On vacation in Cancun and having mini anxiety attack!

jjfaul · Post by **jjfaul** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:26 am

I am working on getting over my agoraphobia once and for all. I flew in to Cancun two days ago with minimal anxiety. I am staying at a wonderful resort but after three I am having a panic attack. Despite the fact that I have been completely; relaxed. I think the heat an the unfamiliar surroundings are getting to me. I am having the usual fears of having a heart attack and going crazy. Could sure use some support and words of encouragement...thanks in advance

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:24 am

Congratulations on making it to Cancun. You have done so well already. You are doing great !!!! It's OK to be a little anxious...you are in an ufamilar place but dont let the anxiety win. It wont hurt you and you wont let it. You are very strong for having even made it to Cancun. Do your breating...be kind to yourself and make sure you are drinking enough water and that you aren't overloading on sweets. Eating right on vacation is tough, but it's important for you to do that right now. It might help keep your anxiety in check.

I am new here so I'm sure someone who has gotten over this more can give you some better advice but I thought a hug was in order {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

You can do it !!!!!!!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 2:42 pm

I recently went camping with my family, and found myself having anxiety in the middle of the woods. My little trick was that when I felt anxious, I started doing multiplication tables in my head, saying them out loud. My brain had to work so hard on the tables like 1x1=1 1x2=2 2+1=3 1x3=3 3+3=6 and so on, that I completely forgot my surroundings, just plodded along the portage trail between lakes and in fact, almost stepped on a garter snake that had been sunning because I didn't see it as I was doing math. I HATE snakes and even that didn't freak me out because of....I was in the middle of a big math problem and didn't want to mess it up. If I goofed, I started over.

It worked like a charm. When you get into the logical side of your brain like math or singing or dancing or whatever, it shuts down the adrenaline release of anxious thinking since you aren't doing the "what if" thing. Can't do opposites at the same time.

Have a super vacation. You are doing great!

(I got this tip from a book called Freedom from Fear by Dr. Howard Leibgold)