Ways I Cope with Difficult Symptoms in the Parks

[Team Wendy and Nana]

I know I sometimes feel like the only person out there with my type of disabilities, and often it seems like I mostly hear about physical issues. While my personal diagnoses are rare, I know I'm NOT the only person that could use some of the coping mechanisms that I have developed over time for being in public and being in the parks specifically. I use a service dog and have very intense psychiatric symptoms. My service dog and I have been to the Florida parks for multiple long stays, and I'm also a passholder at Disneyland and we go once a week, solo. Despite the challenges in doing this (what day aren't there challenges?) I really look forward to our days there and it's one of my favorite places to be.

I struggle a lot with staying in the present, and so I try to focus on things that will help me with grounding, and also distracting from distressing internal symptoms. I know these types of skills can be helpful to all different types of challenges and disabilities, not just ones like mine. Here are some of the things we do to help at the parks:

DPT (deep pressure therapy task from my service dog)
take off sandals outside the park during a break, to feel the ground -- focus on the sense (we go to sit in the esplanade outside the park gates and use skills during breaks)
taste hard candy -- focus on sense
smell perfume stick -- focus on sense
post park pictures on FB
feel H's fur -- focus on sense
listen to noise cancelling setting on headphones
listen to music
listen to white noise
listen to nature sounds
get a snack
get a drink
take a break in first aid
Use sunglasses and headphones
focus feeling my heart pump/feet hit the pavement as we walk around the park to cope with certain intrusive symptoms

There are other grounding skills that are helpful for some too, but these are the ones we use every time we go and make it possible to do the parks each week. I also am constantly aware of feeling my service dog at the end of the leash, or under my hand at all times and that is irreplaceable consolation and help. We really could not go out anywhere, if he didn't accompany and assist us every day.

I do not always have the most helpful words for people with more physical challenges, but I love participating on the board and so I hope adding what I could might be helpful to some or any of you -- no matter the disability or even if you're not disabled. I find Disney can be pretty stimulating and sometimes focusing on the moment can help anyone from getting overwhelmed!

Please feel free to respond and even add your own ways that you deal with difficulties in the park -- I'd love to hear what works for you! Thanks for listening.

 

[LuvOrlando]

How kind of you to share

 

[mccarthyag]

Two things that have made a big difference to me are Loop earplugs to help with some of the overstimulation of sound and carrying a folding cane in my bag. I can use the cane for physical issues but sometimes it’s for when I’m feeling uncomfortable or unsteady due to too many people or the environment.

 

[Team Wendy and Nana]

Two things that have made a big difference to me are Loop earplugs to help with some of the overstimulation of sound and carrying a folding cane in my bag. I can use the cane for physical issues but sometimes it’s for when I’m feeling uncomfortable or unsteady due to too many people or the environment.

Thank you for your tips! I'm so glad they help!

 

[SueM in MN]

I recently saw a news story about an Australian meteorologist having a panic attack on air. This article includes information about his recent panic attack and the news team's seamless response to assist him and make the show go on.

I thought the article along with an article he wrote after his first panic attack might be helpful.
The second article has a lot of general information about panic attacks plus some of the ways he has found to help deal with his.