jen_r Posted January 15, 2013 Posted January 15, 2013 Anxiety is a nightmare on it's own. But having anxiety in a different state or country...yikes. Now, I am not going that far, only 4 hours away to NYC, but I am already FREAKING OUT. My anxiety has been acting up and I'm feeling depression for the first time in my life. I'm wondering how I'm going to last a whole weekend in NYC with friends when I can barely leave the house for a few hours without needing to run home for safety. Anyone else deal with this? Is there a way to talk to myself out of it and be ****ing normal?! I mean, I should be able to go away for the weekend and be okay!
Leegh Posted January 16, 2013 Posted January 16, 2013 Just take a day at a time, or an hour at a time, if need be. Try not to be worried when you go out in public, as most people are thinking about their daily problems, and not who they see in a grocery store, train, airport, etc. For example, I was in a grocery store this morning, and I can barely remember the other customers, sales clerk, etc. Most of the people that I did see in the store were probably thinking about their spouse, work, kids, etc., and probably didn't notice me. I think you need to relax more, and "fake it, 'till you make it". If you feel a lot of anxiety when visiting New York, you could always tell them that you are sick (virus, etc.) and have to go home. In addition, reducing caffeine can be a big help. I'm in the process of cutting back a little every day, hopefully to gradually stopping it. Good luck with your trip!
carhill Posted January 16, 2013 Posted January 16, 2013 Sure, dealt with it about 20 years ago and going on safari into the wastelands of Africa solved it permanently, as a basal aversion to new and unknown experiences. Later, the internet and information technology would further assuage any anxiety felt. Nowadays, I travel all the time, have friends around the globe and merely take my laptop, cell phone and GPS and go anywhere, without concern. Mentally, a technique I found to work was, one, focusing on the now. Mentally projecting out scenarios based on events yet to happen was overwhelming so those were blocked. Two, the feeling, compounded by experience, that stuff does work out. Even if it goes sideways, life still goes on. There's always another path to try. I remember when I first got to really become comfortable riding subways around the world in strange places. NYC was the first. Hated schlepping luggage on it though...that was tough. You'll have a great time with your friends. Focus on that. It'll be fine. 1
clia Posted January 16, 2013 Posted January 16, 2013 A lot of it is mind over matter--particularly with anxiety. You feel anxious, start thinking about it, and it snowballs. I used to have panic attacks years ago and it helped me to say to myself "You are not going to die." Sounds dumb, but it helped bring down my anxiety. It won't kill you. Mentally you just have to realize that. 1
Feelin Frisky Posted January 16, 2013 Posted January 16, 2013 I would get medical help if anxiety kept me bottled up like that. I have actually given myself general anxiety disorder by taking some "supplements" that depressed my natural ability to produce gaba (gaba aminobutyric acid)--a neurotransmitter fluid that the brain usually basks in which aids cellular biological processes. I didn't develop fears or phobias--instead I developed an inability to sleep without a release of flight adrenaline swamping my gut and waking me back up. This horrendous state went on for weeks. Traditionally psychiatrists prescribe light sedatives but they don't fix what's wrong. I had to take Neurontin--which is generically called "gabapentin" to help my production of gaba return to normal. If you suffer anxiety you may naturally or artificially like me under-produce this neurotransmitter. There is no test though to find out. The answer is experimentation. Neurontin didn't get me sedated at all and helped me recover faster from the damage I had done by taking gaba supplements and other things like alpha lipoic acid and l-carnitine. I read how these are supposed to be natural calming agents. But they don't work that way on everyone. My taking these things created an overabundance of this in my brain which told my body to stop producing. Then when I stopped taking the supplement on came this GAD disorder of intense proportions. There are meds to help that don't get you loopy. Buspirone, Gabapentin, and an SSRI combination would probably be a serious answer with very little down sides. Good luck. Anxiety is not a mysterious force--it's all biochemistry.
Author jen_r Posted January 17, 2013 Author Posted January 17, 2013 I try to tell myself to relax, but I get these sensations that I'm gonna faint or I can't concentrate...and thats when I freak out, when I feel like I have no control over the way I feel. I'm making an appt with a therapist tomorrow, maybe I can get to the root of this and learn some coping mechanisms.
FitChick Posted January 17, 2013 Posted January 17, 2013 Start googling things to do and see in the city. You will start to get more excited. Once there, you will be so busy and occupied you won't have time to focus on yourself. Then when you return, you should notice more self-confidence. 2
rys Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 (edited) For our first out of the country trip, our flight back got cancelled. My son was with me ( who was 7 at that time). We had to sleep at the airport. I had to ask my friend to sort it out with the airline while I take my son around to make him feel that it was safe and actually, it might be an adventure to sleep in an airport in a foreign country. So, we walked around and saw people sleeping on chairs. Then I saw a guy with his suit on, preparing his makeshift bed. He was so calm. Then I realized, that s*** happens but how you handle it is what would really matter. We'll have another trip, this time it's for 12 days - 2 countries. I asked my son "is it ok if we have to sleep in the airport again?". He smiled and said "yes". That's what I get from my son-the 'it would be an adventure' attitude. It reduces my anxiety and makes me excited about exploring another place. Edited January 18, 2013 by rys
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