Want advice on how to handle this

[mommytoe]

I have anxiety problems. It seems to be getting worse. At times I really have trouble with breathing and my heart racing.

One of the things that causes me to have an anxiety attack is crowds. If people are spread out I am not at my best, but can handle things. If people are smashed together (no personal space) I can not handle.

I have been known to get so bad that I have to leave a store.

Traffic is another problem. It is common for me to have to pull over to calm down. That is why if traffic is bad or I am going very far dh drives. That makes it safer for everybody, but I still end up with anxiety attacks.

Any advice for lines? I am hoping that the time we are going will mean less crowds/lines. I can and will stand in lines, but if people crowd around me I can't breath.

We are driving to wdw. This is freaking me out.

Is there anything I can do to prevent or limit my anxiety issues?

 

[honugirl]

You might want to seek out a therapist that is well versed in panic attacks that can help you develop some strategies to overcome the anxiety of crowds. Try taking a yoga class or some other class where you learn deep breathing, which can help calm you down. Are you on an anti-anxiety medication? Maybe that would take the edge off your reaction so that you can employ other strategies to get through it?

You may want to avoid the buses because they pack 'em in like sardines, especially at the end of the night. Or do what I do, when I go, I wait and cruise around the park or shop for about an hour-hour and a half after the parks close, then the buses are empty!

Good luck. I hope you have a very good time.

 

[peemagg]

In the lines I would go in first and then husband. This way if you are in the lead you can go as close to people in front of you that you can stand and husband can hold the crowds from you in the rear. That should give you a bit of a buffer zone.

You might also think about seeing if you qualify for a Guest Assistance Card. This might give you a place to wait out of the crowds a bit more.

 

[Belle1962]

I agree with the poster about having DH go behind you in line. You control how much space you leave between the people in front of you and DH control the space behind you.

Some of the ques that come to my mind where once inside the building it gets mentally 'tight" are Buzz Lightyear (I once scared a kid into crying when the ride broke down, the line kept pushing more people into the building and I mentioned--ok probably very high pitched-- there wasn't enough oxygen in that room and we were all going to die); and any pre-show area-the Little Mermaid is the worst--I think it has the lowest ceiling in the world. Ques like GMR and SM are in darker environs and seem to have higher ceilings so they weren't a problem.

Food ques can be a madhouse. Let DH deal with it while you wait outside the line.

Lines to get into the park in the morning. While we love morning touring and believe that you accomplish so much more in the morning we now wait it out and plan our arrival for about 15 - 20 minutes after the turnstiles have opened--OR we do breakfast in the park before opening. (CP at MK; Safari Breakfast at AK, Princess at Norway--although my DGS has outgrown kisses from girls--except Grandma--and H&V at Studios--although my GS is too old for this one too). Plus it has the added bonus of having characters come to us--another large group of lines that we try to avoid.

Only used the buses once--and that was mid-day. Would never consider tham at night after seeing how tightly they pack people in.

Mission Space--forget it. Waaaaayyyy too tight inside the ride vehicle--that control panel comes towards you and then proceeds to sit right in your face. I have no clue what the ride was about as I "just kept breathing--in out in out".

The monorail can get very tightly packed also. You may want to either skip out of the park before the end of the evening or hang out and shop and relax after the park closes to avoid the big crowds. I prefer the boat back to TTC just for that reason. Stake a spot against a rail with DH behind you.

Driving--it helps me as the driver to stay on the left lane--to have open space to my side; as a passenger I like the driver to drive in the right lane. And heaven forbid--don't pull between two trucks. Also--don't overpack the interior of the car. If you feel like there is a lot of "stuff" around you, you will likely feel more enclosed. Try to leave the floorboard at your feet clear of anything--purse, books, etc. Keep only what you are touching in front with you.

HTH

Forgot to mention" pharmaceuticals. There are some great ones out there that don't leave you groggy and really 'take the edge off". What you may discover is that at night, back at your hotel, your mind will still be stimulated from the day/some low laying anxiety is still in your mind and you may have trouble sleeping well. Definetely check with your doctor and maybe test run a med before you go---don't want to get down there and have a reaction to something new.

 

[jenn-n-okla]

As a panic/anxiety attack sufferer I recommend this for the disney parks. Other than being prepared, prepared, prepared......
1. Tourguide Mike.......well worth the money. Tells you which parks will be the most crowded on which days so you can avoid them like the plague.
2. Get a GAC tell them you need a quiet shaddy place to wait in lines. Again SO worth it.
3. Avoid, the evening bus trips , the parades/fireworks (unless you know where to sit and arrive very early and can plan on staying seated well past the ending. Again tourguide mike can help. Little mermaid, Rock-n-roller coaster the first part of the "tour" is in a sound stage recording studio thing....very crowed...be prepared.
4. I use a stroller.......thankfully we need one for DD age 8....yes I know that is old...she has to use oxygen for lung issues so don't flame me...not sure what we will do when she gets to big for Disney Strollers. Anyway...they are great at keeping crowds away from you as they are big and you have some space around you. And yes I have been known to bump a few heals and/or "stop short"
5. Seek a doctor before you go and get on some anxiety meds if you have a severe case/problem. You need to find one4 that works yet doesn't make you a zombie.
6. And this one is from a funny friend of mine.....fart in the line......people do back off when there is a fart smell around.

 

[SueM in MN]

There is information about Guest Assistance Cards (GACs) in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature to get there.

I think that a touring plan, like TourGuide Mike or Ridemax will be more helpful to you than a GAC. I’m not saying that a GAC won’t be helpful, but it will only help in lines/attractions. For the rest of the park, if it’s crowded, you will run into crowds and waits just to to get around and in places like bathrooms, shops and restaurants. Using one of the touring plans will help you to be in the quietest areas of the quietest park.
Not all attractions have a quieter place to wait - for example, Little Mermaid has a crutch of people in the preshow/gathering area, no matter what you do.
THis picture shows an example of a wheelchair/handicapped waiting area in the small area on the right side of the picture.

The area is not that big, but would give you some separation from the main group of people. The guests in that area are also ushered into the theater about 1 minute before the rest of the guests, so you would be entering with a small group, although the large group will be following.
If the idea of being in a theater full of people is distressing to you, keep in mind that all exits are marked with a lighted exit sign. In most cases, the exit is directly across from the doors where you entered the theater. You don’t ever want to go out the doors that you entered - that will bring you into the preshow area where a new group of guests will be waiting.

You may also want to look into the Passporter book for guests with special needs it is called Open Mouse and you may be able to find it in your library. The book is large and may seem overwhelming, but if you look at it a small section at a time, it will be helpful. It does have descriptions of attractions and information about them.
Also, the Epcot FAQs thread near the top of this board has some pictures that might be helpful to you in anticipating what different attractions at Epcot are like. I intend to finish that thread and make one for each of the other parks, but have not had time.

 

[SueM in MN]

Just wanted to point out that this thread was started in January of 2009.
Someone PM'd me to point that out.
I was just looking at the poster ahead of me, who had just posted and I don't notice the original date.

SO, A REMINDER TO CHECK BEFORE POSTING.
As you read threads, there is an automatic thread search function which picks out threads that MIGHT be related to the subject of the thread you are reading. Those go into a list near near the boron of the page. Some of them are very old sometimes.
Also when you do a search, the thread search function can sometimes pop up really old threads.
On both types of searches, I have seen threads from 2000 pop up!!

I'm going to close this thread as the question has been answered and the original poster either went or didn't go to WDW a long time ago.