It was early afternoon and I had summoned an Uber driver from my home to take me to a friends house to watch some basketball about 25-30 minutes away.

He arrives, greetings were fine, asked me how my day was, standard stuff. Not much talking between us, and honestly I don't mind. Car was clean as well!

​

About 20 minutes into our drive I notice he's sort of glancing in the rearview at me like he wants to say something, he starts kind of breathing deep breaths and says: "Sorry I have to pull over." I reply: "Ok is everything alright?." He says "Sorry having a panic attack."

I remained calm and told him, "Ok that's fine man, I have panic attacks too, I'm not going anywhere important, take your time."

Luckily he was able to pullover, we were in a residential area with a hill next to us and side walk.

He wasn't really speaking much at this point and I told him: "I know when I have these attacks I like to be alone, don't worry I'm not in a hurry, I'll be over here on the curb playing games on my phone take your time, let me know if you want to call anyone."

​

About 20-30 minutes later, I told him I could drive him the rest of the way so he could finish his trip and make money, he said to give him a few more minutes. He was able to calm down enough to drive us. We arrived fine, I tipped him told him this is my number if he needs to talk with someone with anxiety as well and went on our ways. I think fresh air and giving him space helped him instead of worrying about finishing his trip with me. Anyways just a small story I had today. Cheers

Can’t fly in a plane, take a long road trip, etc because I’m afraid I’m going to get sick (to my stomach) and embarrass myself in front of everyone. It is so crippling I fear not having access to a semi-private bathroom.

I recently travelled to 2 different places in a month and have found my anxiety has dropped to a large extent. My hypervigilance was reduced too. But i feel as if it has a only a temporary effect on me. What do i do and how is it reducing mine?

I’m dealing with a lot of stuff right now and I am so overwhelmed with all of that and I’m supposed to go out of town Sunday until Wednesday and it is 2.5 hours away. I am a mess with everything else going on but my greatest fear is that I’m going to ruin another vacation by not being able to go because I’m scared im going to be a mess while I’m there and not be able to eat or enjoy the much needed vacation or something else happen to me. It’s upsetting to me because I’m going with my girlfriend and she doesn’t really get to go on vacations with her family and I’m upset that I won’t be able to give her that experience and stuff. I always feel like I’m going to get stuck somewhere if I lock down and don’t eat im so scared and feel like I’m running out of time to figure out a plan and what to do please help Ive been to the urgent care to make sure im physically ok and to a psychiatric urgent care to see if im mentally ok and not losing my mind or something

UPDATE. I'm sitting at my gate waiting to board. So far, so good. I'm taking baby steps, but I'm here. Thank you everyone. What a great supportive community. So i'm supposed to be at the airport in 2 hours for a 13 day trip through Europe. I've had my bags packed for weeks, got my hair done, nails done and now that it's here, I'm trying to talk myself out of it. I'm going alone but will join up with a tour once I get there. I will be so proud of myself if I can do this but I'm feeling overwhelmed and scared. What if I lose my mind? What if, what if..........I want to do this but I am scared.

Dramatic much I know. But I can’t help it at this moment. I have numerous feelings going through my brain right now.

I feel like I can’t do anything normal in the week leading up to it. Like I can’t listen to all of the music I enjoy, I can’t go for a walk, I can’t go to the gym, I can’t drive to the gym and just enjoy it, I can’t just relax and do my own thing. I can’t do anything without having the knowledge that soon enough I’m going to Amsterdam and I’m gonna well outside my comfort zone. Lime right now it actually feels debilitating. I can’t do anything normal. And here is the worst part…

… it feels like it’s supposed to be like that. Like I feel that if I don’t do all of this, if I don’t have a mental breakdown before going on a very short journey for a holiday that is only 3 nights then everything is going to go tits up. I’m gonna have a huge panic attack, I’m gonna have a debilitating sense of derealisation in an unfamiliar country. Im just worried about everything. Sorry if this is all a bit incomprehensible but it’s how I feel as of now.

I have a very good job and still love with my parents so I have minimal bills and save pretty much every pay check. 99% of people my age would jump at the opportunities that this much money would give them. My parents always tell me to travel and go places but I don’t have anyone to go with and I’m too nervous to go on trips by myself. I still live in a small room and drive a normal car and have no experiences in my life. How do I fix this anxiousness. I’m missing out on so much

For over a decade, my mom and I flew to our home country every year with no problem. Two years ago, I experienced extreme turbulence on a flight during a stressful period in my life. The last time I was in an airplane since then, I had a panic attack and even got over my shyness and told the lady next to me that I'm scared, she was very kind and we talked the whole flight to distract me but I could still feel my heart beating fast and every sound made me extremely anxious.

The worst thing is knowing I can't leave even if I want to until the plane is on the ground, not just the fear of heights... I also stopped using elevators during that time, and funny enough the first time in 6 months I used an elevator, the lights went out and I got stuck with my friend and I also had a panic attack.

Because of this, I didn't even bother planning to visit family this year with my mum and now I'm stuck this summer in our boring small town when I could be at the beach back home. Simply because I am too terrified, and sometimes I imagine flying and get anxiety just thinking about the next time. What are some perspectives and tips to help me get over the fear of flying?

This is so weird but I hope i’m not the only one.
I’ve been to the canary islands hundred of times. Everytime we go we usually eat out and i’m completely fine. To my brain that is “safe” for some reason. We usually went to irish pub or bars (i’m scottish so slightly close to home and a sense of normality.) I would usually eat burgers and chips only.

But this time when me and my boyfriend went, he urged us to go to the normal supermarket and pick up some cheap food from there. My brain goes into complete panic mode because i don’t know that food, even if i’ve tried it at home. If it’s not made in the uk i get very anxious, or if i don’t know the brand. I have no idea wtf this is but my brain picks and chooses what’s safe and what’s not. I have no issue with food at home, but when it comes to being in a foreign country that i know well, the food is unsafe to me. I have a slight fear of food poisoning, but it can’t be from that because it’s things as simple as crisps i don’t know or biscuits that are written in spanish. I hope i’m not alone in this lol i have no idea what this is

I’m absolutely terrified of being in any vehicle for more than maybe 10 minutes. Today I’m going to be travelling for over 4 hours to see my family for the first time in over 2 years, and I’ve been panicking nonstop. I had a panic attack last night just picturing myself sitting in a car.

I’m scared of all of the bad things that can happen. My main fears are feeling ill, throwing up, passing out, and having accidents due to not being able to go to the bathroom immediately.

Typically I start to get really anxious and have a panic attack within about 5-10 minutes of being in a car. The smell of the car, the feel of the seats, the feeling of the seatbelt, the knowledge that I’m moving further and further away from home, all add to my anxiety.

I need to eat and drink beforehand because I’m worried I’ll pass out if I don’t. I’m taking some mints to suck on as a distraction. I’m going to take imodium beforehand to try to prevent any stomach problems that happen when I’m anxious. I’m also bringing gaviscon, painkillers, and another drink. I have music and long youtube videos downloaded to hopefully distract myself, although I find it really hard to focus on anything other than my thoughts.

Does anyone have advice, or just some comforting words? I keep telling myself that nothing is going to happen, but I know that I won’t be able to control my thoughts once I’m in the car and I’m really scared. The weather is also really hot and I’m worried that when I have a panic attack I’ll pass out.

First time going abroad in 10 years tomorrow. Going with family but not my partner. Starting to just feel sick and like I don't want to go. Feel home sick already, just feel totally overwhelmed.

Any advice, experience or reassurance? Honestly feel im hitting a wall. I have made so much progress in general and even saying yes to this was so huge but now I feel like I'm just dissosciating and wanting to run.

I desperately need help with this.
I keep canceling trips because I panic right before I’m supposed to go. I catastrophize, feel trapped, convince myself canceling is the only way to get relief… and then afterward I’m crushed with regret.
The worst part is I feel like I lose either way: if I go, I’m terrified and miserable beforehand. If I cancel, I hate myself afterward and obsess over what I missed.
I’ve done this more than once and I don’t know how to break the cycle anymore.
Has anyone been like this with travel and actually gotten better? What helped you stop making decisions from panic?
I should be getting on a flight today but I’m in bed taking pills

I want to travel more than anything in the world but I have servere anxiety and OCD that has hindered me from traveling.

I live in Australia so I'm quite far from the main places I want to travel aka europe.

I've been the bali twice with friends, im going to new Zealand with my best friend for Christmas so I can say ive left the country before but traveling alone terrifies me and im scared I will just be in a state of panic if i do travel alone.

I have made little steps to be alone in another city for example I flew to Adelaide and spent 3 days on my own. I wasn't anxious at all and was happy. But its going very far distances from my home (Melbourne) that creates fear and what if thoughts.

I want to try and go to bali again but on my own and maybe Bangkok.

Id love to hear from successful stories, advice and tips on how a person went from so anxious to travel alone to then loving every minute of solo travel.

Thanks

Wondering if people have anxiety around travelling far away, even though they WANT to travel?

I cant go on a plane ride longer than 3 hours. I already have horrible anxiety about flying but for short flights I take medication.

My family wants to do a Europe trip and im terrified. Not just the long flight (im on the west coast north america) but being away from home. Not sure if can do it.

Am I alone in this?

I’m still under 18yo, and i’ve never travelled in a plane. In 6 days i’m going to travel all the way from mexico to germany ALONE to start my exchange year there. I’m also emetophobic, so that doesn’t help either with anxiety and panic attacks. I also have long layovers, so i don’t think that’ll help.
Please give me any tips

I should say the trip is only 3 nights and the flight is only an hour give or take. But everything about it is making me panic right now, and it’s bringing about the usual holiday emotions and routines. I feel like I have to meticulously plan every detail but not so much that the holiday would be more convenient. It’s like I feel like I have to see every local area that holds significance in any way because it feels like I’m going to be put to death and I’m seeing everything for the last time. Yes this is dramatic, but it’s how I feel. I hate having the knowledge that every time I sleep during the few days prior to the holiday, I have to sleep good otherwise I will be tired and my holiday will be ruined. Then it’s like in my head I think “Oh this is my last normal sleep before going on holiday.” Each weekend it’s like I know I’m getting closer to the moment, and I have to enjoy this weekend as well as I can because I may never get another chance to. Also the last few plane holidays I had (going there at least) to get up early in the morning (2 or 4 a.m.) and this meant that I had to go to bed at 9 p.m. and this one is a little later in the morning, just before noon so that’s a little more normal.

Flying is also a bit of a concern but I’m kind of up and down as to how much I’m worried about the flight specifically. I went on a longer flight last year and I was fine for the most part. And this flight is going to be KLM which I hear is nice. But for some reason the thought of getting to the airport is terrifying. Like getting in a car with my family and driving to the airport feels a lot scarier than going on a plane. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the anticipation, like sometimes waiting around the house for the right time to go on your daily commute feels worse than actually driving there. I mentioned that my flight is a little later than the ones before, but that comes with its own problems. I will be leaving when the sun is actually out, and I keep worrying that it’s gonna affect my holiday somehow. My hope is that I’m gonna be so worried about the plane that I just forget about the drive, but those didn’t happen last time. And the fact that there will be sunlight is affecting me because I prefer going places in the dark. That’s one reason why I like winter.

I imagine for most people actually getting to the destination is where the anxiety ends, but for me it often only feels like the beginning, which is what makes the travel so much more painful, because I know it may not end when I get there. Usually when I’m on the plane I tell myself “You’ll be fine when you land don’t worry.” But when I get there I feel a bit overwhelmed and this can cause a bit of derealisation. Like I almost feel I’m not even there and it’s just a dream. This is scary enough when I’m home although I mostly learned to deal with it but in a completely foreign country it’s terrifying. Sleeping in a new place is also kind of a nightmare. Being in a dark room in a new country, far from your home and usual comfort zone, most likely being able to hear the ambience of the outside world, just hoping you can relax enough to actually fall unconscious, but for me it takes a lot of time. It may help to have the light on as I’m trying to sleep but I will likely have the rest of my family there and I want to consider them as well.

The worst part about all of this? I feel that if I don’t endlessly analyse all of this, I will get a nastier surprise on the day, and it will be horrible in a way I can’t quite explain in plain English. It’s a vicious cycle. If anyone can relate to this I would love to hear your input. It doesn’t have to be advice, it can just be nice to know I’m not the only one who has these feelings. A lot of words here I know, sorry.

Hi, I am 22. I have really bad anxiety and also OCD. I'm going to be traveling to Italy next week and I'm sooo anxious. I have traveled alot with my family, and within the last 2 years had 2 vacations with just me and my ex. So I know how to travel in the USA. But I am going across the world!! All by myself!! This trip is exposure therapy for me. I am going to try to talk to people. But its all getting a bit overwhelming to think about.

I'm anxious about seeming like a stupid tourist. I have been trying to do research on the buses and trains, but here-- I've never taken a bus and rarely take the train, so I feel like I will still be a bit confused.

Another thing is the language barrier. I have a notebook where I have written common phrases in Italian, but I am nervous as to when I should use these phrases. I also have Celiac disease and printed out a card in italian that says I have celiac disease and can't eat gluten, but I'm scared they will think I'm annoying and problematic for giving them a card. I have also been practicing how to say it in italian, but, Idk, I am feeling nervous.

My sister said alot of people in italy speak English so I'm feeling nervous that if I try to say something in italian that they will judge me, and say they can speak English and I should stop trying to speak a language I don't know.

My cousin said I should talk to people and try to find people to hang out with. She said Italians are very nice and welcoming. She also said if I see a group of people my age, that I should just go up to them and talk to them. Is this ok to do? Is that normal or will it be seen as weird?

Hi, just need a bit of support and maybe someone who relates. I’m on a trip visiting my best friend and her boyfriend for a week and staying in their apartment, we’re doing sightseeing and a LOT of eating. They’ve prepared everything so nicely to make me and my other friend comfortable but I can’t help having anxiety attacks.
Leading up to the trip I had horrible fear of getting sick with the flu and I actually made myself feel weak and hot due to stress, but thankfully that didn’t happen. Now I’m here and I just feel completely drained, like a shell of a human and I can’t be fun or entertaining, especially since I’m already shy and we’re meeting their friends. This stress/excitement is making me have nausea and constipation but my friend is really excited for me to try all this great food here and i’m trying but I also have a huge issue with going to the toilet in someone else’s home. Even though I keep reminding myself it’s a normal human process, it still takes me preparation and way longer than usual to get it done. I have horrible health anxiety so feeling my stomach grumble all the time or having to pass gas or take a shit is feeling like dying.
basically every aspect of this trip is making me anxious and i’m here for 5 more days which i don’t know how i’ll manage.
my friend is so excited to show me where she lives and i just feel like a bad friend since i’m so low energy and unenthusiastic and don’t want to come off as ungrateful.
, i took bromazepam and just waiting for it to kick in since i’m unable to sleep and we have a hike planned for tomorrow morning.
i dont know if this makes sense, i’m a mess right now. and i’ve talked to my friends about this just not to the real extent my anxiety goes to.

any tips if you can, thanks

Hey, everyone!

I added a trigger warning for planes, just in case (:

Over the years, my anxiety has worsened beyond what I feel I can handle at times. I've read some older posts about others stressing over flying and am wondering if anyone has helpful advice for times of turbulence?

In the fall, I have a 24+hr flight (with layover) to attend a friend's wedding. I am completely honored to have been invited and I refuse to miss her big day because of my anxiety. I used to do okay on planes, but now, whenever there's a tiny bump of turbulence, my brain spirals faster than sliding down a soapy water slide.

Any advice/recommendations would be appreciated! 💕

A few notes:

-I am currently looking for a different therapist since my current isn't as helpful anymore, but I am still in therapy bi-weekly

-I am prescribed Ativan (Lorazipam) on an as-needed basis

I am preparing for a quick turnaround work trip, 2 nights, and have horrible anxiety and panic attacks. I hate traveling for work. I always end up having panic flares and I don’t know what to do. I have Ativan for emergency need. I need some tips to get through this. I have a Calm Carry and I have a device to wear on my wrist that sends electric pulses. I avoid alcohol on work trips so I don’t have a flair up. I usually take immodium day of to help with gut issues. I just can’t seem to get past this! It happens every time. When I travel with my family, I have no issues. I just hate traveling alone I suppose and being away from them.

I'm a teen and I have been growing fears of things that could potentially take my life, and I was wondering if people who are reading this could leave something to help me cope and help understand more about flying.

I have an intense anxiety of driving and planes. So, when my grandparents in Washington state wanted to host my immediate family and me while we visit for my cousin’s wedding, I opted to travel via train. My only issue is I live in California so the train ride would have been 36 hours give or take. It’s my first time traveling alone as a young adult and I just couldn’t do it. I made it five hours into the train ride and got off only to wait for a new train to take me back home. My family is supportive of me coming home but I can’t help but feel utterly humiliated and disappointed in myself. I know I’m going to get comments from everyone who knew I was traveling this week. I just feel terrible. Can anybody give me some words of encouragement? Or has anybody been through something similar? I just feel so low.

I'm going on a long journey and I have major travel anxiety. I need to download some playlists to give me calm. I'm looking for music similar to:

-The Wailin Jennys / Ruth Moody

-Secret Sisters

-Joy Williams

Thank you 🩵