TAFF Planning: Traveling with Anxiety (or TFDWADAPWTATUSOYO(AWAPFV))

As I talked about in my last post, I am trying to be proactive in managing my anxiety for this trip. It's going to be a long haul, I'm away from home for over a month (32 days in fact). In that time I am taking eight flights and will be staying in six cities, all but one of which I have never been to before. I will be staying for the majority of the trip with people who I have never met in person, though I know everyone will be very welcoming. 

This is of course completely expected for a TAFF trip, it should be intense and exhausting and exhilarating and overwhelming in the best ways. And again, as I said in the last post, I am mostly excited and confident about the trip. But just because I'm looking forward to it, doesn't mean I shouldn't plan for those moments that neither I, nor anyone else,  can control.

I've been reading a lot of travel blogs recently, and while there are definitely tips that will make my life easier (packing cubes!!) nothing really addressed my main concern. Well, if you can't find what you're looking for maybe you need to put it out there yourself.

So here it is, my:

Tips For Dealing With Anxiety, Depression And Panic While Traveling Around The US On Your Own (After Winning A Popular Fan Vote).

It's niche, what can I say...

The first part of managing this for me is to make sure that I have enough medication for the whole trip. While I know that anti-depressants/anxiety medication is not for everyone, it works for me and right now make my quality of life so much better. I have an appointment with my GP the day before I fly, for a new prescription to carry though and a letter confirming what medication I am prescribed. I have also made sure to look up what it is called in the US, as I know that often drugs go by other names over there (Tylenol anyone?).

Beyond that I have also started to set up a few other safety nets. I know what time 19:00 BST will be in each place I’m going to be, so that I know I can call Hogg at that time and get through. I’ve also changed my phone contract so I can use my data allowance over there, which means I can still be in constant contact back home using iMessage or WhatsApp. I will be meeting lots of amazing people, and I do have a habit of getting into a whirlwind and not realising I've gone a week without contacting home. But over the last year our family is closer than ever, and living in the future really means that my support system are all still there instantly.

I also will take a soft toy (i.e. safety blanket) with me from Hoggy*, in this case he also doubles as a travel pillow! This also has the benefit of being a comfort item for anxiety, so I can focus on the sensation of touching the softness, and relax about the cause of the panic. This is a trick I’ve been using a lot recently, and it has helped a lot with commute anxiety. When out and about, just having my Kipling monkey buddy on my bag has been a great anchor. Probably a good thing he’s coming as well. The idea is that you focus on one of your senses and this helps relax you and reduce stress. Other people find that focusing on what they can see or hear works better, but I've always been very tactile, so really it's no wonder that I use touch to calm me down.

This actually extends to what I'm packing as well. I will be mostly bringing clothes made from cotton, which will breath and mean less sticky sweating. I also have cardigans that have a little silk in them, making them very soft and comfortable to feel against the skin. Hopefully this will also mean I don't evaporate in the heat while I'm there!

The last part of managing this is really this post and blog. By being honest I know that everyone (or at least most people) will be aware, so it will make it that much easier to speak up when I need something. It's not fun, or exciting, or sexy, but it is a part of how I live and that won't change just because I'm away from home (as much I as I would like to think it will!). There may be times when I need hugs, or to avoid physical contact, or to sit in a quiet room and breath for 5 mins. Or maybe I'm worried over nothing and I will have no social anxiety or panic attacks.

Either way, at least I will be prepared as best as I can be ☺

*The Boyfriend, or Significant Other, or Life Partner, or Large Nerdy Scotsman Who Gives Excellent Hugs.