Holiday anxiety

Abroad is not Heaven, they have disasters, diseases and bad weather so when you book a holiday don't expect perfection.

For me a problem is that you have to book and pay so far in advance to get a reasonable price that you have no way of avoiding disasters and illness. I can never find these cheap last minute offers.

My husband says pay a bit more and travel in a bit of comfort,

Going on holiday is rated as one of the most stressful things so maybe better to put a few things in a suitcase and go without too much planning, I do see some British ladies overdress on continental holidays, you don't need a dozen matching outfits.

Chelseababy you can't please everyone.

I deal with this tendency to worry by being very(over!) organised .I have a checklist of things to do before I go,people to tell,things to pack (categorised depending on type of destination )I find it helps .I pack and get essential documents together a few days before .I quite like being picked up by taxi (our nearest airport is ten min drive)especially if it's an early morning flight as I feel even if we oversleep -we never have-the taxi driver will wake us (we avoid flying from other airports if at all possible ).I did hear of someone who got her dates wrong .The taxi driver turned up the morning before she thought she was going away ....he was right. And at least she got away .
I also clean the house thoroughly before we go .And try and have paperwork etc up to date
I'm not good at spontaneity and if travelling independently like to have accommmodation booked well in advance too
It's not an age thing with me as I've always been like this. Family joke is we could get the train (planes if theyd let you) before the one we intended as I insist on being in good time for everything. I have ti have unpacked, showered and have a drink in my hand the other end before I can relax.But after that I'm quite good at it
I love travelling and have done a lot of it but the pre trip anxiety remains .

I suffered real anxiety before my holiday this year as it was my first one since my husband passed. My boys kept reassuring me I'd be fine but it didn't help. I've always worried about going on holiday like yourself but always had my husband to be a support. We went to Greece had a lovely time and now I feel a stronger person. Holidays are out of usual routine and can cause anxiety but once there the benefits of enjoying yourself in the sunshine will outweigh the negatives. Have a great time

Good to know I'm not the only one who gets holiday anxiety. Starts a week before we go and going home anxiety a day or so before we travel home. Going away anxiety includes the travel arrangements, packing, shutting up the house, checking in, paperwork etc. Then just before the end of the holiday thoughts turn to things I need to do when we get home, if everything's been OK while we've been away etc. As soon as we've shut the front door and on our way I'm fine and start to relax. We're going away end October for 2 weeks and can't wait. But I know as it gets nearer I will get more anxious.

Chelsy baby.

Why don't you just get a taxi if the trains are not running.
It saves a lot of hassle.
I couldn't be doing with train times at that time of the morning.

Yes I get holiday anxiety, loathe the 2 weeks before setting off. Worsened in past few years by getting gastroenteritis in Spain, which then seemed to trigger bouts of IBS, culminating in us cancelling the biggest holiday of our lifetime to the States to celebrate OH's 60th. We lost the money as well as the insurance didn't kick in until the start of the holiday Took a while to build up confidence after those two disasters but coped with France ok this year & am going to Cyprus next spring.

Chelsea getting to an airport by 4am would add to anyone's stress levels! I would definitely recommend you stay at Gatwick the night before. I've stayed a couple of times at this place - makes life so much simpler.

Marriot

I think we invest so much time and money into holidays that we feel they have to be good and that is part of the problem. I now insist that there is a night in a hotel on site before the flight and we have a very reliable person who takes and collects . We have the time being retired. I also have a list of things which might be forgotten and need doing and it's printed off and ticked off. It's amazingly helpful.

It is so understandable just how you feel. I don't think anything will take the stress away.
All good wishes to your DiL that she will be given more time. A miracle is what we really wish for or course.

Thanks for your responses. My husband was given diazapan when he trapped a nerve before our holiday earlier in the year. It's a really low dose. I've been told to just take one in the evening between now and Sunday. Your mostly right Greyduster but an odd thing happened last week I needed to go and ask somthing from Thomas cook. I felt sick and had trouble with my eyes focusing. I think it was a little 'panic attack' most of the time I think I've got my emotions under control but obviously there's an occasional 'overspill' My DiL is having an mastectomy while we're away . So with one thing and another I'm probably over reacting.

Thanks for the suggestion 're staying night before at Gatwick. Will see what's available but my mum lives near so could stay at hers except it inconveniences her (shes 88) if we get up at 3:30. Could stay with my brother but then mum would be put out! Thats why we thought the train would be simplest.

I have just come back from holiday - I almost did not go as I was so tired after the house move and feeling quite depressed. But the break was a real tonic - I had a wonderful time and have come back refreshed in a big way!

I wouldn't say I get anxious about holidays but a couple of days before I start to feel as I I don't want / can't be bothered to go. Once I am on my way I am happy to be going. However 10 days is really enough for me Not sure how I will be next month when we are away for double that time.

Glad I'm not the only one who uses a little something to help!! Chelseababy we usually fly early from Gatwick and always stay the night before. There is a Premier Inn and a cheaper holiday Inn - and I bet there are B&Bs as well. It is SO worth it -

My GP has always been happy to give me 5 Diazepam to travel and it does take the edge off the angst. I need the 5mgs, all in my head I suppose but it works for me.

chelseababy could you not travel the day before and get a cheap night in a hotel at Gatwick they do some cheap deals and you could relax and just get the hopper to the terminal?

I'm now anxious about getting to Gatwick for 4am on Monday. There are usually direct trains but due to engineering will have to bus or tube across London. I went to GP before we went to NZ and got some Diazepam as I was worried about the flights. I think if you are a worried you just are. I hear there have been storms in Corfu which is where we are going......

Hands up! I've always suffered from it for all the reasons others have named here. I'm now using my bad hip (on waiting list for replacement) for not going abroad or visiting my son when I could probably manage with a struggle if I really wanted to but the anxiety sometimes over rides everything.. At least I got to see them recently as they came over to us but still in my head I feel a total wuss.

You are not alone morethan2. We have just booked a cottage in Dorset for next summer. Already anxious about the trains, the cottage agents as we have not used them before. Worried about the cats, doing an on-line shop and anything else I can fine to worry about. Not too sure why you are worried about the milkman, maybe he has separation issues? Have a wonderful time, everything will be clean and fresh after the rain.

Practical suggestion here. Pop off to GP - explain all - dont downplay it - ask for something just for a couple of days before you go. Diazapam is brilliant. I have used it prior to 3 weddings and 2 funerals and cannot recommend it highly enough. Just takes the edge of anxiety. Actually even knowing you have it as a back up seems to have the same effect as actually taking it! Good luck and enjoy your holiday.

This is one of the things I love about GN, that other people worry like me, that makes me feel I am not alone. Mr M doesn't worry very calm, but misses enormous signs and can often be found in the wrong queue. Also on one trip to Rome we only just made it to the airport due to road works we had to run to the departure gates when he announced he needed the toilet.

morethan I have the same worries too never use too. Have a good time.

I too get anxious about going on holiday (never used to!), to the extent that I sometimes think about just not going! I worry about getting to the airport on time (it's only 30 minutes away), will the taxi turn up on time, will my flight be delayed/cancelled, what to take (I usually pack, unpack and repack at least 3 times), on the occasions I travel alone I worry I won't find anyone to talk to and will spend the whole holiday sitting alone! Once I get there everything is, of course, fine!

Crikey , I can see why you might feel anxious Morethan.

Maybe it would help to look at each thing you're anxious about and make a decision about whether its worth the worry .

For instance , if you forgot to pay the milkman would the world cease to spin? No....so write that one off.

I doubt you will ever miss a flight again by eating a meal...so really that one could go to.

If the clean up isn't done ..... then what?

If you can dismiss the stuff you can't change or which you don't control maybe it will help bring your anxiety levels down and help you enjoy the run up to your hols.

Have a wonderful time xx

Morethan I am another who worries for England before we go on hols. If There isn't anything to worry about I'll invent something! After what you have had to deal with this year, I wouldn't have thought anything would have phased you. Take it in your stride. When you get there you'll wonder what you worried about. Hope you have a wonderful relaxing holiday.