Maria

Leaving next week for Rome and transferring planes to Sicily. I don't know why I'm getting nervous. The plane doesn't bother me too much - although I don't enjoy the long flight! I always worry something is going to happen - especially bringing children! Am I being crazy?

Alex

Probably. Take your medication and you should be fine.

Sue

I expect most folks experience what you're going thru to some extent, especially when children are involved. I always felt a sigh of relief when the plane took off and we were on our way! Try to enjoy your trip!

Sandy

I don't think you're crazy in the least. My husband and I are leaving in 10 days for Paris and I'm nervous. But, I'm always nervous before leaving for a big trip. My nervousness isn't from anything in particular and I'm so used to it now that it's second nature for me. P.S... my husband think's I'm a little crazy but he's used to it, too!

Alicia

No, you're not crazy, however, you are apprehensive. I also feel anxious before a major trip. However, you need to just get a grip and realize that you're going on a trip to enjoy yourself.

Dr. Mark

Maria, <BR><BR>Your not crazy, you're only feeling an emotion. We all have them at different times in our lives. <BR><BR>Your about to do something that's out of your ordinary routine. I suggest you take pen and paper in hand and write down all your fears. That way you will stop them from circling around in your head.<BR><BR>Calm down and relax, if you are anxious you will spoil the trip for everyone else. If your still feeling nervous tomorrow, talk about your worries with a friend. It doesn't help to keep thing bottled up inside. They only get bigger that way.<BR><BR>I hope you enjoy yourself and have a good time.

Maria

Thank you all for your advice. Dr. Mark I will try writing things down - that sounds like it might help. <BR><BR>It's funny that the plane doesn't bother me as much (I figure we'll all be together if something happens), but for some reason last time once I got there I had an anxiety attack! I worry about something happening to my girls. We're even staying at my parents house - so it's not even a strange place, but it's a little small town in Sicily in the middle of nowhere. The hospitals are 2 hours away. We are going to Taormina & Cefalu - I am looking forward to that. I know we will have a good time. I write a trip report when we get back.

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Maria

Leaving tomorrow!

Shanna

Hi, Maria. Your feelings are natural. Many people, including myself, are filled with dread starting a couple of weeks before departure. Classic departure anxiety. Don't worry - right about now you should start getting excited again. Have a great time!

Fast Freddy

I'm leaving on Monday and getting nervous too, but it's not about the trip, it's about getting married on Sunday! LOL

Bob Brown

I think you are just apprehensive.<BR>That is normal when you are preparing to place your life in the hands of people you cannot control.<BR><BR>When you get right down to the nitty gritty of it, an international flight puts you in a strange, unusual environment where your next few hours are subject to forces you do not know about. It takes a lot of trust and courage to face it. <BR><BR>As much as I have flown and travelled by car and train, I am constantly responding to unfamiliar stimuli when I travel. It never gets to be a routine with which I am totally comfortable.<BR><BR>I am thinking right now about my upcoming trip to Europe. There is a tight connection in Charlotte; there is an early flight out of Munich. I am not that familiar with the trip to the Munich airport, even though I have done it once before. <BR><BR>There are just so many unknowns that I don't have any control over that I cannot help but think about them, and what my response will be if something goes astray. My wife sort of takes it as it comes, but on the other hand, she has me to do the planning and to do the thinking about the alternatives.<BR>

carole

Maria, I understand and can empathise totally with what you are saying. It is reassuring to know that I am not the only one to feel it. I feel it mostly when we have travelled a long way from home - ie to another continent. We flew to Thailand four or so years ago with the children and when I got there I suddenly felt a million miles from home. Once I laid down on the bed I started to feel better - almost like a centralising of my body. I went back to Thailand a couple of years later, without the kids, and was fine for the first day but when I awoke in the night I felt absolutely panic struck and just wanted to be with my kids. In fact, I know this sounds wacky, but I had to try to pretend that I was back home in my own bedroom. After that I was okay. I think it is probably pretty natural once you are a mother to feel like it. I worry about going to an island also in case someone is ill. I know, intellectually, that is is silly but can't help feeling it. One thing I now find helpful is having a mobile phone with me because you know that you can always ring home/hospitals/friends if you need to. With a mobile phone you are never very far away!

Thyra

I get sick nervous before a trip, and I live to travel! How much does that suck!! I start having anxiety dreams weeks before we leave.. that is when I can get to sleep. It's a combination of excitement (positive) and worries (negative) oh it's awful. But one thing I HIGHLY recommend. I used to arrive at my destination, and still be on a "stress wave" it nearly spoiled my honeymoon trip to Paris. Since then I always leave work half a day early, go to a day spa and have a full massage/facial/soak in a hot tub/whatever!!! Really live it up. Let all the tension melt away until I leave the spa like melted butter. My husband and I then go out to dinner, and I have a drink or two, and only then am I in formal "vacation groove". Honestly.. I completely understand the tension. Just make sure you do whatever you have to do to be proactive in making sure it doesn't impact your wonderful trip!!! Bon voyage.. I wish I was leaving next week ::

Maria

Thank you all who replied. I'm leaving in the morning. I was feeling very anxious after dinner tonight (I notice it is much worse when I'm full).<BR>I came home and checked this board and it made me feel much better. Thank God my husband is so calm. My kids are pretty good too. <BR><BR>I'll make sure I do a trip report when I get back. We are also going to a wedding in Cefalu, Sicily so that should be fun - I just hope I don't spoil it for myself with these anxiety feelings!<BR><BR>Ciao! Maria

Julie

Maria,<BR>You will have a wonderful time. I loved Rome. You must see the things you enjoy!! I never thought the coloseum would be that big of a deal, but it was the highlight of my tour. I'm only 34 years old. Think of the wonderful things you will see! A once in a lifetime thing! Enjoy!

Maria

Hi, I'm back from my trip to Sicily. We had a great time. I did have a little episode of anxiety when I first got there. I think it's culture shock.<BR>It took my a few days, but then everything was great! I've been up since 4 this morning, still on Italy time. I will post a trip report soon. We also went to Taormina and Cefalu. <BR><BR>Thanks for everyone's kind words

gen

There have been threads on other boards concerning the anxiety that precedes a trip. It was very reassuring to me as I ususally get nuts before a trip and by the day before the trip I would sell my soul to the devil to stay home. But I love to travel! It is just being overwhelmed by the work involved in leaving home, the loss of control, the change of routine, the apprehension about details that need attention. It is normal.

marciab

How nice to have a conclusion to a thread, and a happy one at that! Glad you had a good time, Maria.<BR><BR>Does anybody know if we ever heard back from that fellow who was going to take his girlfriend on a surprise trip to London and Paris for about three days from Dallas? (think it was Dallas; it was somewhere in U.S.) The thread got very long trying to talk him out of it.