Mild anxiety before going on holiday?

[tobee]

Just wondering if this is a common thing? Tell me if you do and if you don't.

Going away on holiday next Saturday and feel slightly anxious. I've often felt like this but thought it was sorted; I didn't feel this way last year (even though fuel shortages and a warning light came on in the car 1/2 into 4 hour drive. )

But it's not like we're going anywhere exotic, spent tons of money, got tiny kids to pack for. Stressful flight or anything.

For boring reasons we've had to go only an hour from home, just me and Dh, staying somewhere nice, self catering ; leaving kids at home who are in their 20s and entirely trustworthy, done it several times before. Looking forward to being with Dh.

As a child my dm used to get quite wound up just before we arrived at a destination, usually after a long, long drive in the U.K. or France. She'd worry about meeting the person to pick up the key and then she'd worry about the cooker not working but then would relax. She was like this every time, even though we could have probably checked into a hotel if absolutely desperate and nothing much did go wrong.But that was in the days before mobile phones, 24 hour shopping, internet, more of a cash society. The place where we're going I'm confident of directions and we can turn up anytime, have a sat nav, have a key box to access at the property and a cool box for emergency food etc. And home not much more than up the road.

The only thing I can think might be a problem is the weather looks ever so slightly iffy at the beginning of the week.

Anyway, do you feel mildly anxious before going away? Any disaster holiday stuff to throw in for good measure?

I think I've probably just got a Pavlovian response.

Yes! Always, even as a kid. Half way through a 2 week holiday I’d feel super anxious. Now it’s before, especially when booking flights. You are not alone! Hope that helps, enjoy your hols! It’ll be fine when you get there.

Thanks! I actually feel better just writing it down! Sometimes it's a thought of "I wish I was going to be sleeping in my own bed tonight!"

I love to travel and every aspect of it, and due to work I’m away for up to 25% of the calendar year… but I still get nervous before every single early morning start, I fear I will not wake up on time! Happens every time.

Yes. I get very anxious now to the point where I sometimes make myself ill. Never used to be like this. There is just so much to remember and do. Once I’m on my way I start to relax. I really hate being like this.

Yes. I love going on holiday but always have this feeling. To me, the key is to be really organised beforehand. Write lists of everything you need to pack etc.

Then really relax once you get to your destination.

have fun 🤩

Glad I'm not alone!

I do have lists!! And now, with tablets and phones etc I can make a list that I can edit and update. 😁

It's annoying because I'd like to be feeling just excited rather than excited with a touch of "ahhhhhhhh!"

Always - can’t even tell you what I’m anxious about. It’s definitely got worse as I’ve got older.
Often so bad I can’t eat the first night that we’re away. I honestly cannot pinpoint any particular reason, just a flaky worried feeling.

Yes! Think it's worse now since not being able to travel in lockdown. Even if we're just going away for a short time I find myself stressing over leaving the house immaculate and being indecisive about what to pack. Menopause might have a hand in it too. We have two trips coming up and I'm determined to get this under control with lists and deep breathing!

Yes I've got into the habit of breathing carefully and relaxing my shoulders.

I find holiday packing incredibly stressful. There isn’t time to wash everything pack kids stuff, my stuff, house stuff, buy food if we’re self catering, pack kitchen equipment they won’t have at the next place etc without setting a day aside basically! And there’s no time to do that especially in school holiday time when nobody wants to do anything that ‘isn’t fun’.. 🙄
Hope that it’s great when you get there!

You are not alone. We travel a lot, mainly just DH and I nowadays but sometimes with one or two of our adult kids so nobody else to sort out, and I always have that slightly anxious feeling before any trip. Nothing I can rationalise, just a feeling in the pit of my stomach. I am usually ok once I get on the plane, if we drive it always involves motorways so I am anxious until we reach our destination.

I personally don’t like holidays and a holiday for me now is when my 12 year old, only child goes on holiday with her aunties ( dads family) and I am at home by myself.I know this might sound selfish but trust me it works out well.

No it doesn't sound selfish, if that's what you like to do. Being at home alone is a real treat.

I've tried the "let's take everything we could possibly need and also leave the house spotless" and the "let's not worry about forgetting stuff and so what if the house is a heap when we get back?" But that doesn't make any difference.

Also I often find I sleep poorly the first night getting used to new sensations and fine after that; although an eye mask really helps.

@tobee

Thanks for understanding , as I was a bit weary about posting about not liking holidays and my daughter going on holiday with her aunties.

Yes, to the point I make myself ill. I think it's worse this year with having a couple of years of not going anywhere. I made myself ill just thinking about booking to go abroad later in the year so I didn't book anything in the end. I've been close to turning the car round many times on the way to the airport. It's awful.

Yes, I always get pre holiday anxiety. It's the build up, the organising etc.

I am a lover of lists so that helps but I totally get it.

Yes I do. I wasn't sure if it's because I'm autistic or something else.
I get really anxious and the morning we're leaving, I usually find myself pacing around the house. And I sometimes get a bit teary right before we leave. I've always been like this since I was a child. I really hate it.

Me!

I have felt anxious before longer trips to new places.

What helped me was telling myself, "You are not anxious, you are excited!". The two feelings are remarkably similar. After that I was ok and even started to enjoy the anticipation.

Me too.

I love planning holidays, and everything is planned to the nth degree but I'm still worried that something will go wrong - not enough room on the bus, not finding the apartment, host not turning up etc.

Sometimes I think I should stick to planning holidays rather than actually going!.

I always get a bit anxious. Making sure I have everything, checking bookings and so on. But I thought that’s normal.

we go away Sunday. First time flying since 2020 and I’m panicking Il get something wrong for the flight! Luckily we are going to Denmark so no covid rules to remember.