PinkToes Posted January 12, 2010 Posted January 12, 2010 Something I read in another thread is making me wonder whether what I experienced a number of years ago was in the panic attack family, or something else entirely. I was traveling and as soon as I got to the airport, I started feeling the deepest, darkest depression I'd even been through. I've dealt with depression before, but had never had this sort of 'episode' -- it lasted 2 entire days. I couldn't eat and was wandering around like a zombie on my vacation, and I ended up going home early. I just couldn't shake it. I didn't have the classic panic attack symptoms I'd read about -- I didn't feel a real sense of panic or fear or anything like that, and I didn't have heart palpitations or the like. But the depression was the most overwhelming thing I'd ever experienced. I was 3,000 miles from home and started calling docs out of the phone book to see if someone could help me. It was horrible. Does this make sense to anyone? It hasn't happened since, but it's still in the back of my mind because it seemed to come out of nowhere. There was nothing going on in my life that was unusual, and the trip was a planned vacation. Thoughts?
alphamale Posted January 12, 2010 Posted January 12, 2010 hmm thats strange i don't know what it was. its not clinical depression or a panic attack
Crusoe Posted January 12, 2010 Posted January 12, 2010 Could possibly be homesickness, it is a powerful thing
Author PinkToes Posted January 13, 2010 Author Posted January 13, 2010 It's funny, the whole homesickness thing would make sense, except I've traveled a lot and had never felt like that before. It was so intense. I've got another long trip planned in a few months and I would really hate to go through that again!
Crusoe Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 My great great grandfather was one of the big African explorers. My grandfather and his father also spent most of their lives wandering the the world. As a kid I would read their journals and diaries. Stories of Livingstone, Stanley, slavery, war, disease, zulus, cannibals, pirates, lions etc. All exciting stuff, but one thing they all spoke of, was what an unpredictable and terrible thing homesickness was. I remember my grandfather once telling me that it can strike down the strongest of men down like a bolt of lightning. Lightning rarely strikes twice.
Author PinkToes Posted January 13, 2010 Author Posted January 13, 2010 My great great grandfather was one of the big African explorers. My grandfather and his father also spent most of their lives wandering the the world. As a kid I would read their journals and diaries. Stories of Livingstone, Stanley, slavery, war, disease, zulus, cannibals, pirates, lions etc. All exciting stuff, but one thing they all spoke of, was what an unpredictable and terrible thing homesickness was. I remember my grandfather once telling me that it can strike down the strongest of men down like a bolt of lightning. Lightning rarely strikes twice. Thank you so much, that's very helpful. I'm going to Bimini to swim with dolphins.
Crusoe Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 Thank you so much, that's very helpful. I'm going to Bimini to swim with dolphins. Sounds great, I am sure you wil love i, and I doubt anyone could feel bad around a dolphin.
Nikki Sahagin Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I agree that its homesickness. It is definately very powerful. For the first few days in any new country, my dad gets terrible homesickness. Its even possible to then be 'travelsick' when you return home but no longer feel like you are home. Human beings are very complicated creatures; we do need our routines and habits to an extent. I knew one boy who would never leave his small town because he said in that town with those people was the only way he could define himself and if he left, he would not know who he was.
Meaplus3 Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 It does sound much like your missing home when away. If it was a panic attack.. you'd have other symptoms. The homesickness can make you some what anxious.. and anxeity can lead to that depressed feeling you get. Probably the best thing you can do is try to remember that when your away you will go back home and perhaps keep in touch with a family member or two while away. You will be ok.. just try to relax. Mea:)
quankanne Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I also think it sounds like a strong case of homesickness – I get a very bad case of it whenever I leave the area where I grew up, usually getting teary-eyed and in a pretty bad funk. Thankfully, it's about a six-hour drive from there to here, and I'm usually solo, so it has time to work itself out without any witnesses.
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