Follow
Share

I have horrible travel anxiety, May was the first time I ever flew, good friends of ours lead us through the whole process. Even brought us to the airport and picked us up.
Now I got another trip coming in January, my mind is all ready spinning, thinking of the what ifs. Oh there are a lot! From snow storms, getting stuck in the airport, to my mother's death, and so much in between.
I gotta try to get over this, or just stay in my state.
Any advice?
Any advice would be great.

Find Care & Housing
Thanks guys, way, and notgodenough, your right this is most likely something I have to get though and not get over. For now anyways.

Thanks for the answers, after educating myself and asking another forum, this is really more of a dyslexic issues, and not something that a typical learning person, can help with me a lot.

The dyslexic community gave me some good advice, to go on line and YouTube the airports and everything to accumulate myself better, so me or my most likely dyslexic husband doesn't get lost.

I didn't realize it is a very common dyslexic issue, but I'll take any advice and that may help.
(2)
Report

What I meant about you not being POA , is that you have no power whether you are home or not .

I think getting away will be good for you, like when I went to Hawaii I got to relax . There was nothing I could do about whatever happened at home , so to my surprise I let go of worrying about Mom
(0)
Report

If the flight itself is bothering you , ask your primary for an “ airplane pill “ something to relax you . I did this on a really long flight twice to Hawaii. The whole…,.there is no land for an emergency landing and your in the middle of the Pacific Ocean was scary .

I don’t sleep well the night before I fly , so I end up falling asleep on the airplane often now . I even plan a nap , makes time in flight pass by quicker .

I always take an Imodium once I get through security since I have had IBS for many years . Never had IBS in flight.

Think about that this trip is to your son’s wedding . I’m sure you would like to be there. I travel much better if it’s a trip I WANT to take .

As far as your Mom … You can’t worry about that . You aren’t even POA . Worrying about that isn’t helping you or her . I felt like that before I went to Hawaii . And going was the best thing for me , because I was so relaxed on the beach because I knew I was too far away to do anything for Mom . I had always wanted to go there and LOVED it so much , we went back 4 years later .

I also “ live life Afraid”, always have . Ramped up with Chronic anxiety and IBS . The two seemingly permanent gifts I have now since caregiving for my parents who are not even alive anymore .

But it helps to push through and just DO IT . I wouldn’t want to miss my kids wedding . That would be motivation for me .

You don’t have to “ get over it” . You just get through it . I really do understand . It took me YEARS , to where I am now and can fall asleep in flight . I used to be white knuckle all the way .
(1)
Report

I like funkygrandma's advice to "just do it afraid". I am quite anxious by personality and a bit anti social and claustrophobic. In all honesty I "do LIFE afraid" a whole lot, and have more or less got used to it. Afterward I am all "That wasn't bad at ALL".
For me, also, the more I admit what I feel to others the more I know they feel quite a lot more like me than I ever thought. So that helps me get through as well.

I always think of when I was an RN. We had small lockers and mine was always replete with my pharmacy of pepto, Imodium, tums, what have you. And for years I would watch a nurse named Sherrie who seemed to have it all together. Envied her a bit.
When I retired, because my locker was prized (high, instead of low) Sherrie asked for it and we went to change combo locks. She opens hers and lo and behold a whole ARRAY of home pharmaceutical for HER stomach. When I learned that she was inside feeling all those years just what I was feeling I learned the lesson. Just share what you feel with someone. I do think it does help.
(2)
Report

Traveling is stressful, traveling by air even more so - or at least I find it more stressful.

It's not a character flaw to feel anxiety over stressful situations.

I find making alternative plans - in case something goes awry - helps alleviate some of the stress. If nothing else, it makes me feel like I am more in control.

And you know what, even if you don't "get over it" - the travel anxiety, that is -as long as it's not ***keeping*** you from traveling, then you've won the main battle, so yay, you!
(1)
Report

Try taking half a Xanax or Valium......which is very helpful for anxiety in general when used once in awhile. I've taken half a Xanax before a head MRI and didn't even care about the loud noise involved or the cage over my face.

I think we ALL have anxiety over certain things in life, let's face it. I wish I could be 100% like Eckhart Tolle and never let anything bother me, ever. But sometimes things DO produce anxiety and that's nothing to be ashamed of or apologize for.

Good luck, you'll be fine!
(2)
Report

Anxiety, I truly didn't mean to offend you, and I'm sorry if I did. I was just referring to your forum name which obviously has some truth to it.
I'm glad that you've made progress in learning healthy ways to deal with your anxiety over the last many months but obviously you still have some work to do which is why you asked the question.
My point was that life is just too short to spend it worrying and not enjoying all it has to offer, as you will end up missing out on a whole lot.
So again...just do it afraid and find out what joys there are to be had despite your fear and anxiety.
(0)
Report

Ha. Medication. That's the answer. And a nifty looking incontinent wear pant.

Quite honestly I hate to fly and it comes of a lifetime of fear and anxiety built around IBS. For me it is
ALL ABOUT THE BATHROOMS.
I don't care if the bloody plane goes down; I care if I need the bathroom and there isn't one I can use.
On planes there aren't many.
AND they are always saying "Turbulence... stay in your seat with seat belts fastened". So what does it matter HOW many bathrooms there are?


Then it is the fact that one breast is still a breast and the other is a knitted knocker. I have given up on that one and pull it out and wave it at TSA agents as I go through the machine. Stops the "wand" searches and the "pat downs".

Then there is the fact that the cancel so many short flights which most of mine are, or delay them. Took me years to get a big girl phone, but once they took pay phones out I couldn't even notify my daughter, starting toward Seattle at about the time I took off, that I was delayed or cancelled. A problem when my bro was ill, too, but at least that made me get into the 21st century with a big girl phone eventually.

I don't know a way but eating light, taking 1/2 of a 5 mg valium and wearing some very sporty looking depends (never needed but a "comfort" in the unknown).
That's my recipe and will remain my recipe long as I choose to fly.
After N. pulled his fast one with the sudden stroke I am thinking not to leave alone again for the duration. 83 next year. Time I think. Or time to think.
(0)
Report

Sorry, I do find it a bit offensive, seeing how far I have came, from the person that , signed in ten months ago that was filled with anxiety.

Very sorry I asked.
(1)
Report

No offense Anxietynacy, but I think from your name you have more than just "travel anxiety" which is a shame. Life is too short to waste our time worrying about things that may or may not happen, as we seldom have any control of the what ifs.
And even the things that we think we have some control over often prove us wrong.
The saying "Let go and let God" is appropriate here.
Just letting go and going with the flow regardless of what happens and making the best of our circumstances is the healthiest choice we can make, and strengthens our trust in our Creator.
And you never know, there just may be some beautiful pearls of wisdom for you to glean from these seemingly stressful situations.
So my advice to you would be to just go ahead and do it afraid. And while you're at it, just enjoy the journey wherever it takes you, as you may just find yourself having fun.
(0)
Report

Start a Discussion
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter