Travel anxiety!

[Lisamarieaxo]

I stopped traveling due to intense anxiety. I worked my way to some travel again but then had a huge setback. Worse ever. Had to quit my job.

I then got an amazing opportunity to go to London. It's Thursday. I was so anxious i put off purchasing my tic. Then 2 weeks ago all prices went so high (due to pending strike w pilots).

I can still go but 1) i would have to take a connecting flight instead of the nice direct flight 2) I have 1 friend who said she would dad go w me but now I'm unsure. I have another friend but I would have to pay her tic and they are so high. I am not working, and paying cobra, but I do have a finite savings and i could be real tight w money to make up for it. 3)I AM STILL SCARED OUT OF MY MIND IT IS SO FAR! for me to be trapped on that plane. I even saw how I had a panic attack in NYC which is close. Everyone says nothing worse can happen there than home but at home I have all my comforts to take the slight edge off. I could prepare and bring as much comfort with me. Ughhhhhhh I hate how this has ruined my life!

 

[blackemerald1]

I stopped traveling due to intense anxiety.

Hello @Lisamarieaxo - have you done anything to address this anxiety aside from avoiding travelling and quitting your job?

This anxiety is now crippling fantastic opportunities for you to live your life the way you really want to. Have you considered some therapy for this disorder?

I'm not sure there are any fast fixes especially to help you buy ticket (s) and get prepared to travel before Thursday.

Maybe spend some of your savings on your mental health rather than paying people to look after you for overseas trips you could otherwise do on your own.

I'm sure there would be any number of people that would love to get free passage to and from London. But taking/paying for someone to care for you has problems aside from being able to afford the ticket like....

Will these people know what to do if you have a massive anxiety attack whilst en route?

Do they understand exactly what is causing/triggering your anxiety attacks...? Are they serious about your welfare or just looking at the free ride? Check them out before signing any of them up on your credit card or whatever.

Hope you get the anxiety under control because that is achievable. Good luck. :)

 

[Mee]

What prompts the anxiety?

Is it the actual travel? Some airports / airlines have one day courses tackling fear of flying/ airports.

Regarding connections; I think that does add a layer of anxiety even to relaxed travellers. There are tips to finding best flight options but they depend on your flexibility. For example; could you look for flights on a Wednesday rather than a Thursday? ( this doesn’t solve the anxiety and root of the problem)

 

[Lisamarieaxo]

Hello @Lisamarieaxo - have you done anything to address this anxiety aside from avoiding travelling and quitting your job?

This anxiety is now crippling fantastic opportunities for you to live your life the way you really want to. Have you considered some therapy for this disorder?

I'm not sure there are any fast fixes especially to help you buy ticket (s) and get prepared to travel before Thursday.

Maybe spend some of your savings on your mental health rather than paying people to look after you for overseas trips you could otherwise do on your own.

I'm sure there would be any number of people that would love to get free passage to and from London. But taking/paying for someone to care for you has problems aside from being able to afford the ticket like....

Will these people know what to do if you have a massive anxiety attack whilst en route?

Do they understand exactly what is causing/triggering your anxiety attacks...? Are they serious about your welfare or just looking at the free ride? Check them out before signing any of them up on your credit card or whatever.

Hope you get the anxiety under control because that is achievable. Good luck. :)

Oh yes, I've had 4 therapists for years now. I am also in group therapy. I also meet w spiritual mentors and even nutritionists. I've done it all and continue to do so.. I ddnt end up going on the trip due to a passport issue. I was at the airport and ready to go, for me that is a big win!

 

[blackemerald1]

I've had 4 therapists for years now. I am also in group therapy. I also meet w spiritual mentors and even nutritionists. I've done it all and continue to do so..

That's incredible. And yet this anxiety persists. If I was you I'd fire the lot :) and invest in a phobia expert. There are degrees of anxiety and then as I understand it, there is phobia. Perhaps take all of them off the payroll and find one really good one?

Well done for getting to the airport and I'm sorry you didn't get to travel this time.

 

[MrMoonlight]

I just missed a trip to Maui because of my fear of panicking in the terminal. The repetitive noises and streams of people to track or be aware of...maybe as I process through my traumas I won't be a reactive but for now I'm also missing opportunities. I'm supposed to go to Las Vegas before years end...I keep pushing it out....suppose I could drive.

 

[blackemerald1]

I keep pushing it out....suppose I could drive.

^Is this the typical ptsd - hate public places & heaps of noise, people etc issue or do you too have anxiety specific to airplanes & terminals?

 

[Lisamarieaxo]

That's incredible. And yet this anxiety persists. If I was you I'd fire the lot :) and invest in a phobia expert. There are degrees of anxiety and then as I understand it, there is phobia. Perhaps take all of them off the payroll and find one really good one?

Well done for getting to the airport and I'm sorry you didn't get to travel this time.

How to get a phobia therapist?? Any advice? Thanks

 

[TruthSeeker]

Oh yes, I've had 4 therapists for years now. I am also in group therapy. I also meet w spiritual mentors and even nutritionists. I've done it all and continue to do so.. I ddnt end up going on the trip due to a passport issue. I was at the airport and ready to go, for me that is a big win!

I kinda see this as a part of you submarining yourself intentionally-procrastination is a real deal killer. Part of you wanted to go, another part was afraid and didn't decide until the last minute and didn't follow through in a timely fashion. I'd sit down and communicate with the part that doesn't want to go....focus on it's issues-what are the fears..... Maybe start small, and show the fearful part that you can travel on a plane....go visit a place, and return safely-but one only an hour or two away in a more familiar town or location. I can travel in a car, but have more anxiety in a plane-so I make sure my layover is 2 hours....so if the plane is late....I have plenty of time to figure out the next airport, get to the bathroom, and get some food if the plane snacks sucked. The more I fly alone, the easier it gets.
I worry about losing something important....so I keep my passport, credit cards, license, and money around my neck for easy access....
I put it on the first thing in the morning when traveling and take it off the last thing and put it by my bed. Figure out what your fears are-and work with them.

Consider taking several weekend trips to not so distant places (and if you travel nearby the airfare can be very low-or if you go on standby). Once you feel more comfortable traveling locally on a plane, then maybe try a longer flight to someplace you have never been and would like to go. I'll let you know, basic fare is a cramped seat if you have long lets (5'7") so I'll pay the extra 50 bucks or whatever to be comfortable. Crossing the Atlantic, seats are typically larger but the size of your seat matters if you have anxiety......it will until you get used to flying.

I'm proof it can get better-two years ago, I was held up in my house....a bedsitter.....I've been working on this plane issue, too.....and just this week was asked to go to Africa.....I'm deciding.....and the trip wouldn't be for a year (I'd work on losing 30 lbs to make the 17hr ride more comfortable.......I'm leaning a yes (two years ago, I was too afraid to try). Good luck! I know you will figure this out.

 

[MrMoonlight]

or do you too have anxiety specific to airplanes & terminals?

I don't have trauma specific to either. The last time I was in an airport I freaked out, that memory is fresh and I'm scared to repeat that experience. There was a repetitive 'bonging' sound when they scanned the tickets. They used the terminal overhead speakers to project it and I freaked out. I was also seated in a particular way so I had two lines of fast walking people streaming by on either side of me. I was looking from right to left again and again slowly increasing my anxiety...then came the 'bonging'.

I was better when I got in the aircraft and everyone was seated, orderly facing the same direction....I don't know man, the whole thing sucked.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Yep, weird anxiety building shit happens in airports. My flight was 2 hrs late and everyone got on the plane but me.....they kept telling me they'd give me a seat number. I asked politely 8 times for my ticket with my seat number w my cabin so I'd know when to board.....nope....I started taking pictures of the empty seats around me.....and the crewman who promised me a seat on the plane......and I was the last person on the plane.....they overbooked my flight. I had paid 6 weeks prior for a round trip ticket. I got on.....but it wasn't pretty after everyone had boarded but me. But that's only part of the vacation or trip......it didn't ruin the majority of the trip....looking at it like that helps me keep "it's just a moment in time thinking in check."

 

[Mee]

I just missed a trip to Maui because of my fear of panicking in the terminal. The repetitive noises and streams of people to track or be aware of...maybe as I process through my traumas I won't be a reactive but for now I'm also missing opportunities. I'm supposed to go to Las Vegas before years end...I keep pushing it out....suppose I could drive.

Would you be prepared to spend more to mitigate this? Flying business ( or even first if you can afford it) and using an airline lounge could help? It gets you out of the airport ‘hubbub’ for most of the time.

When I fly it’s on standby usually and the stress is interesting :(. It’s incredible how much the lack of control has increased that since ptsd . Before it was , ‘eh, this flight. The next flight, a flight tomorrow....’ now it’s ‘omg. This is going to be terrible, and we’ll inevitably fly separately and i’ll Have to go and find a hotel by myself and ill get It all wrong’. Getting it wrong features heavily. Fear of flying doesn’t at all. We are flying somewhere in December and I bought tickets because I just don’t want stress for s four day trip.