The Procrastinators Guide to Preparing For A Trip
- Dawn Parker
- Jul 19, 2017
- 4 min read
As you might remember I am going away this upcoming weekend. Normal people may feel this is really no big issue. Those of us with High Functioning Anxiety know a little bit better about the reality of all the anxiety a trip can cause, even if it is one you planned on going on and will enjoy once you get there. Before you leave though, the thought of going causes your entire chest to tighten up as you start to become anxious about what's coming up.
First the denial that you will actually go on the trip sets in. Something will come up to spoil the plans or someone (possibly you) will back out last minute. It happens; it’s a normal part of life (at least for those of us with anxiety issues).
Then it’s the week before the trip and you realize about two days in that this trip is actually going to happen and you’ve done nothing to get ready for it yet. Suddenly, every menial task you’ve put off for months needs to be done so everything will be “perfect” before you leave. The floors must all be mopped, all the laundry washed AND put away. The lawn meticulously manicured. The presents you’ve had for months finally need to be mailed out so that they make it to the birthday person’s house on time.
Even though none of these things will cause the world to end if they do not happen, they are a great source of self-imposed stress on someone with anxiety. This doesn’t include the other anxiety issues, like will my pets be OK with the sitter? Will they behave? Will they get into something they shouldn’t while I’m gone? Never mind it’s just an overnight trip and they survive fine every day when you’re at work. The anxiety of leaving your comfort zone, your familiar routine, just amplifies any possible scenario that could go wrong in your head. A person with anxiety can tell you at least 10 different ways you can die just because you have toothpicks in the house (yes, we’re that bad sometimes).
I am currently in the perfectionist issue portion of my pre-trip planning. I am looking at my house and making myself feel overwhelmed because I just see all of this stuff I need to do before I leave (in three days mind you). Plus I have to pick up my new glasses and I have a committee meeting for my Veteran Day’s Parade tonight (this will be the thing that has to give).
None of this includes packing for the actual trip itself. That will happen on Friday night and Saturday morning before I go because I won’t want to leave anything I might possibly need behind. In my younger days I had to packing lists. One was for day trips and one was for longer stays away. (This girl could pack some stuff for a trip.) I remember my mom complaining we’d have more room in the truck if my sister and I hadn’t both brought two bags of shoes lol. Our valid argument was, a pair of shoes could change an entire outfit.
Now I can pack for an entire week in just a backpack. I think I’ve come pretty far as far as a woman packing for a trip can anyway. I will wear the same shorts probably all weekend; one pair of PJ’s and a bathing suit is really all I need. Maybe something nice in case we go out somewhere after hitting the beach. Maybe two pair of shoes, one of which I’ll wear on the drive down. At least I’ve learned how to travel lite compared to my younger years.
Once I get out the door and on my way I will calm down until I get back home at least. Before I leave I will complete my heading home ritual where I check everything to make sure I leave nothing behind at the hotel I'm staying at. I really do enjoy traveling and actually used to do a lot more day trips and long weekend trips. Somewhere along the way anxiety caught up with me and took over though and I adjust and just try to work with it so I can function somewhat normally (at least for me or at least to feel I appear to be to other people anyway).
Does anyone else have anxiety issues when they travel or before? How do you deal with them? What are some of the things you do other people would consider silly but you need to do them to feel OK before leaving?
I will try to get my next exercise video in for tomorrow morning, sorry my schedule has gotten so wonky since I started them. Also below are some links for travel with anxiety if anyone else has the same issues.
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