Holiday anxiety

I am currently in a high state of anxiety as I am endeavouring to pack for a 6 month trip and 4 climates

My house looks like a second hand clothes shop and my shoe habit has finally come home to roost
I wish it were 2 weeks in one climate!

How funny that I should see this email with this topic this morning, I was up in the middle of the night googling this exact problem, and even wrote down and added up all the costs of my holiday to see if it was an amount I was happy to lose when I told my companion I wasn't going!!
Of course, when I woke up this morning and went to work, in the light of day, and sunshine, I realised this is silly and I am actually excited - must get a grip!
In 3 weeks I will be in Las Vegas/los angeles, and have saved for over a year to go. I need a holiday as haven't had time of work for over a year and a few days before is the two year anniversary of several serious bereavements so I will need a pick me up.
I only seem to worry in the dark of night thought, where its anything from the flight anxiety, not being able to afford it, falling out with my partner whilst we are there (we had a separation shortly before we booked the hols), worrying about being homesick (I was in tears last time a week in as I felt so far away from home), my elderly mum being without help, being robbed, or worse, shot, which people keep pointing out about the US and guns etc, and with the 9/11 anniversary its freaking me out too... I feel so stupid - trying to avoid news and papers now I think.
I went to the doctor last year and got some diazepam, a few tablets to take the edge off, but this year im not allowed it as he says its been 'reclassified' (whatever that means - obviously not 30 miles away, where my partner got a full dose of it, without even needing an appointment. He has given me drowsy making anti hystamine, which is no better than night nurse in strength. I have a few left from last year so I may think about taking them in the run up.
I try and get perspective, as I think 'well its two weeks out of my life' and what else would I do with my annual leave- sit at home! Feel the fear and do it anyway to feel you're living life I suppose, but by golly, I'm making it into a big deal. nice to know im not alone x

We stayed at the Bloc Hotel at Gatwick - very close to departures.

Oh the joy of finding out that I am not the only one who has holiday anxiety. I was so excited when we booked our holiday this year. It was 10 weeks before we were due to go and I wrote the count down on the calendar Then when we got to 2 weeks to go I suddenly wanted to cancel. Of course I didn't, telling myself that I am always like this and all would be fine when we got there (I understand why I feel like this as it's 'stepping out of my comfort zone'). BUT it wasn't alright and I was counting the days to come home. When I look back now I truly don't know why. Lovely hotel, above a beautiful beach, really nothing to cause me anxiety but I definitely wanted to come home. Oh dear, now I feel that I will never want to go away again .

I have been treated for anxiety and panic attacks since Jan.I am just getting better now.It has been the worst time of my life worrying about every thing when I had nothing to worry about.I had several bouts of illness when I went on holiday did the anxiety cause the illness usually stomach problem or did the illness cause the anxiety who knows.The result is I won't sleep away from home at all including not going to see my Son and Grandaughters who live 200 miles away.I pray for the courage to overcome this phobia. I feel I only live half a life.

I've noticed that recently I've been much happier getting to the airport in loads of time, which was never the case ( see what I did there?) before. I also make an Bodach check the passports and boarding passes again ( over and above the three times he himself checks them!)
Fortunately, I'm still comfortable with my " if we've got passports and boarding passes, nothing else is an insurmountable problem".

I leave a clean house milly because I think if anything hapens to me on holiday people will otherwise think I'm a slut .! ( no not really, but it is the back of my mind ) But it is really nice coming home to a clean house ,with clean sheets clean towels et c. I like to get thew ashing done too-in fact on one occasion I got very cross because the taxi was 10 mins early and I was stild trying towels in the tumbler drier so i could put them away (he had to wait )
I'm not generally an anxious person but I think its because I'm quite organised .

Yes as we leave the house DaddimaI do repeat the mantra ' passports, booking paperwork, money, medication' (as I check for the umpteenth time I have them) and tell myself everyhing else is sortable . It does help

I'm so pleased to read I'm not the only martyr to PFT, as it's known in our house - Pre Flight Tension! Like many of you, I worry about anything & everything to do with getting to the airport in time, not being late at the gate, finding the transfer bus or the car if we're driving...you name it, I worry. We're away this week, having a lovely time but I was worried about the food, the sunbed availability - would we really have to save one at 5am, etc etc. All totally mad, I know, I just can't help it!

My goodness Morethan2, you do have a lot on your plate. I feel for you. I too worry! My children joke about how our holidays are jinxed - it started by my DGD being born early while we were away, and carried on with various holidays, such as dementia diagnosis for MiL, cancer op for FiL, son splitting up with girlfriend, cat dying, DD!s cat dying, cancelled hol due to MiL dying......think it's just bleedin life! Now I worry about the big things, but also about cleaning the house before I go, makiing sure pets are cared for, the fridge is cleaned out and the dishwasher emptied etc etc etc. Never used to worry about such things! Funny how it's all forgotten when you're in the taxi to the airport, but then it starts again in the taxi home! Bummer!

Took my dear wife to Ghent for a short break, she's due into hospital next week, and on the way home we got stuck in a horrendous tailback approaching the Dartford tunnel. So what should have taken an hour and a half took nearly four!! But we laugh about it and so should you because unforeseen things do occur and it's in the lap of the gods. Enjoy your holiday, I'm sure that you will and make some memories which you can cherish.

Laughed about it foxie?? I would HATE it!! What about if you needed a wee?? Or were hungry and had no food with you?? (I don't do hungry - I get a bit crazy ). The Dartford tunnel you say, well I shan't be going near there any time soon!

Well the packing is done. Boarding passes printed, checked in premier inn, passports and money at the ready. It's a package holiday so I know Thomas cook will take the strain if things go wrong. The car is booked but we've got transfers if the car isn't there. I'm not afraid of flying. Oh and the milkman got the note and wont leave milk on the doorstep. So what on earth is with this nervous feeling. If I could bottle the energy it would light up my house for a month. I didn't take the diazapan yesterday because even 2mg almost made me comatose. Yes it took away the anxiety but so much so I couldn't be arsedbothered to do anything at all. I'm going to tidy up a bit I don't do that frenzied cleaning any more once I realised it didn't matter to anyone but me and I didn't care that much. So it's just a tidy really. But I'm going to have to take it later in the day if I still feel like this. . Silly I know, more than silly but I still have the feeling that there's time for a catastrophe to happen. I've got worse things happening in my family so why I am in this state about a foreth coming lovely holiday is beyond me. I feel so very silly. My wonderful G.P who know what's happening to my family told me that somtimes we can't deal with with a massive emotional problems so our brains find small stuff to focus on. That's often why we don't understand when somone overreacts to a very small problem. For now I'm treating myself to an episode of 'little house on the prairie' on True entertainment channel with a nice cup of and hope I can calm down/pull myself together. It did help that you shared your stories with me. Thanks

Try Travel Supermarket.com for cheap hotel room for one night close to Airport. A place to put your head down is all you need!. Some hotels auction rooms but I'm not sure where you look for this as I've forgotten.
Hotel will arrange alarm calls, transfers etc., lessen the stress perhaps!.
Like the rest of us you'll be fine once you get there. I think everyone worries that something will go wrong but it very rarely does.

barbara35 I am surprised your GP gave you drowsymaking antihistamine. This is because of the need to prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis, if it is a long flight, one wants to be up and about and walking etc. Rather than staying a long time asleep in one position. Hopefully you will just have a lovely shot snooze and then get up and walk about and do have a really good flight.

My hol anxiety centres around my cats, even though my cat-obsessed neighbour comes in - 3 TIMES A DAY - and feeds them. I worry that they might pine or something - fat chance! Because of this, I can only stand to be away for a week; any more and I really get the jitters. DH worries about everything, which he then subsumes into ridiculous questions like, "Will we be able to get dry white wine in Greece? What if they don't sell it?"

I'm so glad I'm on Gransnet. It's so reassuring to know that others have the same worries that I have. We have travelled all over the world, and I never want to go on the morning of departure. "Why am I leaving my comfortable home, etc." But now that we can't go so far, due to ill-health, we have such lovely memories. So go whilst you can, and don't worry. Easier said than done!

I thought I was the only one with holiday anxiety! I get so anxious for a couple of weeks before we go away. My appetite disappears and I'm continuously on edge. I have never been able to pinpoint when this all started but it was definitely after I had the children. If you ask me what it is that's making me anxious I really don't know the answer! It really is ridiculous!!! These days I do find that once I'm away and settled after a couple of days the anxiety does ease off. In the past I would be a nervous wreck for the whole holiday and only feel ok once I was home. I fully sympathise with anyone who has to put up with this. I do find that a swift brandy helps!!!

My only anxiety is: I just wish I could afford to go abroad!!

It's so good to find that I am not alone in worrying about holidays! And not alone in being glad not to be alone!!

After 9/11 I was terrified to fly but we had already booked a flight to the U.S. I spent hours the night before writing letters to my 3 Adult children telling them how much I loved them and how much pleasure ot had given me bringing them up. My husband (not their Dad) thought I was barmy but just left me to it. Once I'd finished them and put them on my bedside table I was able to finish packing and look forward to my holiday. We had a wonderful time. I don't worry as much these days. Though I now much prefer going away in our caravan or on a narrowboat. :-)

I too suffer holiday anxiety, didn't realise so many of us do too. This year was made worse. We booked a year in advance for a special holiday to hire a large villa and take DCs and DGCs but then my dad sadly passed away and we had to drive from the funeral to the airport. Had to put on the holiday happy face as it was our holiday - when all I wanted to do really was grieve. ?

Did I enjoy myself - yes. Would dad have wanted me to go - yes (after surviving WW2) Do I regret going -no. Did it make me realise I need to get on and enjoy life and stop worrying -yes yes yes. Hope you and all our worriers find a way to achieve what we want to do.

I'm another one. I've done lots of travelling, even lived abroad for a couple of years but since my husband died I hate the run up to going away. My house is my cocoon, I feel safe there. It's frustrating too as I have the wherewithal to go away a lot, I even wondered about buying a small motorhome to go around the country with, but I know I haven't the nerve.

Well said Emelle - I can't afford to go as often as I used to so when I get the chance I'm too excited to sweat the small stuff, just look forward to the holiday!

This thread has made me feel so much better. Isn't it always a relief to know others share an issue? I experience a generalised anxiety in the run up to a holiday and for the first day or two, then it goes. I really dislike being away from home for more than 10 days but can cope with two weeks, no longer. We are all different and react to things differently. It doesn't actually stop me booking a holiday or I would seek some input to manage the anxiety, I do feel for Mr C though, he just sighs and ignores me for a couple of days