Holiday anxiety - anyone else?

I have to remind myself oc my own advice constantly! (Fellow anxiety sufferer here)

If your stress levels are already high then it's understandable that your anxiety levels are raised too. Concentrate on your wellbeing, whatever helps for stress relief

The fact is even if the hotel is dirty or you wear the wrong shoes, it's not the end of the world. You will live to laugh about it.
Important to just keep perspective.
I would focus on the passports, chargers and working credit cards.
I have travelled a lot in remote corners of the world with DC. Nothing very terrible has happened.

Yes but I do have quite a severe anxiety disorder so shouldn't of really replied to this thread is can't even go on holidays anymore because of it and my thoughts are not normal or rational in anyway

I'm on holiday at the moment! Just a short city break. Nothing has gone wrong (touch wood). All those things are really not worth worrying about. There is nothing you can do about it. Youre more likely to get run over or in a car accident in your home town and that's only a tiny chance. Do you worry about that?

Anxiety is a lack of confidence to deal with something especially unexpected or major.

Remind yourself that if something goes wrong, you can deal with it or get help to deal with it.

Don't run through all the things that could go wrong though. That will make you worse! Just know that whatever happens. You can deal with it

So much empathy for you. My anxiety used to be immense before a holiday. To the point where I would be in tears the night before and hoping it would get cancelled. All irrational, I know, but anxiety often is.

I’m much better now, but always make a list, check my handbag around ten times in case I haven’t actually put my passport in there but instead packed a party popper or something…

I hope you have a wonderful time and I promise you’re not alone in this!

Same, sort of.

Currently obsessed that my tooth is going to fall out when I get there or my ear drum will burst when the plane takes off. No evidence to suggest that this is more likely to happen. Only going to Tenerife.

So do I but it's all the what ifs like what if they lose our cases, what if we lose all our passport and money, what if we all get food poisoning, what if the kids drown, what if someone ends up in hospital, what if there is a terrorist attack, what if the plane crashes, what if the hotel sets on fire, what if we get that thing that you get from showers in hotels what if I accidently pack a bomb and end up in prison for life. It's just to much. I hope you have a nice holiday op im sure it will be great

Do your research and plan ahead to be better prepared. It will most likely be smooth sailing. And if things don’t go wrong sometimes, there’d be no interesting story to tell😄

I always get this @maldivemoment even if I’m really happy to be going, it’s very annoying!

just power through, it will be ok once you get going. I’m usually fine once I’m through security and ready to fly

Sometimes I think I kind of get nice anticipation and anxiety mixed up!

Totally understand. Every year when I come back I vow 'never again'....but then I under-estimate the stress and book again. I have mobility and other health issues. I have to be certain there is a loo with grab rails. The stress of not knowing exactly what provision is available makes my health issues worse. It's a 'lose lose' situation. Booked to go to Italy in October. I'm already sg myself!

I was going to post something similar. Am going long haul for the first time with kids. I am anxious about things going wrong. In my defence we have a strong history of things going wrong on holiday, I won't upset OP by listing them. I used to be way more relaxed but now I'm anxious based on the past, although I know its irrational as the same things are unlikely to occur. My current repetitive thought is the car breaking down on the way to the airport, that one has never happened yet to us....

I thoroughly research before booking as I'm very fussy about where I stay. So far in around 20 years of researching on the Internet for holidays we've never had a bad one

Yes I do but once I step outside my house into the transport to the airport which is only around a 30 minute drive my worries just disappear as there's nothing I can do about it by then. My only real worry is not sleeping the night before due to excitement. Then I'm really grumpy when I should be happy. If I sleep well I'm on top of the world though. I love holidays!

A good list helps. I get anxiety so understand this but usually it’s only the day before that mine kicks in

You might even find that once everything you can control has been organised you can start to relax and look forward to it. Paris is fab.

Probably the most important things you can do are 1) check passports; 2) make sure you have insurance and 3) allow plenty of time to get to the Eurostar/airport. Oh, and don't put anything crucial such as medication in your checked baggage. And make sure you have back-up funds.

Oh and Paris is fucking immense. If a bit of stress is the toll you gotta pay to get there it’s worth it. Have an amazing time!

Yes everytime especially if it's abroad there is just so much to plan and think about its a lot of money and there's just a lot of pressure for it to be great I feel the same before Christmas

I get a bit like this. Don’t know why. I’ve never cocked up flight dates or arrived somewhere without anything I couldn’t cheaply and easily buy but I spend the week before whipping the drawer open periodically and eyeballing the passports to check they haven’t disappeared.

I always have a horrible intrusive thought queuing up for security that I’ve forgotten to put knickers on and they’ll see on the body scanner thing. I have never in all my adult life forgot to put knickers on.

DH is a very laissez-faire ‘ooh isn’t it an adventure’ type of person who doesn’t think things like checking carry on restrictions or researching how to get from the airport ate important so I think it sends me into hyper drive because I can’t just loose go and bumble around like he does.

Photocopy your passports and put them in a different bag. Handy if the originals are lost.

Clothing - just take enough for the number of days. If a t shirt is stained, it’s not a problem if you have to get a worn one out if the dirty washing bag in an emergency. But everyone should have spare shoes/trainers. It’s not fun trying to buy new shoes if someone’s shoes fall apart there and then.

I also tend to worry. More so about packing and remembering everything we all need. We did recently do a weekend in Paris with similar aged children (g 15 and b 12). We did the usual Eiffel Tower etc but also did some of the TikTok trends to keep them interested (giant croissant, viral hot chocolate place etc). Was a lovely weekend and I didn't let the anxiety win for a change! Have a great time c

The thing to remember about a lot of what you’re worried about is that you can buy stuff there - it’s not like you’re going to the back of beyond.

Crocs are fine, very comfy!