[Trace14]

How do prepare for a trip or vacation when you have such high social anxiety? It causes stress on everyone when trying to go somewhere and I don't know how to change that. I'm usually okay once I get underway, it's just getting out of the house. Anyone else experience this?

[mindwrench]

I have anxiety about all trips away from home, even small ones to the store. When going further, out of town I try my hardest to distract myself and suppress the fear. I cant really take any sedatives, as I am always doing the driving (I have to control the vehicle I ride in). The best part of a trip for me is when we are headed home. The closer we get to home, the lighter the pressure becomes.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by mindwrench

I have anxiety about all trips away from home, even small ones to the store. When going further, out of town I try my hardest to distract myself and suppress the fear. I cant really take any sedatives, as I am always doing the driving (I have to control the vehicle I ride in). The best part of a trip for me is when we are headed home. The closer we get to home, the lighter the pressure becomes.

I've become fearful about riding in a car now, even when I drive. Grounding exercises are so short lived, if I can stay focused long enough to even do them. It will be alright, just do what I do. Thanks for responding.

[mindwrench]

Have you been able to single out the aspects of driving the car that cause the fear? For me there are certain situations where my vehicle feels like a safe haven, though usually when it's parked somewhere. Driving any vehicle on public roads acts upon one of my fear/phobias that I often obsess about, which is that I am being followed.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by mindwrench

Have you been able to single out the aspects of driving the car that cause the fear? For me there are certain situations where my vehicle feels like a safe haven, though usually when it's parked somewhere. Driving any vehicle on public roads acts upon one of my fear/phobias that I often obsess about, which is that I am being followed.

I think it's just the fear of dying in the car. I've investigated some horrible deaths in motor vehicles, part of the traumatic memories. I think staying so isolated has made it worse. Just something else to work through *sigh*

[mindwrench]

I have been in several auto accidents over the years (several million miles driven). I thankfully did not develop a phobia of accidents, though I am very vigilant of cars around me, and particularly behind me. If someone follows too close behind me, I will eliminate that situation by whatever means it takes (slowing to a stop, pulling off the road, speeding up, etc).

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by mindwrench

I have been in several auto accidents over the years (several million miles driven). I thankfully did not develop a phobia of accidents, though I am very vigilant of cars around me, and particularly behind me. If someone follows too close behind me, I will eliminate that situation by whatever means it takes (slowing to a stop, pulling off the road, speeding up, etc).

You are smart to be so aware of your surroundings. We live in a dangerous World. Stay alert and strong.

[ThisWayOut]

My wife has massive anxiety about going places, especially anywhere new or further than a few minutes in the car... she just avoids going places outside her routine. We haven't figured out yet how to make that pre-trip time better yet. It's only recently gotten this bad. Tomorrow will be our first vacation in years, and her first venture outside her comfort zone in just over a year... I hope we can get going without her and I fighting. She tends to get cranky and snippy as the travel approaches. Sometimes she backs out completely and plans are cancelled...

My dislike of going places stems from my depression. I generally don't have the mental energy to be way from home that long, or to interact with people too much. If I know the group of people well enough, it's a bit easier, but even then I need "recovery time" with very little human interaction to function well again. Work is currently kicking my *** because it was just one of the peak times... I've come home frazzled and cranky and isolating lately.

One thing that generally helps my anxiety is music. I'm pretty specific in what I'll listen to depending on my mood. The higher the anxiety, the shorter the Playlist. I've been known to have a single song on repeat for days (I use headphones most of the time to avoid annoying others)...

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by ThisWayOut

My wife has massive anxiety about going places, especially anywhere new or further than a few minutes in the car... she just avoids going places outside her routine. We haven't figured out yet how to make that pre-trip time better yet. It's only recently gotten this bad. Tomorrow will be our first vacation in years, and her first venture outside her comfort zone in just over a year... I hope we can get going without her and I fighting. She tends to get cranky and snippy as the travel approaches. Sometimes she backs out completely and plans are cancelled...

My dislike of going places stems from my depression. I generally don't have the mental energy to be way from home that long, or to interact with people too much. If I know the group of people well enough, it's a bit easier, but even then I need "recovery time" with very little human interaction to function well again. Work is currently kicking my *** because it was just one of the peak times... I've come home frazzled and cranky and isolating lately.

One thing that generally helps my anxiety is music. I'm pretty specific in what I'll listen to depending on my mood. The higher the anxiety, the shorter the Playlist. I've been known to have a single song on repeat for days (I use headphones most of the time to avoid annoying others)...

For me once I get on the road I do better. It's just making that move across the thresh hold. I feel like I'm forgetting to pack something or haven't gotten things ready for my mom to take care of the grand cats. I over pack, can't make decisions on what to take as far as clothes then I pack for any disaster that may arise. Would have been a good Boy Scout, always prepared. I get cranky prior to leaving as well. Does your wife want things to be perfect and not forget to pack something?
Maybe your job will slow down and you can rest. For me staying busy is the only way to distract my thoughts and it has to be physically busy work. Reading or something like that just makes it worse.
I like music as well. Oddly though I have the house quiet most of the time, hmmmmm.