Anticipatory Anxiety

[jnrmommy]

I have a trip scheduled for this week.  I started yesterday with a heavy chested feeling, like I can't get a deep breath.  Which makes me panic.  Also I get so worked up about going on the trip.  I am not scared to go, I just get overly excited and anxious.  

[lilymoon]

Maybe it helps if you can figure out what about it makes you anxious so you can find ways to deal with it beter.lily

[RubyWitch]

Is this trip for buisness or pleasure? Do you travel on a fairly regular basis? Are you flying or driving? Does this anticipatory anxiety happen every time you travel or is this something specific to THIS trip?
The heavy feeling in your chest and the sense of not being able to take a deep breath are very common symptoms of anxiety. Have you been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder? Are you on any meds? Learning some very simple breathing exercises can really help with that. I'm not talking about the complicated "Vishnu Nostrilium Dragon Breath" method. Just good old fashioned deep breathing because it's my guess when you feel you can't get a breath, you're breathing too fast and too shallow and you end up hyperventalating which causes a disturbance in the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in our bodies and that leads to feelings of panic. I seldom tell anyone to Google anything, but if you Google hyperventalation, I know you'll recognize yourself.

Perhaps it might be worth your while to talk with your doctor about getting a script for a mild antianxiety med that you can take until you reach your destination, which I hope is where your anxiety will end. Do you feel this aniticipation anxiety when the trip is over?

I think just about everyone gets really excited about going on a trip, maybe even a little anxious, but if we're prone to anxiety or panic, it's easy for us to tilt a tad too far over the line.

Talk to your doctor.
Have a great trip!
Peace
Greenlydia