so crowded, but sometimes you can find a place where no one can come in behind you and trap you. also if you go to the parade or fireworks, make sure you're in a place that you can leave easily. There are many places along parade routes and show venues where you cannot leave once the parade begins.

I hope some of this helped. Though it can seem somewhat daunting, you absolutely can have fun on this vacation. You just have to plan a little more than the average person.

 

[klangkat]

Hi there, I have an anxiety disorder too
I've been this way my whole life - since I was five - so I can't actually remember life without panic attacks and anxiety, it just seems normal to me.
This was a few years ago now, so not 100% sure it's still doable/good but we used to watch Illuminations from the upstairs balcony of the Japan pavilion. we always found it very quiet up there and that was in July. It's not a perfect view but it's pretty good.
Last Sep it was DBF and I for the first time and we watched from the bridge between the UK and France. We got there about 50 mins before the show and I tucked myself in next to one of the lamps - so nobody could really 'bump' me and DBF stood on my other side. It did get quite busy, but because there was nobody to me left, in front of me or on my right (just DBF) I could cope. It also helped me because right behind that bridge is the WS exit. So, just as the last shots were going off, we quick marched over there and were out the park without having to deal with ANY crowds jostling. Having that safe exit so close really helped me.

 

[Schmeck]

For fireworks, you can also watch them from the 4th floor deck at the Contemporary or the bridge from the Contemporary to the Bay Lake Tower.

Bay Lake Tower requires a keycard to access the bridge, from one end anyways. And I thought the 4th floor deck was for concierge guests of the Contemporary, or am I thinking of the lounge deck.restaurant deck? If you were staying at the Cont., these would be great spots to watch from though.

 

[cobright]

It's an odd and personal thing sometimes, what works and what doesn't.

My anxiety is a manifestation of PTSD, I've only lived with it for 12 years or so. But my first round of rx therapy was Seroquel, a lot of it. If anyone is familiar with it ... man I don't know ... It's probably really helpful for some people. For me it was the nightmare scenario, right, like people always say, "I just don't want to get turned into a zombie". That's what Seroquel did to me.

Then I finally find a shrink that moves me from seroquel to Effexxor. The effexxorr is a wickedly popular anxiety med. And for a long time it helped me a lot. But they don't tell you what you will go through getting off it. 2 months of withdrawal tremors and probably another 3 months before I felt normal.

So now I have anxiety about what meds and how much of them I should be using to mitigate my anxiety. For me it's a fast acting benzo and a shot of rum when things come up fast. A long-acting benzo and a shot of rum on days where I'm gonna be out in the thick of it. And just a regular old shot of rum for the rest of the time when I'll have some modicum of control over my surroundings.

What I know is (and this is something a lot of people refuse to believe) anxiety is pain.

Everyone decides for themselves what their threshold is. I admit to occasionally 'trembling through it' for the benefit of my kids or wife or whatever but never let yourself feel bad for those times when you cannot.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

It's an odd and personal thing sometimes, what works and what doesn't.

My anxiety is a manifestation of PTSD, I've only lived with it for 12 years or so. But my first round of rx therapy was Seroquel, a lot of it. If anyone is familiar with it ... man I don't know ... It's probably really helpful for some people. For me it was the nightmare scenario, right, like people always say, "I just don't want to get turned into a zombie". That's what Seroquel did to me.

Then I finally find a shrink that moves me from seroquel to Effexxor. The effexxorr is a wickedly popular anxiety med. And for a long time it helped me a lot. But they don't tell you what you will go through getting off it. 2 months of withdrawal tremors and probably another 3 months before I felt normal.

So now I have anxiety about what meds and how much of them I should be using to mitigate my anxiety. For me it's a fast acting benzo and a shot of rum when things come up fast. A long-acting benzo and a shot of rum on days where I'm gonna be out in the thick of it. And just a regular old shot of rum for the rest of the time when I'll have some modicum of control over my surroundings.

What I know is (and this is something a lot of people refuse to believe) anxiety is pain.

Everyone decides for themselves what their threshold is. I admit to occasionally 'trembling through it' for the benefit of my kids or wife or whatever but never let yourself feel bad for those times when you cannot.

Ugh, anyone I talk to I warn about Effexor withdrawal. It took me over two months to get to not taking at least a piece every other day. It was not long release, I had two @ 75mg.

Onto Lexapro which is no longer covered, but has a generic I have not tried. I wondered if any one tried he generic?

 

[ArwenMarie]

Do they pump in the music up there? How is the view? DH wants to do this in Sept.

They do have the music. The view is good, although slightly obstructed by the monorail depending on where you are. You can try to get there a bit early and try to go over to the left corner if you are facing the castle for the best view.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Bay Lake Tower requires a keycard to access the bridge, from one end anyways. And I thought the 4th floor deck was for concierge guests of the Contemporary, or am I thinking of the lounge deck.restaurant deck? If you were staying at the Cont., these would be great spots to watch from though.

I believe you only need a keycard to get into the BLT at the BLT side of the bridge. The 4th floor deck is for anyone, it's totally open from the CR lobby.

You might be thinking of the deck on top of the building?

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

I believe you only need a keycard to get into the BLT at the BLT side of the bridge. The 4th floor deck is for anyone, it's totally open from the CR lobby.

You might be thinking of the deck on top of the building?

The last 3 times we've stayed at Bay Lake, you've definitely needed a key card to access the 4th floor deck. The door was kept locked. Whether or not a regular CR key card or a BLT key card was needed is uknown as we had BLT cards. There was one night during the Halloween party that several people were attempting to access the deck but were unable to do so.

 

[ArwenMarie]

The last 3 times we've stayed at Bay Lake, you've definitely needed a key card to access the 4th floor deck. The door was kept locked. Whether or not a regular CR key card or a BLT key card was needed is uknown as we had BLT cards. There was one night during the Halloween party that several people were attempting to access the deck but were unable to do so.

The 4th floor deck, or the deck on the top of the building? That would mean you need a card to get out of the Contemporary lobby onto the deck? Perhaps..can't remember. I know the deck on the top of the building is restricted and hard to get to.