To ask for tips managing anxiety on long journey

[dreamerofdreams27]

I've posted before about my struggles with anxiety and how it tends to rear it's head when I have to step into unfamiliar situations. Another major trigger for me is travelling. I think a lot of it is down to the fact that one of my key anxiety symptoms is urgently needing the toilet so when I'm stuck in a car on the motorway I begin to panic that I need to go and I can't. This panic physically induces the need to go. It's a really horrible cycle.

This weekend we are due to travel to visit family and do some Xmas activities with the kids. The journey is approx 2 hours in the car and I'm already worrying about how I'll cope. Dp is supportive but I'm just sick of this fear ruining what should be happy occasions. Can anyone offer any tips to try and control this anxiety on the journey? I've spoken to my gp who doesn't think I qualify for medication at this stage.

How was your trip?
@dreamerofdreams27

@novacaneforthepain hiya I have NC since this thread but I am the op. The journey went better than expected. Had a shaky start - I had to stop at a garage before we even got on the motorway but after that I was ok. Other than the last quarter of the journey which was very rural there were plenty of services and places to stop on the way and once I knew this i relaxed. On the way back I didn't need to stop at all because the journey was familiar to me and I knew I could stop if needed and where. For me I think a lot of the problem is fear of the unknown. Or the knowledge that I'm somewhere with no toilets. One thing I really miss is taking my dogs on long countryside or woodland walks. I've stopped doing this since my anxiety got bad because obviously these are scenarios where there aren't toilets for miles and I end up thinking I'll have to go in a bush!!

@Disillusioneddaisy great to hear that all was ok. Good luck with it all, you have my complete empathy, I have exactly the same problem