So I live in Texas and the furthest I have ever traveled was to Arkansas about 2 years ago and it was a 5 hr drive.. December 31st we will be heading to Tennessee and it is a 12 1/2 hour drive. I was so excited to go because I have never been that far but all of a sudden today all I can think about is what if something happens while we are so far away from home... What can I do to stop this?
Need some advice.
- Thread starter AMcSwain
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Your Mom is very, very bright. The same words coming from an anxiety sufferer like me can be a bit hypercritical. Talk is cheap and honestly, I'd be in the same spot as you, if not worse. I'd also be agonizing over the logistics of the drive, what to pack and all sorts of other junk. If I could just absorb and act on the advice I give here, I wouldn't be here.
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It is reasonable to have such concern if you're struggling with anxiety. I get all nervous and paranoid when I go on a trip too, even those lame overnight class trips where peeps just get wasted and party all night while I try to sleep-- whoops, too much details. I'm glad you are feeling better now. If anxiety returns, just reassure yourself that you are not a fortune teller, so bad thoughts does not mean a bad trip. I hope you have a nice time!
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Hey, welcome home @AMcSwain ! When I was younger, I LOVED to travel. I've traveled all over the world, and even lived overseas for several years. My "real me" is adventurous and a little bit crazy, honestly (as in, unwise at times....). I started developing travel anxiety within the past year or so, and it's been the strangest experience. I went on a trip to New Orleans for my anniversary with my husband last July, and we had to pull the car over about an hour out of our hometown (it's about a 7-8 hour drive from where we live). I was hyperventilating, heart racing, ears ringing - I was having full-blown panic, and the only thing I could think about was turning that car around and going back home. My husband had planned this whole special trip, made reservations, etc. - so I walked around outside for a bit in bank parking lot and just tried to breathe, then got back in the car and knocked myself out with Benadryl to survive the first part of the trip. We were gone for 5 days, and the anxiety didn't let up until the very last day (you know, when we were heading home). It was like there was some big rubber band connecting me to my house, and the further I got away from my house, the tighter that thing stretched and the more I felt it. I spent a lot of time in the shower on that trip, trying to get my muscles to let go and my heart to slow down. It was miserable. So I don't really have any advice, just wanted to let you know you're not alone. My next trip was to the beach around Thanksgiving, and it wasn't as severe, but it was like the trauma of that trip in July had me on edge, wondering if it was going to happen again. So I have no idea what triggered this in me, especially since traveling has ALWAYS been part of my life, and something that I truly enjoy. I'd really like to understand it more...
It just seems like every day life is triggering it... I don't feel like I am stressed out really so I don't think it is that. I just think it's life right now and I don't know how to help it. I have been on Zoloft for 6 months and it has been great but I do still have days when I feel like I have not been taking anything and I don't know how to make it stop.
I have never been one to travel. I just like to be in a familiar place..so when we went to Tennessee and it was 12 hours from anything that was familiar to me I had a full blow panic attack the first night we were there and it eased up a little throughout the trip but it has been off and on since we have been back home and I don't know why.
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That's really tough! It's normal for it to continue for a bit, actually - you had kind of a trauma with all the panic, so your body will take some time to calm down now. Sorry it's been so hard - Just breathe through it, and don't fight it, and it will get lighter as you start to feel safer. Hope you're able to get some rest...
Oh, I hear you - Parenting is just EXHAUSTING, isn't it? I have a five year old, and he's not really into sports (yet). But I do work full time. How old is your son?
So...I hope you get time to take at least a nice long hot shower. How's that?
So...I hope you get time to take at least a nice long hot shower. How's that?