Does anyone else get anxious before going on holiday?

[ChompandaGrazia]

I love being on holiday, I love planning a holiday, but I’m a bag of nerves for about 24 hours before I leave. Once I’ve left the house I’m fine. It’s only me and DH, no one else to plan for or think about.

I know there is no logic, I know I need to have a word with myself. It doesn’t help that DH is exactly the same!

I'm sure there must be a brilliant German. Nordic or Japanese word for this bizarre feeling!

Yes, then once I'm on the holiday I wonder what on earth I was worrying about.

I'm a wreck for about 2 weeks! I get mind block about actual packing and either start really early for months, or I leave it last minute. Either way I am guaranteed a shit night sleep the night before.

I feel like this too! I don't feel nervous about going on holiday and do look forward to it, but I always have a whiff of longing when I leave my house that I'm not going to sleep in my own bed or see my stuff for a while. Even if it's just a night or two.

Yeah, I avoid my partner completely until we're at the hotel. DP really doesn't handle stress, change, delays etc well, and will snap at me for the tiniest things. It basically ruins the holiday for me so I'm reluctant to book them to be honest.

Me! I didn’t realise it was so common, and just figured I was strange!
I think it’s the worry incase I’ve forgotten something important. I once went away with lots of family to the US. My DSIS’s partner was French and was turned away at the airport due to having the wrong type of passport (this was years ago and the chips had just come in). I will never forget how devastated he and my poor DSIS was. Since then I’ve had anxiety, I know it’s irrational but I can’t help it.

Yes! It ok in the uk because there’s an easy “escape route” but we’re going abroad soon and I’m stressed. I worry it won’t be clean enough, especially the beds, and that I won’t understand the unspoken rules of the place, I’ll be checking bags for passports etc multiple times and I have to get DH to watch me lock the door so he can confirm I did it when I doubt myself.

once I’m there and it’s ok, I relax and enjoy it, but getting to that point isn’t fun

It's the packing that fills me with anxiety. No matter how carefully I plan what clothes I'll need, I end up packing and repacking, taking stuff out, having second thoughts... I used to just throw a few things in a case but now it takes me ages. Once I've left the house, I'm fine and I couldn't care less if I've not got the right clothes packed. It always works out fine.

I’m so glad I found this thread - I’m going abroad later today and I’ve been awake for ages panicking as I always do before going away. Actually wish I wasn’t going, a few days off work pottering about at home instead sounds bliss.

I am always a bit anxious until we are checked in. Despite having never done it, I have an irrational fear of having booked the wrong dates or having the wrong visas or something similar. No idea why but I always breathe a sigh of relief when we are through security…..

I am going away in June, first abroad holiday ever. My anxiety is already building up. I dread to think what I'll be like the day before.

I don’t get anxious before going on holiday until the last few moments when I am locking up the house. Then I feel a big wave of worry mixed with a weird kind of homesickness. I worry about leaving the pets (cats and Guinea-pigs) and that I have left a tap/hob/light on. I rush around triple checking everything and spend the first 10 minutes of the journey away from home rechecking everything in my mind. But the worry dissipates quite quickly and I can then start to enjoy the holiday. Also, although I enjoy going away, without fail, as I lock up the front door, I think ‘I’m so looking forward to getting back home!’

Yes, I get this, but as others have said, it’s gone once I’m on my way.

Yes me too, I am really excited and planning what will do etc right up to the day before which I when I start regretting having to go away. I get all sad and anxious about leaving the house & cats even though we have a lovely catsitter who comes to look after them. I worry all the way to the flight that we have forgotten something or left a window open or a tap running or an electricial appliance on.

Once we are on the plane, I completely forget all of this and only remember when we get back from holiday when of course everything is fine - house not burnt down, cats well fed and happy to see us.

It is the same every time, even for a short weekend break!

Always. Going in a week and really don't want to go. I'm fine once I get there, just hate the journey to and from the airport (we're travelling in the dark) and in the airport the whole security part.

I get this, I remember last year being at Waterlooen route to the airport, and having this feeling I just wanted to turn around and go home. I didn’t, and we had a lovely time. I think it started when we had kids, I don’t enjoy flying anymore and pre kids I loved it. Even if we’re travelling overland I I feel anxious. Absolutely love travelling once we get going! I’m hoping that when we go back to travelling without the kids I’ll be better? But worry it’s a getting older thing?

I’m the same. Despite running through everything in my head and telling myself if we’ve forgotten something it’s fine we can buy it/do without
once I’m through security I’m fine. It also sets off my tummy problems which adds to the anxiety. Even U.K. breaks for that!

I’m flying out today - big birthday holiday just DP and I. I’m not a confident flier, despite travelling since a baby, so that makes me anxious until we land, but my main anxiety this time is that DD(5) isn’t coming, she’s on holiday with my family and will have the most amazing time, but being so far away is always going to fill me with anxiety!