Anyone have experience with anxiety disorder and WDW?

[wishspirit]

Yes there are some of us who love disney but panic like hell!
I have (or had cause i am getting a lot better) panic attack with agoraphobia, and i have done disney! I had the emotional support of my parents, but i found that i was mostly fine whilst i was there. I know what sets off my panic attacks, such as feeling dizzy or too hot, so i avoided rides like the Tea Cups or anything to jolty (yet i can do ToT which is crazy!). We had lots of rest breaks and took it at a really easy pace.

My main problem is not eatting when i am worried i may have a panic attack, which leads me to getting dizzy and then the panic starts over. I kept drinks like gatoraide and poweraid with me all the time to keep my blood sugar levels up. I also kept plastic baby bags (for diapers) with me at all times cause my biggest fear is vomiting in public. That meant that i had a way of dealing with it (not that i needed them).

It will be fine going with people who know that you get panic, even with kids, explain that mommy needs a bit of time in an air conditioned room! I also figured out where the first aid stations are on each map, incase i needed to lie down (it usually makes me feel better).

If you want to PM me, please do. Disney can be a wonderful experience, i hope that you will find that yo have a great time! Personally it was a place where i have had the least amount of panic attacks on holiday, because there is always something to do. I think i only had a couple of small ones at the most (usually in resturants!).

So good luck!

 

[robinbutterfly]

I have high anxiety. I am excited about WDW but thinking of cancelling my trip because I am scared of flying with my kids. I have been on airplanes numerous times before I had kids. Now that I am a mother, my anxiety level and fear of flying has become extreme.
I am not sure if I should face my fear and just go on the plane, or just cancel my trip. :-(

 

[mechurchlady]

You can take the Silver Star on www.amtrack.com as it is about a 12 hour trip by train. In 1998 I did the Orlando to Los Angeles trip via Washington DC and Chicago. I got to go through the Carolinas and it is not that long a trip by train.

http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtra...nfocode=91&_traininfodate=2008-12-22T21:13:00

http://www.amtrak.com/timetable/oct08/T04.pdf
That is the schedule for the trains out of the Carolinas and you could take one of several local trains there. They leave at night and you arrive the next day at Orlando around noon or 1:15 pm. People sleep in their seats or your can get a sleeping room. That would be easier on the kids and breakfast would be included maybe. They have a dining car and snack bar.

 

[robinbutterfly]

Thanks. We already bought our plane tickets and they are non-refundable. :-( I am not willing to spend more money on transportation.
I was just wondering if anyone else was going through this, or if it was just me.

 

[mechurchlady]

Thanks. We already bought our plane tickets and they are non-refundable. :-( I am not willing to spend more money on transportation.
I was just wondering if anyone else was going through this, or if it was just me.

Not that bad but yeah I get the preflight jitters. I seen that William Shatner episode of Twilight Zone. Apprehension is not uncommon and you are definitely not alone but you can fight it. RAtionalize your fears and keep telling yourself that you are making things up in your head. OMG the wheels will come off, wait that is nonsense. It is a hard battle and I fight because I know I am on the edge of some fears and if let go would end up in phobias.

Their are therapy groups, exercises and tricks people do to over come those fears. Good luck on the trip and if you have to quit the flight then you can still take the train and have the vacation of a life time or send the boys on the plane and you take the train so that you can meet them at the airport. There is always a plan B. You will do fine hun, just keep swimming.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Planes are a very safe mode of transportation. Safer than driving.

On your way there, think about all the fun you'll have at Disney! Bring some things to distract you (as if your kids won't be distracting enough!) like music or books/magazines or puzzles (like word searches, crosswords, etc.).

On your way back, remember all the wonderful fun you had at Disney. You could write about the trip in a journal and later transfer it to a scrapbook, if you do scrapbooking, or later type it up on here as your trip report. And the music and such will be helpful on the way back, too.

Make sure you eat and drink enough before flying so you don't have those physical needs making your anxiety worse. And get everything ready for both ends of the trip in advance so you're not rushing around before going to the airport and at the airport, as taking your time will lessen the stress.

If you need to, get a prescription med from your doctor.