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Vacation makes anxiety worse?


20 years ago 0 201 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Back from vacation, and back to "normal" for me (haha). I got home and the house hadnt burned down, no one broke in and snatched the family jewels, the computer didn blow up in some freak electrical storm, the cat didnt die and the lawn actually looked pretty good. ;) As usual, the anxiety was all for nothing. NOW, how in the hell do we make ourselves dismiss this stuff when it is happening? We know it will be just another episode for nothing but man those feelings are real. Gonna keep working on it. Mike
20 years ago 0 219 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
for someone with extreme rumination/ocd/panic./..i did wonderful during my 2 vacations...only at the end of them did i panic...but all good things must come to an end...i don't know why my anxiety was decreased during this time becuase idle time usually makes me ruminate
20 years ago 0 125 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Mike I'm so glad you posted this! In Feb we went to Cancun to an all inclusive resort (I'm from Vancouver) My anxiety was out of control!! I totally hear what your saying. I'm doing much better now but I still have anxiety everyday. You will beat this just hang in there!!!
20 years ago 0 10 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Mike, I agree totally. Whenever we go on holiday, the main fear I have (0ther than getting there of course) is what are we going to do with our time. I just want to cram lots in so that it goes really quickly. The thought of leisure time terrifies me. I thought I was the only one like this. I like you, can enjoy some of the holiday. Sometimes, I heave a sigh of relief to think oh I am starting to enjoy this, then a little later wham I'm so anxious again. If we go for 2 wks, then after the 1st week I have a really bad panic attack thinking that we still have a full week left. Also, I feel so selfish because I think I need to at least look like I am enjoying my holiday for the sake of the kids & my husband. In May my husband & I went away for the weekend. The kids stayed with my parents. I was a nervous wreck the whole time because I just felt time weighed so heavy & I just could not relax. Again I felt so guilty & selfish because I know my husband was really looking forward to a weekend away from the kids. We are going away as a family & with my parents for a week to England next Friday, & I am feeling very anxious about it. About the 3hr journey on the motorway, about trying to relax, about being with my parents for a whole week. I just wish the whole thing was over. So, yes, I totally agree, holiday's make anxiety worse, not better.
20 years ago 0 201 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
A week at the beach, no worries, no cares just the extended family and the surf. One would think that should take the edge off the anxiety. Not so for me. Idle time seems to increase the anxiety level. On vacation I cant sleep past 6am and I dont get out of bed because I dont want to wake everyone, so guess what I do? Lie there and ruminate. Everyone else had a great time. Down at the beach each day, dinner out each night. I just muddled through and was able to enjoy (truly enjoy) about half of the time. I was in a "fog" the rest of the time. I have some days that are great where I can leave the anxiety in the bag, and others where it simply takes over from the start of the day and doesnt let up. It seems to be about a 50/50 split between days. Out of a 7 day vacation, 3.5 days of anxiety isnt horrible but it isnt great either. Does anyone else notice that idle time feeds the anxiety monster? Is "relaxation" really the answer or is a torrent of activity what I need to keep the beast at bay? I am really confused. I thought relaxation was supposed to calm me down and keep the anxiety at a minimum...it doesnt seem to effect me in that way. Observations? Mike

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