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Anxiety effecting trips

Wed, October 17, 2012 10:55 PM

I always worry when I know I am going on a long road trip especially with other people. I get anxiety about there not beiG a restroom for a certain amount of miles especially if I have a cant wait emergency. I also get this anxiety with security lines at airports as well as lon lines for parking at amusement parks, concerts etc. ( had a horrible experience with that once) as well as anxiety with missing an expensive play or concert due to bathroom runs! Any tips on how to travel places with less worry and anxiety or similar situations? I know the stress over worrying about travel makes symptoms worse but I don't know how to get over my fears of road trips!

blonde157
Joined Oct 17, 2012

Mon, December 10, 2012 7:51 PM

Reply posted for Blonde157.

Hey :) iI am new to the forum but I've been struggling with my Chron's disease for a couple of years now, and I totally know how it feel to be anxious while on vacation. Whenever I get anxiety it's usually when I'm either standing in a really long line or freaking out about not being near the closest bathroom. I remember one Disney vacation with my family and just out of no where I had an uhh ohh can;t wait emergency just as we were about to get on Thunder Mountain Railroad :(. Let me tell you that could not have been more worst timing for me. And my most recent vacation back in July my family and I plus my friend and her family were all planning on going down to Fort Lauderdale beach for the 4th of July. Of course I got soo anxious before I ended up having a really bad flare up, completely ruined my fun. During the trip I did not feel like I could go out and have fun by hanging at the pool, jet skiing or just relaxing by the beach. I ended up spending the whole trip lying in the hotel room bed for those 3 days.

The only advice I can give u is maybe when your feeling anxious about an upcoming trip and you feel like your freaking out try doing some deep breathing. I find that closing my eyes and doing a couple of deep breathes helps me till I calm down or can get to a bathroom. Another trick that I sometimes helpful is having some one start a random conversation with u. By someone doing that u get distracted and u stop thinking about ur stomach.

ashley19
Joined Dec 10, 2012

Thu, November 01, 2012 3:04 PM

Reply posted for Blonde157.

Blonde157:

I was diagnosed with colitis when I was 13, so have been living with it for almost 12 years. The position I am in at work right now requires a lot of traveling - nearly once a week I fly. When I was going to be promoted to this position, I was hesitant to take the role because of my fear of "trip anxiety". I decided I needed to better control my colitis than have it control me and miss out on a great opporunity! My doctor suggested I use Immodium more often. Although taking Immodium sometimes results in a constipated feeling because it slows down our bowels, it has SAVES me on my trips cross country. When I have an early flight or early morning meetings (that's when my colitis tends to be at its worst) I start the day by taking 2 Immodium tablets. So if you know you are going to be in the car for long periods of time, or in meetings/classes/etc., I would urge you to try this method because it has helped me!

Good luck!

swils
Joined Nov 1, 2012

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