travel anxiety?

Hey folks,

It's been a couple of years since I last posted. I've had almost no trouble with anxiety for two years. In that time I've gotten married, acquired a lovely dog and am living in a new house. My home life has been very stable which is great for anxiety.

Unfortunately, I suppose I was due for another round. My wife loves to travel, and we've been on three vacations so far this year: once to Orlando for our honeymoon, once to Rickett's Glenn State Park in PA and the latest, from Thursday to yesterday, to Connecticut and Rhode Island for a friend's wedding. During each of these three vacations, I've suffered severe panic attacks with residual anxiety that faded after I came home. The anxiety I suffered this weekend has not gone away; it may take a couple of days. I would love to hear about anybody else having this type of trouble and what you've done in the past and continue to do to help ease the suffering. Like most of us, I find talking to people to be a big help.

Thanks,
Blue

Thanks Karen!

No more vacations this year that I know of. I'm going to have to try to deal with this head-on sometime soon though. My wife loves going on vacation and she wants me to enjoy it as much as she does. She doesn't really understand why I start feeling nauseous, shaking etc. when we're standing in a museum and learning about interesting things on a trip. She and I had a sit down and discussed it over this past vacation and instead of getting frustrated as she's done in the past (which just makes me more anxious!), she tried taking my mind off it by telling silly jokes, keeping in contact with me (holding hands, hugs etc). This helped a lot, and she actually asked to go to one of my next therapy sessions to learn more about how I tend to suffer when I go through this, because she wants to learn how she can best support me. She's a pretty amazing woman. :)

Blue

I have GAD and panic disorder. I have a lot of anxiety around flying and somewhat around where I sleep, so travel makes me anxious generally beforehand but not as much during. First, be proud of yourself for making it through what you have. You made it. You did what you wanted by traveling with your wife. Second, consider medication when traveling. I use it before and during flying and it's pretty much the only way I ever get on a plane. Third, my husband struggles to understand my GAD and panic disorder. So I understand your struggle with your wife not understanding. Just keep working on it with her. It's taken my husband quite awhile but he's getting better at being able to support me. After I get past a panic attack, I try to make a point soon after (whenever I feel like I'm ready) to talk to him about how he can support me better the next time. It's gotten better and better over time. I think he's just learned more and more, because it's something he doesn't understand and has never experienced. And anxiety is so totally irrational that how could he understand if I don't tell him how it feels? So I've tried to be open and honest with him about what I need, and he's taken those thoughts to heart over the years. I'm not able to tell him what I need in the moment because I'm so consumed by the panic, but I try to do it afterwards.

I hope that might help. Know that you're not alone.