Hello, I'm sorry that every time I come to the forum these days it's because I'm having trouble with something, and it seems so selfish. I used to come more often and try to help people out but now that things are relatively peaceful (though who knows how long it would last), I kind of slacked off and didn't do much. Sorry! I'll try to do better.
In any case, I have to travel with my family soon, and traveling has always been a big trigger, or at least a major source of anxiety for me. It's gotten a little better over the years with therapy and meds and all, but you know how it is--it never really disappear. I have put off going on any trips with my family for so long that this time I feel obligated to go, and tickets have already been booked so there's no turning back. My family is really looking forward to the trip. They have saved their vacation time and we are going somewhere they have always wanted to go. Though they know about my situation and do sympathize to a certain degree, they still think it's ridiculous how such a small trip--and a vacation!--should cause any anxiety at all. I did try to talk to a friend about it, but she could not understand and said she envied me for it and wished she could go on vacation too. My current therapist is also not much help because I only get to see him once or twice a month. It used to be better when I had therapy every week or twice a week, but I can't have it now that I'm not in an "emergency" sort of state and have switched to a new therapist who is really busy.
So I guess I'm on my own this time, and I just wonder if any of you have any good tips for managing anxiety before and during the trip. My trigger is mostly traffic related (flying, driving, etc.), but other things add to it too. I also have a really visual reaction to it (my mind plays "movies" when I'm anxious.) This is actually the most bothersome part. When I'm anxious I see things--it's not hallucinations, but I see and hear and smell things in my mind. I visualize what will happen and memories and past traumas fill it, and it's impossible to stop it. When my mind goes there, I don't "think"--I automatically experience this "movie", and there's simply nothing to do. Does this make any sense at all? One of my old therapists did teach me a trick, which is to visualize something else (like a real movie or a painting), but it only works when I try really really hard, and it stops working as soon as I stop doing it.
Well, I know these kind of questions are best addressed to the professionals, but I'm just wondering if any of you have any methods of your own that works. Do you have a "home-made cure" that seems to work when you cannot avoid a possibly triggering situation? Do you have any suggestions? I'm actually better than I was a few years ago, but it's still there, and it looks like it will never completely go away. I do still have some emergency Ativan my doctor prescribed, but they are only for emergencies, and I don't want to take it unless there's nothing else to do. Thank you so much in advance!
In any case, I have to travel with my family soon, and traveling has always been a big trigger, or at least a major source of anxiety for me. It's gotten a little better over the years with therapy and meds and all, but you know how it is--it never really disappear. I have put off going on any trips with my family for so long that this time I feel obligated to go, and tickets have already been booked so there's no turning back. My family is really looking forward to the trip. They have saved their vacation time and we are going somewhere they have always wanted to go. Though they know about my situation and do sympathize to a certain degree, they still think it's ridiculous how such a small trip--and a vacation!--should cause any anxiety at all. I did try to talk to a friend about it, but she could not understand and said she envied me for it and wished she could go on vacation too. My current therapist is also not much help because I only get to see him once or twice a month. It used to be better when I had therapy every week or twice a week, but I can't have it now that I'm not in an "emergency" sort of state and have switched to a new therapist who is really busy.
So I guess I'm on my own this time, and I just wonder if any of you have any good tips for managing anxiety before and during the trip. My trigger is mostly traffic related (flying, driving, etc.), but other things add to it too. I also have a really visual reaction to it (my mind plays "movies" when I'm anxious.) This is actually the most bothersome part. When I'm anxious I see things--it's not hallucinations, but I see and hear and smell things in my mind. I visualize what will happen and memories and past traumas fill it, and it's impossible to stop it. When my mind goes there, I don't "think"--I automatically experience this "movie", and there's simply nothing to do. Does this make any sense at all? One of my old therapists did teach me a trick, which is to visualize something else (like a real movie or a painting), but it only works when I try really really hard, and it stops working as soon as I stop doing it.
Well, I know these kind of questions are best addressed to the professionals, but I'm just wondering if any of you have any methods of your own that works. Do you have a "home-made cure" that seems to work when you cannot avoid a possibly triggering situation? Do you have any suggestions? I'm actually better than I was a few years ago, but it's still there, and it looks like it will never completely go away. I do still have some emergency Ativan my doctor prescribed, but they are only for emergencies, and I don't want to take it unless there's nothing else to do. Thank you so much in advance!
