Anyone else feel anxiety right before your trip?

[4orm]

Help! I feel anxiety attacks coming on! I don't know what exactly is causing it. I have always been a good flyer, but now I'm getting very nervous. I have had a few anxiety attacks in the past, and I'm having anxiety at the thought of having another! Talk about irony! Anyone else feel this or should I head to my Dr. right away?

 

[ptrbryant]

I've suffered on and off with anxiety attacks for years and seem to always have problems before trips...remember that anticipatory anxiety is the worst (i.e. thinking that you're going to have an attack). While I don't currently see a therapist about it, I did learn some very helpful cognitive techniques from one. Try writing a list of your anxious thoughts. After each one, write a rational response. Eventually, the rational side will win out and you'll feel much calmer. Also try taking deep breaths for an extended period. Frankly, even with all that, I do still need medication for the actual flight & until I feel "settled in".

There! I've publically stated things about myself on a message board that some of my close friends no nothing about! I just hate not to help someone in the same boat I've been in before.

Remember, you'll be fine!!!

Karla B.

 

[4orm]

Thank you so much! I will try out the tips you gave me! I haven't told many people about this either. Funny how being an unseen face online makes you braver

 

[kilee]

I get so stressed w/ anxiety before each of our trips (almost to anywhere) that I physically get myself terribly ill. Right to the point I'm not sleeping for nights on end and I have severe stomach pains--- I don't know what it is. However, just before my last trip, my doctor went through my file and noticed I have these same symptoms about 3-7 days before each big trip--- I just can't get over it!!! It always goes away by the time we are checking in to the hotel. And it doesn't make a difference if we are driving or flying- so it's not the flying issue.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I start in on the did I forget anything bit- Ive gotten better at double checking myself but still it happens...

Especially if I do not have control over all bits of my trip-

-em

 

[bctripp]

I worried so much about everything being perfect last trip, that I was sick on the first day we got there and we had to stay in! I really didn't realize it at the time, but now I do, and will definitely try and relax next time!

 

[*Fantasia*]

I do get the anxiety feeling too on the day we leave for our trip. But because we fly so often that it doesn't bother me as much than it did before, I'm talking about flying.

As far as the trip goes...no anxiety here. We go on our vacation enough that we no longer do comandos. If we miss a ride or attraction, no big deal cause there's always another time. If we forgot to bring something with us, we just go to the store.

We just go so often to Disney that I don't even unpack our luggages. I take the clothes out and wash/dry them and put them right back in the luggages.

 

[Snoozan]

If your anxiety is mainly about the flying, maybe you could get your doctor to give you a prescription for Valium or something that would keep you calm during your flight. I usually take a couple of Dramamine as that mellows me right out - it doesn't put me to sleep because I'm so worked up, but does "take the edge" off.

I'm to the point now where I fly at least once or twice a year now so I don't get anywhere near as anxious as I used to. I realize now what everything feels like when I'm a plane-like about 45 minutes for landing there's usually a sudden drop in altitude.

If your anxiety goes beyond flying and is affecting your everyday life - please don't suffer, but see your doctor. There are lots of techniques, as well as medications, that will help. I've had family members go through this and they swear by the low-dose anti-depressent in getting their lives back. It really is a chemical imbalance(I believe low seratonin level)and there is help out there. Good Luck! Just remember, there are lots and lots of people that deal with this.

 

[cmonroe]

She took valium for our last flight. She is not someone who ever medicates either, but she was extremely nervous about flying. The only thing it did do was change her personality slightly for 5 or 6 hours after the flight. My wife is normally very happy-go-lucky, and these made her, not worried, but also a little cranky.

We are solving that problem this year by driving. We'll see how it goes. If driving is too difficult, we'll probably revert to flying again.