Anyone else have trip anxiety?

[gallahadesquire]

I'm going to Oklahoma City for the 4th of July, and I'm anxious as hell about it.

 

Anyone else getting acute anxiety when they travel?

[+ Reisr30]

I have anxiety about going through security, getting delayed and missing my flight but otherwise I love to travel. The bigger the plane the better

[gallahadesquire]

I have anxiety about going through security, getting delayed and missing my flight but otherwise I love to travel. The bigger the plane the better

Definitely agree on the plane size. I did ATL-HNL on an international Delta A330 in First (OR Delta ONe, as they call it) ... three and a half movies, two meals, and an hour nap.

 

Part of my anxiety is that I'm seeing a medical school classmate and her husband. He has stage 4 duodenal cancer, and probably won't make it through the year. I haven't seen them since 2002, when his father died.

[+ sync]

Always. I don't like the variables: weather, delayed/missed transportation, loss of luggage, overcrowding. All that with wondering if/when/where the next gun-laden crazy will launch his/her perception of a cure for society.

[LaffingBear]

Selective, yes.

 

I tend not to sleep well night before... I suppose the excitement/anticipation is a form of anxiety.

 

Life in the suburban SF Bay Area: airports are 40-50 minutes at non-commute times when traffic is light. But events, accidents, and certainly commute hours can easily triple that. So some anxiety over timing the trip... dont want to be late, but dislike allowing for worst only to sit in airport an extra 90 minutes. So a little airport-commute obsession.

 

I'm a casual flier, so little anxiety with experience on-board. I've only really been scared by a flight once in my life.

 

Mostly very casual and comfortable as a single traveler. But there have been a couple of solo-trips with some anticipatory anxiety. My only gay cruise as a single, (turned out great.) There have been a few trips, or weekend add-ons to business trips, when I ended up bored, lonely, maybe rentguy plans crashed, etc. Particularly boring experiences in LA, enough that I regretted going. So some anxiety before some locations.... never places I know to have mega opportunities for the solo traveler, like LV, NYC.

[Shawn Monroe]

Oklahoma City, you say?

 

But I get trip anxiety for sure. A bad experience being stranded on I-45 during a flood, and side effects of escorting (mild claustrophobia) give me flying anxiety for sure. Add to that too many times being crammed in the back corner, turbulence and such and I don’t like flying. I get a lot of trip anxiety related to flying.

 

Chelated magnesium pills help a lot.

[+ Charlie]

Although I am a very experienced traveler, all over the world, I still don't sleep well the night before a trip--especially if it involves flying--and I always have nervous bowels until we are underway. Once I am aboard the plane/ship/train/car/horse, etc., I usually relax, until I have to move on to the next phase of the journey.

[+ tassojunior]

Same here; that no-sleep-the-night-before thing is awful. I've learned to pack early, schedule my flight later in the day, and force myself to get total-darkness sleep for at least 2 - 4 hours. Ironically my worst trips are red-eyes.

[+ bashful]

After years 0f being on planes for work (and sometimes fun), really find no joy, excitement, or romance to air travel. Besides the airport, plane itself, and getting to and from the airport, if it's a longer trip, making sure the house is in travel mode. I close faucet valves (once had a valve under bathroom sink start leaking), and unplug TVs, and computer as we get power surges occasionally. Also the packing, unpacking, and laundry, and the rush to get clean clothes for work, or next trip. Sometimes had to buy clothes on the road if trip extended. Over the years I collected a tons of socks and underwear, about, oh I don't know, 50-60 shirts, 25-30 pairs of pants (need for all seasons, not counting the shorts/jeans), coats and jackets strictly for travel, and more dress shoes than I will ever wear again. Still haven't finished purging the inventory to give to charity, as I like to go shopping in my own closet before going out to buy something.

 

Now retired, I limit my air travels to places I really want to be, not have to be. Makes it somewhat easier. Just always dread then trip home.

[+ Tarte Gogo]

Traveling is a lot of annoyance: pointless waiting, having to sit next to someone you have never met before and do the small talk, having to listen to stupid airline announcements, having to find your ride on the other side...

But no, no anxiety at all about it, I am just bored and can't wait to be at my destination where the real reason I am traveling awaits.

[gallahadesquire]

My biggest fear is this heatwave and The Cat. He has a sitter but not in residence

[+ GregM]

You're trip sounds very bitter sweet. When I get anxious I close my eyes, slow breaths and think about happy memories or a calm relaxing place. I wish your trip was under more happy terms. <HUGS>

 

Hugs,

Greg

[+ José Soplanucas]

I always get sick a dew days before any trip. I cannot relax until I completed the check in and I am sitting waiting for boarding. I am in @Reisr30 group.

[+ azdr0710]

gotta say these travel horror stories are fun to read!

 

like others in this thread, the only real "anxiety" I feel is very poor sleep the night before if I go to bed knowing I MUST get up at a hard time early the next morning for this very important event (the trip)......

 

being the son of an airline captain (and of a stewardess before she married my Dad), I've had a ton of travel experience since I was about two months old, so am comfortable with it all......

 

those things, though, that we can't control and that have the potential to ruin a trip are frustrating......

 

 

Edited July 1, 2018 by azdr0710

[Quincy_7]

I always get super OCD about losing my passport whenever I'm travelling.

[LaffingBear]

Traveling is a lot of annoyance: pointless waiting, having to sit next to someone you have never met before and do the small talk, having to listen to stupid airline announcements....

 

Where are you flying? Small talk?

 

My last 5 flights, people arrive and take seats, only communucation is about finding the power outlets or complaining about lack of power outlets/usb ports, stick their nose in their phone, put on headphones, and no communication. No one listens to safety announcements. They dont even look up for their beverage and pretzels.

[LaffingBear]

Through a weird combination of events, my last travel experience that could gave been an annoying problem was a benefit-in-disguise.

 

My flight was postponed so the agent moved me, at my request, to the next day, and I extended my vacation. Agent also told me to find her in gate area next day.... I did, and she upgraded my seat.

 

When bad stuff goes good, its an anxiety preventive. I'll be less inclined to stress next time.

[Deadlift1]

Start with a half of the lowest dosage of xanex day before and day of flight. Drink plenty of water no alcohol.

[+ Topseed]

I’ve been to Oklahoma City. Spent a year there one night.

 

The best part? Leaving.

[craigville beach]

After years 0f being on planes for work (and sometimes fun), really find no joy, excitement, or romance to air travel. Besides the airport, plane itself, and getting to and from the airport, if it's a longer trip, making sure the house is in travel mode. I close faucet valves (once had a valve under bathroom sink start leaking), and unplug TVs, and computer as we get power surges occasionally. Also the packing, unpacking, and laundry, and the rush to get clean clothes for work, or next trip. Sometimes had to buy clothes on the road if trip extended. Over the years I collected a tons of socks and underwear, about, oh I don't know, 50-60 shirts, 25-30 pairs of pants (need for all seasons, not counting the shorts/jeans), coats and jackets strictly for travel, and more dress shoes than I will ever wear again. Still haven't finished purging the inventory to give to charity, as I like to go shopping in my own closet before going out to buy something.

 

Now retired, I limit my air travels to places I really want to be, not have to be. Makes it somewhat easier. Just always dread then trip home.

 

 

time to create some white space in your life and closet. Lighten the load as you move forward.

[+ E.T.Bass]

Yes, I do! I used to travel a lot and didn't think too much about it. Now I hate it and do as little as possible.

[+ Tarte Gogo]

Where are you flying? Small talk?

 

My last 5 flights, people arrive and take seats, only communucation is about finding the power outlets or complaining about lack of power outlets/usb ports, stick their nose in their phone, put on headphones, and no communication. No one listens to safety announcements. They dont even look up for their beverage and pretzels.

Well, either it is me that feels obligated to be social, not sure why, or I end up next to an elderly person that doesn’t use smartphones.

As for the announcements, I don’t listen to them either, but they are still annoying, they are obviously trying to grab my attention while I try to listen to a YouTube video!

[Rudynate]

When I lived in the East Bay I always did park and fly, although it was unnecessary, since I lived not more than 30 min from the airport. It really eased the departure jitters. I did park and fly in SF just once. The way they do it at SFO is such a cluster fuck that it just added to the hassle of departing.

[LaffingBear]

When I lived in the East Bay I always did park and fly, although it was unnecessary, since I lived not more than 30 min from the airport. It really eased the departure jitters. I did park and fly in SF just once. The way they do it at SFO is such a cluster fuck that it just added to the hassle of departing.

Last trip, I BARTd. BART to SFO is easier than OAK. And lately, SFO fares have been lower than SWA at OAK (provided carryon only). It was a Sunday, so I wasnt worried about BART crowding. But, this is an anxiety thread. They announced maintenance on my line that weekend, with a bus-bridge prior to my point of entry. My train left on time, rolled one minute, stopped and sat 8 minutes, which heightened my anxiety. But all was fine, unremarkable, thereafter.

 

I did ParkSFO recently. . Not bad. But most recent trip was holiday, and those dates are blacked out for parking deals.

[BigK]

Definitely agree on the plane size. I did ATL-HNL on an international Delta A330 in First (OR Delta ONe, as they call it) ... three and a half movies, two meals, and an hour nap.

 

Part of my anxiety is that I'm seeing a medical school classmate and her husband. He has stage 4 duodenal cancer, and probably won't make it through the year. I haven't seen them since 2002, when his father died.

 

It's thoughtful of you to visit your classmate and her husband during their difficult time.