Stress Center Peer Support

I am agoraphobic, but I have come a long way. For the most part I am over it. I have got over my fear of flying and have been traveling around the US. However I just found out at work that I need to fly Finland in a month. I am terrified, I have never been to Europe, I have never flown 16 hours before. I have all these old fears coming back. I am afraid of having a heart attack, I am afraid I will die. I would greatly appreciate some words of encouragement or advice.

Thanks

Finland, what a awsume place to get to visit. Make some plans for afterwork and enjoy the trip. There are many things you can do to prepare. You could have a heart kaboom or die right where your at, so that approach won't work. Get yourself up and going and lets see look forward thinking.
How can we help build your self reliance? Anyone who is in flight for 16 hours will feel cramped and contained. Take a couple books, word puzzles or even just go with the flow as to what comes.
Thanks for sharing and asking, that is signs your well on your way.

Wow, JJ, that is a hard task to do, but I'm glad that you are willing to attack it! I'm a little scared myself to take a simple plane trip, before my first panic attack I never had that problem. So I understand your concern and I'm wishing and hoping for the best for you. We're here to cheer you on as you prepare! Paislee

Hi JJ, welcome. I'm with you: I don't understand why those things stay up there. But whenever I had to fly, as you now must, I did it. Maybe I took an aspirin, but that's it.

My way was to not think about it beforehand, except try and enjoy planning for it: outfits, grooming supplies ( can't take too much these days), recreation items, maybe snacks. You can go to the library and learn about Finland. It's very pretty from what I've seen (on TV). Nice people. So lots of distraction and then just walk on like you're an old pro. That's what I pretended.

Just remembered: saw a show about their famous composer, Sibelius, I think. He was inspired by the Fjords. Hope I'm not misleading you. That's what I seem to recollect.

How are you doing now as your trip is getting closer?

This year for spring break, my family went 2500 miles away to an island in the Caribbean. I was just TOO busy beforehand to think about it much, and before I knew it, I was on the plane. It was an early flight and I brought my book, my bible study, my snacks and talked to my kids and slept. I felt some anxiety when we got to our island and then had to wait about 1 hour for the ferry. I could feel the "what ifs" and feel the strangeness of a new place. I had to almost speak out loud that it was normal to feel discombobulated after traveling all day and going from a snowstorm to a tropical island. I kept myself breathing slow and steady and tried to focus on tiny things to direct my attention to something other than myself. It was SO awesome to get settled into our villa that we had rented and make it like my home, and all my yuckiness faded away. I think getting back into my regular routine helped. Can you keep some piece of home with you and make your surroundings feel homey at all?

I have a hard time traveling too. Much anticipatory anxiety. I have found the less I think about the trip and "look forward to it" the better I do.

Bon voyage and let us know about all the wonderful sights you see.