Scared to go on this trip!!! Help?!
Question: hi.. i just won a really prestigious award which entails traveling in a very foreign country (ie 12 hrs by plane) for 5 weeks with other teens. i am thrilled that i won but this now presents a new set of problems.. i suffer from an anxiety disorder and the idea of being so far away from home for such a long period of time makes me SO scared... im nervous ill just completely freak out when i get there.. the longest iv ever been away from home was 3 weeks and that was only like 2 hrs from home and i wasnt yet experiencing the anxiety i experience now.
any tips would be great. i dont leave for 2 months.. but its already weighing on my mind!!!
Answers: hi.. i just won a really prestigious award which entails traveling in a very foreign country (ie 12 hrs by plane) for 5 weeks with other teens. i am thrilled that i won but this now presents a new set of problems.. i suffer from an anxiety disorder and the idea of being so far away from home for such a long period of time makes me SO scared... im nervous ill just completely freak out when i get there.. the longest iv ever been away from home was 3 weeks and that was only like 2 hrs from home and i wasnt yet experiencing the anxiety i experience now.
any tips would be great. i dont leave for 2 months.. but its already weighing on my mind!!!
thats agoraphobia and i suffer it as well...i went on a trip to england for three weeks and was in a severely anxious state...my advice..learn some coping methods now and start some postiive thinking and buy some cognitive behavoir books, they really do help...and get some medication, ativan or the like for emergencies..
im going to england again end of may and im terrified of going again becuase i know how scared i was the first time...but u have to face it or it will never get better...and i am taking extra ativan with me this time to help calm me when things get bad
and just remember, u prob will panic if ur prone to it but it doesnt have to ruin the experience...think of it as a headache (i know its alot scarier and easier said than done) but you have to face this...ull always regret it if you dont...
some good books to read are feeling good and 10 days to self esteem by david burns, they will help change ur thinking patterns and stop the downward spiral of what if thinking...
also do some imagine exposure therapy...place urself overseas and feel the anxiety that goes with it, try and imagine as much detail as possible and if u end up in high anxiety thats good!! what this will do is numb u to the sensation in that place so when it does happen ur mind thinks its already happened before and u wont react as strongly...
and talk to people, be honest with people, tell someone u trust that will be there too if u can...even if one person knows u may feel safer
and just remember u are no safer at home than u are overseas, ur safety comes from within urself when it comes to anxiety and panic
u wont go crazy and do something stupid, that never happens with anxiety...the only thing that may happen is panic, and thats what the ativan or med is for if it gets severe and u feel like u need a break from it...within half an hour ur good as new again
good luck
I suggest getting some meds that will help you calm down- valium- zanax or something. Talk to your doctor before going and see what they can do to help you.
I'm sure once you are over there, you'll be having so much fun, that you won't even remember that you were worried about it!
talk to your parents...maybe they can take you to a dr...you worked hard for this trip...don't let anything stop you from going....congrats
Honey can anyone go with you. Sometimes we have to do things for the wonderful memories that we obtain from them..this is one of the memories that you'll cherish..so now talk to your doctor to see what meds you can take without changing your personality..your a great person..so let people get to know you..enjoy your vacation..
New expirence are really kool I wish I could go, but if you dont whant don't go, maybe your insticts say don't go, talk to yourself and If you believe you should not go... there is a misterious reason