Road trip anxiety

Hello Family,

I am stressing out about a road trip, WOW! I used to love road trips, now I am afraid of this 5 hour drive.

It will be fun, because my wife and kids, even myself will truly enjoy it.

I am just afraid of ruining the whole trip with my "anxiety".

Also I am afraid of being in the middle of nowhere, and having a bad panic attack or something else!

Any ideas? Suggestions, are more than appreciated.

Thank you,


Josh

Post Edited (joshwee) : 9/23/2014 9:14:09 AM (GMT-6)

Hey Josh... I wrote a post similar to this awhile back and got a lot of great advice. MissGigi also started a post like this recently. Check out both posts when you get a free minute.

I just recently got back from a trip with the family and had a great time. Make sure you have a back up plan for when the anxiety gets high. Don't forget to bring your meds. Bring a laptop (iPhone, smart phone works too) so you can stay connected with us as spending time on here really helps to control my anxiety.

On the road trip there, do what Merrida suggested and sing! Don't worry if it annoys your family, just tell them you are practicing "coping techniques". : ). You can also play the alphabet game where you start with the letter "A" and each person names something you can buy at a grocery store that begins with the appropriate letter. Work your way down the alphabet and first person not to name their letter loses. It's also a memory game cause before you name your letter you have to repeat all of the previous answers. You can also play this with musical artist/ bands and US cities. This will make the time go by quick and before you know it, you will arrive at your destination.

Remember your deep breathing exercises and practice them on your trip as needed.

I think it's great that you're getting away and spending time with your family. I just came back from a trip to Cincinatti. It was great. We didn't do much of nothing other than relax in the hotel. If you don't mind if I ask, where are you headed to?

Hope you have an awesome time. Keep posting regularly to let us know how you're doing. Stay safe and have fun!

Post Edited (Cornell) : 9/23/2014 9:38:20 AM (GMT-6)

JW.,

I am sorry that you are not made to feel more validated and supported in your ways of coping...that is hard.:(

Remember though, that you are doing all that you are for yourself, and your family. Whether or not you get an approval rating is not the point. (I had to come to this place of understanding myself awhile back)

We are here to encourage your efforts always...so keep up the good work.

I have made it through a couple of trips that were challenging...panic at Disneyland...not the 'Happiest Place on Earth' for me at that time!!

..but when we returned a few years later...things were just fine and I had a blast.:)

I have traveled around the world since (not all around...but a lot for me!) and have conquered my nervousness about travel.

You can do it!! We'll be here to cheer you on. Have a marvelous time! ;)

S.C.

---

Moderator:Anxiety/Panic

"Courage is not the abscence of fear, it is feeling afraid and doing it anyway!"

"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles...it empties today of its strength."
Corrie Ten Boom

Panic Syndrome recovery due to CBT

Take your Klonopin with you and just DOIT I have the SAME travel anxiety and I can honestly say, my anticipatory anxiety is always worse than actually doing whatever I'm trying to freak about, like travel. What state are you in? I'm in Indiana. The Dells are about 5 hrs from us too.

Hang in there buddy, it truly is going to be ok!

Lisa

---

Married 10 yrs, no kids, 2 dogs, age 43.
Dx: GAD, Major Depressive Disorder (4 episodes since 1993)
50mg Pristiq (6/16/14) upped to 100mg (8/15/14)
Lamotrigine 50mg (Lamictal) 8/15/14 (100mg as of 9/19/14)
Deplin (9/19/14)
Xanax PRN (2/14)
Amlodipine Be****pril (04/08)

Best wishes for this trip. I went on a road trip a while back when my anxiety was at its highest point. I wanted to be there for my family so much, that I decided to go and try my best not to spoil it for them. I don't have a fairy tale ending on this, because it was a tough trip for me, but what I can suggest is not to put a lot of pressure on yourself to be the Dad/Husband you were before anxiety. You are where you are right now. Do the best that you can given your current circumstances.

I realize that we all want to be there for our family, but reality isn't always a fairy tale. Life is hard sometimes, and it's ok to have less energy, be a little more concerned, or have a hard time for a bit. Just do the best you can, and don't beat yourself up if things don't go perfectly, or if you have to be a little less involved than you're accustomed to. Just make sure that your children and your wife can sense that you love them and want to be there for them, even if you can't be there perfectly for them.

Ok, hope that helps! Best wishes for your trip!

Side bar Josh- you're in a northern, cold state like me. Do you take vitamins, particularly Vit D3? My psych has me on 5000 Vit D3/day. Mine was low. My friend in Chicago was having body aches and lethargy & his vit D was very low too. His doc put him on 6000 Vit D3/day and he said after a month he felt like a million bucks. It's worth a shot.

Sorry your wife doesn't understand. Maybe you should direct her to this forum and she can see all of us normal folk who have the exact same issues you're having! My husband is supportive but he sees me on the phone and asks "are you on your forum?" Ha! He then asked what the website was bc he wanted to see what I was writing/reading and what others were writing about. It really opened his eyes.

My good friends husband also thinks she's "weak minded" & can just change the way she thinks re: dealing w/her mental issues. And she's bi polar for Petes sake! That's like telling a cancer patient to "will away" their cancer :(

Anyway, we are here to support you always.

Best wishes!

Lisa

---

Married 10 yrs, no kids, 2 dogs, age 43.
Dx: GAD, Major Depressive Disorder (4 episodes since 1993)
50mg Pristiq (6/16/14) upped to 100mg (8/15/14)
Lamotrigine 50mg (Lamictal) 8/15/14 (100mg as of 9/19/14)
Deplin (9/19/14)
Xanax PRN (2/14)
Amlodipine Be****pril (04/08)

Lisa and Deb,

Thank you, mine was low 6 weeks ago, 25 units. Have been on a supplement and going outside to take some sun every day! I will get it tested tomorrow a long with TSH and other thyroid test. :)


Josh