And so it begins...

[lithera]

The freaking out period of travel.

About a week ahead of any major travel I do, I start to flip out a bit. I worry about all of the what ifs. I do this normally but it is normally a sort of idle wonderance. There isn't any teeth in it. Suddenly add airplanes and I'm a freaking basket case. I don't know why I'm like this. I know it has gotten worse rather than better over the past few years especially. It mighe have to do with the climate of fear around this country when it comes to airplanes.

It could be all sorts of things coming from all sorts of places. I can think of at least three possible sources. Maybe they're all joining together to form a merry band of neurosis. Who knows?

All I know is when I go to the doctor for my malaria pills tomorrow, I'm probably going to ask for something to help me stay a little calmer.... if not to sleep. I generally can't sleep on planes. If they move at all (let us say, turbulence for instance) I just wake up again. It makes for a very surreal time if I travel a long time. (How about around the world this time?)

Anyway... This isn't to get a bunch of people telling me it'll be okay. I'm working on it.

I just need to talk about these things in order to get some sort of a handle on them. As soon as I'm moving and in action, I'm fine. It is the waiting that gets me. Every damned time.

Comments

[torquemada.livejournal.com]

Maybe they're all joining together to form a merry band of neurosis GIANT FIGHTING ROBOT

Fixed it for you!

Sleeping pills will help. Talking these things out will help. Making lists of the things left to do and crossing them off as you do them so you know there are things you can stop worrying about will help, too.

My ear is open for bending by you about this stuff, too, just let me know when you want to get together.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

They're Voltron! SWEET!

That would be bitchin'.

Cool. I don't know when I'm not going to be running around crazy, so... Heh.

[torquemada.livejournal.com]

Well, I can do lunch every day this week (except possibly Friday, which I'm planning to take off of work), or dinner any night but tonight and Wednesday night; dinner would be easiest on Friday, but I can work it out somehow for one of the other nights.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I'll let you know but Friday doesn't sound bad.

[torquemada.livejournal.com]

Friday I could also conceivably arrive at a time more conducive to larger-scale hangings-out (which is to say, not long after you get home), since I'll be home more or less all day with the dogs.

I could also do lunch in addition to this, just so you know.

[quipper.livejournal.com]

Anxiety is a tricky, awful bitch.

I think the sedatives are a good idea for such a long flight.

I also recommend trying to interrupt your thoughts if you catch yourself obsessing. Just try to think about something else. Anxiety spirals pretty fast when you let your mind run away with you. Just try to tell yourself, "No, we're not thinking about that today."

If there was something more you could do, then the what-if list could help you.. but since you're not a pilot, and there's no one else who can go in your place, spending a lot of mental energy on the what-ifs in this case aren't going to gain you anything.

*hugs*

So, my ultimite recommendation is, monkeys.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It is just a matter of catching it. It is a sneaky thing. It is part of the reason I'm talking about it on my LJ because that helps. It puts thigns in perspective. Once I'm travelling, once I'm going I'm normally fine. (Except for the occasional mild panic during bad turbulence.)

But yeah... I'm gonna ask for some ... valium or something.

Thanks Tina. If I see monkeys in India, I'll take pics for you.

[quipper.livejournal.com]

That would be *rad!*

Also, I totally hear you. I get my sneaky little panic attacks too, and I know they're no fun.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

There will be many pictures.

Which reminds me. I should scour my room for my charger and get more memory for the camera.

[quipper.livejournal.com]

Maybe you'll meet Mojinder while you're there.

He is awfully cute. :)

[lithera.livejournal.com]

*laughs* That could be interesting.

[yellowseptember.livejournal.com]

Are you a list kind of person? I start to freak out before trips too. I know personally it's because I know I'm going to forget something. So I make lists. ONE BIG FAT LIST. WITH EVERYTHING! Right down to the toothpaste. It works wonders. Then you can look back and see what you've remembered. :)

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Totally. I am a list person.

I should do that tonight. Make a list.

This should help

[bennykinnerooni.livejournal.com]

Turns out I've got this big summit piece of crap thing that's mandatory at work, and it's right before your b-day party, so I'll definitely be there.

Seriously. 2 days locked in a room with our director, who loves to talk. 2 whole days. At least there might be a good dinner involved afterwards.

You feel better now, right?

Re: This should help

[lithera.livejournal.com]

*chuckles* A bit.