Are you a fellow Anxiety/Panic Attacks sufferer?...

[Ranguski]

As the title states I suffer from Anxiety and Panic attacks…it started a two years before my daughter was born and have been suffering for the past 7 years. The reason is because I had to bottle up all my feelings and had no-one to really open up...I still don’t. It’s just me, my husband and my daughter we have no family here. My husband is not the kind who understands emotions.

I started to have my panic attack on the way to work in London on a train and have struggled to get into trains ever since. Although I don’t work in London anymore we try to go into London often and I have good and bad days...I struggle specially when inside tunnels as I feel ‘trapped’. Every year going to see parents have become such a burden...it is a 11 hour trip to Asia and I detest ever minute. I have broken down and cried in the airport lounges.

We have booked so many holidays and cancelled because of my issue. We are exploring the idea of going to Amsterdam this May for a week and I am really freaking….could someone who understands what I am going through please tell me it’ll be ok?

Is it easy to get by with just English?

How is the food? Are there enough options for a 5 year old?

Do venues allow you to take stairs instead of lifts? (I have been to some places in Asia where they insist that you take the lift and I cannot handle this)

Is it generally a safe place?

Is the airport closer to the city?

[Ranguski]

Bump

[Ranguski]

Bump

[skinnyamericano]

I’m not sure about Amsterdam, but please, please go and see your GP about your anxiety. They will be able to help, probably through a talking therapy such as CBT. It’s really worth giving it a go.

They may also be able to help in the short term, for your trip, with some medication.

[Ranguski]

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I have tried the self referral service but it did it make much of a difference. I will book an appointment with my GP

[skinnyamericano]

I think it’s worth trying. I was very much a sceptic before I did the CBT course, but I have to say I’ve never looked back.

And the lovely part was that someone listened to me talk for an hour a week!

[SnowyAlpsandPeaks]

I’ve never been to Amsterdam (it’s on my list!), but friends who have been said lots of English spoken, lovely food and a wide range to choose from, you can get the tram/train (sorry I can’t remmebr which) from the airport to the city or go by bus- all very easy to navigate.

I too suffer from GAD and it stopped me going away- what if something happens at the airport?, what if I can’t find my way?, what if there’s no food I like?, what if I can not understand anyone? And the list went on.

I was then also diagnosed with bipolar and put on many different meds until they found lithium worked really well for me. My anxiety has greatly decreased- I still have bad days, I won’t lie, but no where near as bad. I’ve also managed to go away 4 times since- and apart from a little nerves which I think many people suffer from I was fine.

Please do go and speak to your GP, I didn’t realise how bad I was, until I came through it and looked back. I also realise just how long I’d been suffering- it wasn’t the 3 or so years I admitted too, I could see it was a good 10 years. As much as it isn’t nice being diagnosed with a mental health illness in my case, being diagnosed helped me to address my anxiety and thankfully meds (although not for anxiety) luckily had an ‘additional’ effect on it. Don’t be ashamed, there’s many of us out there!!🤗

[Ranguski]

Yes I think I need to speak to the gp as it’s slowly taking over my life.

[SnowyAlpsandPeaks]

@Ranguski you won’t regret it I promise!

[skinnyamericano]

Did you watch the programme with Nadiya from Bake Off about anxiety last night? I thought of you. It was very emotional to watch, especially if you have experienced what she was talking about.

I think we all need her Dr...possibly to move in full time!