I'm going on vacation to the states in a just over a week from now. Will be my first vacation unmedicated. I must admit I am pretty anxious. My usual way to deal with anxiety and stress as bad as it is, is by smoking. However my boyfriend despises smoking so I try to keep that to a minimum, and I don't like to listen to his complaints about it. I have never tried using the gum or losanges but I think I should try one of those.

Also I get a lot of anxiety while travelling and leaving my country, driving, large cities ect. Plus my sleeping has been averaging 2-4 hours a night. Mentally I am feeling ok tho.

I started getting really anxious about visiting San Fancisco because the size and I've never been there. For some reason I thought if I'm already anxious might as well go all the way and do something I wouldn't have the guts to do, so I'll be going to a few yoga studios while we are there, by myself haha say I don't chicken out. I've always been shy, and doing stuff like that I just wouldn't have even entertained the idea.

Anyone have any thoughts on the smoking issue, or tips for travelling and anxiety, outside of meds. I really want to be able to enjoy this trip as I haven't really gone anywhere much in years. Any input appreaciated.

[Eliza Jane]

For me, having a plan can really minimize my anxiety. Before I go someplace, I research online to make arrangements for activities and things like car rentals. Sometimes I map out directions from the airport to the hotel etc. I create folder will all my important info in it. Some vacations i have even made schedules of what would be going on each day. The Internet is your friend. You can even find detailed maps of airports if that sort of thing stresses you out.

Also focus on what a good time you will have. Although travel can be stressful, there is a lot of fun in it too. SF is a cool city.

Enjoy!
EJ

Thanks Eliza!

I think that's part of it. We are driving down, it's going to be a lot of car time. And we are staying, hmm maybe sleep in car a night, camp a night, hotel a night, it's sort of spontaneous. My boyfriend wanted to drive as far as we could and just wing it. Which is ok, our lives are pretty routine and planned for the most part. And money is a bit tight.

I did google some stuff, I checked out the yoga studios and I also checked out good places to hike and waterfalls to visit. I better look up some beaches, I don't like huge crowds, or rowdy beaches, I prefer quieter, calmer environments.

I'd better do more googling. Also a stressor is my diet restrictions. No gluten or dairy, but I can research that a bit.

If any of you have ideas of things to do there or see, that would be cool to hear about. We will be driving down the coast from Vancouver. I suck at geography, so I don't know all the cities along the way.

[BuggsBunny]

Eliza Jane hit the nail on the head. Plans. Maps. Decisions. You don't necessarily have to stick to the plans like glue once you get there, but having an itinerary will give you something to look at when you get anxious about what you are going to do in this big city.

Welcome to our United States, by the way.

Also, I highly recommend the nicotine patch. I have no experience with it, but I know they used to use them in the psych hospital to keep the smokers from going crazy while...well, going crazy. If your vacation is going to be stressful, it's not the time to not smoke on top of it. Gotta make sure to get your nicotine.

Have a lot of fun here, and if you have two weeks before your trip, contact the chamber of commerce in the town/city you plan to stay for brochures to the various things to do. Or just do what EJ said, and hit the internet. It will be fun to look at all your options!

Ha you guys gave me an idea. I could make an itinerary of sorts and just say to my boyfriend " oh hey I saw this and it looked cool, let's check it out today" make it seem spontaneous like. That's a little devious on my end but he'll feel all adventurous like and I'll feel more secure.

Thanks for the welcome Buggs! I am pretty excited to see some things I've only seen in pictures or on tv. San Fancisco reminds me of "Full House" haha. I really want to take it all in. And shop, I've put extra money aside to do a little shopping.

[BuggsBunny]

PS, lots of car time means you may get on each others nerves after a while. Bring music or audio books to help the drive. You can probably rent a few audio books from the library (I know they have them in the US, not sure what they have by you). Go for the shorter ones and get several. I prefer the sci fi/mystery/short story multi-packs, as there are about 10 stories to a pack, and they last maybe half an hour.

Have fun!

[Confusedinomicon]

San-Fran is one of the biggest hippy towns in the U.S. If you look hard enough you will find enough vegan-friendly/gluten-friendly places to eat!

Eliza is right about preparing.

Trying to reframe the thought of going may help. Also think about everything as a small "problem" that can be tackled one-by-one. It's easier to feel anxiety if you see it all as one huge blob of a problem because you'll get overwhelmed.

Do you have a cooler or anything like that? Pack some food for the first few days of the trip that you can eat. You could probably buy ice anywhere if you need to refill it. Then you can still eat out but feel comfortable to know you have something in the cooler. You could even stop at grocery stores if need be. Even if you don't eat most of the food in the cooler, it will lessen the anxiety because you will know its there.

Good luck! Take pictures!!!

I do have a cooler. Great idea! I can do that, plus I need my coffee and I can't drink it black, and I'm pretty fussy about the dairy alternatives for coffee cause ya know some of its just ick! And bad coffee is one of the few things that makes me very cranky.

I hope we don't get on each others nerves too bad haha. I have some books I can bring, thanks Buggs or I would have overlooked that one. I'm sure I'll have to listen to lots of power metal and Vanilla Ice too so maybe some ear plugs also

Ok I'm feeling a bit better about this now, so thanks for all the suggestions. I'll definatly take lots of pics. We got a new fancy camera with lenses and buttons that I don't have a clue how to use.

Sleep is most elusive right now, I might actually need to try to get something for that. I tried melatonin and it didn't make me sleepy at all. Oh and Buggs I tried the patch before and I got serious nightmares, shakes, sweats, increased heart rate and that was cuttin the patch in half. I think it's not for me. Damn smoking, so inconvenient ... I tired the gum once. It tasted like chewing on cigarette buts or chewing tabaco. Burns the mouth a little. They offered it to me at the hospital but I finally got a nurse to take me outside instead. I was ever greatfull.

[BlueInanna]

Hey Anika, cool you're coming to my area I live in the mountains an hour from SF, I prefer to avoid crowds usually. I have done the drive down the coast and it is really beautiful. I think you will find it very spiritual!

Have you tried the e-cigarette? I've heard good things about it. They sell one in the 7/11 stores that costs about $7 and is supposed to be equal to 2 packs of smokes.

Regarding food, it's fairly easy to find healthy and vegan foods around here. Very hippy yes like Confused was saying. I remember Oregon being hippied-out too.

The city of SF is really cool and unlike any other. I think you will like Golden Gate Park, there is a wonderful botanical garden and a Japanese Tea Garden really nice to meditate at!

I spent some time in the city a month or two ago when last time my son was in the hospital, St Mary's, he said it was the nicest one he'd been to out of the five in the past year. They did yoga with the kids, I thought that was really nice

Just enjoy I think this trip will be fun for you and your boyfriend. Oh- and maybe don't sleep in your car in California. I've gotten in trouble for that before. But I think it's cool in Oregon

[~Christina]

I think everyone has great ideas !!!!

I just want to add ...... Have a hell of a good time !