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Original poster

Am I the only one that has this anxiety pre holiday

54 replies

Yorkshiremum80 · 02/08/2025 08:14

I think I am going mad!
About 2 weeks before our family holiday I always start to feel anxious, not about the holiday or travelling but that something will happen to stop us going. Its stopping my excitement 😔
Does anyone else get this?

OP posts:
swashbucklecheer · 02/08/2025 08:16

Yep. I can't settle until I have arrived. DH can't understand why I'm not more excited!

PersephoneParlormaid · 02/08/2025 08:16

Yep, I start having arguments in my head about cancelling because all sorts of terrible things are going to happen.

Piratejenny99 · 02/08/2025 08:19

I worry now that one of us will get sick before holiday, I never used to really think about this before covid.

ItsStillWork · 02/08/2025 08:22

I find holidays really stressful and end up with anxiety diahorrea before (usually starts a week before) and all throughout the holiday were I am up in the night with it etc.

ive stopped going on holiday as I find it just isn’t worth it to me

RainBow725 · 02/08/2025 08:22

Yes I’m like this too. I am not normally anxious about anything at all. Often turns into something physical too - uti symptoms. It disappears immediately after I’ve checked in at the airport.

notevencharging · 02/08/2025 08:28

I always do since covid happened! To the extent that for a couple of weeks before I try and avoid going to crowded pubs etc (been going to crowded places all year and not got so much as a sniffle but can guarantee I will when it’s holiday time)

HollyhockDays · 02/08/2025 08:38

Yeah. About two year ago it was really and burnt was having some health issues and that was affecting me. I’m ok once I get there!!

pyzaz · 02/08/2025 09:01

Yeah, I do. Definitely caused by the pandemic. I worry one of us is going to injure ourselves, we'll break down on the way to the airport, or we'll get turned away at the airport for some reason eg. I didn't realise visas were needed or a covid vaccine certificate or they want to see the DCs birth certificates or the passports are out of date. I quite like that you can upload passports etc onto the airline app before travel - definitely puts my mind at ease.

And I've had a couple of holidays just after covid where I was panicking about getting back all the way through the holiday (eg. they won't let us on the plane due to illness or something). That one is waning now though.

It's a shame because I used love holidays, travelling, seeing new places. It doesn't help that DH & older DD aren't really into holidays, so I worry they're not particularly happy. DH definitely only comes to keep me happy, which is nice of him, and he has an OK time when he's there, but he'd rather be at home.

MermaidMummy06 · 02/08/2025 09:06

I never used to. DH & would fly to wherever without a thought. Then we had DC & stopped travel for a few years. Went to Japan with DC earlier this year & was ready to cancel almost every day, panic attacks, nightmares about someone getting ill or injured etc.

Of course, as soon as we get on the plane it all changes. So I'm learning to manage it until we leave & then enjoy the trip.

Sandyoldelbows · 02/08/2025 09:10

Yes! And I start thinking I should cancel. There always seem to be strikes on some kind of problem whatever route and transport method I use!

Username12284949 · 02/08/2025 09:16

Yes! Took my 2 children away last month and just couldn’t get excited as I was so convinced we wouldn’t get there. I was constantly checking flight radar and the airline website convinced that our flight would be cancelled or we would be turned away at security. It got so bad I was actually feeling sad for my children when they were excited as I was so sure it was going to turn to disappointment 😳

Screenager · 02/08/2025 09:27

Our car broke down in france a few yrs ago and it was pretty stressful. We have booked to drive over this summer for the 1st time since then and I’m convinced it’s going to happen again!… despite a newer, better looked after car with a recent full service!

TheAutumnCrow · 02/08/2025 09:32

These days there seems to be 50 Ways To Have A Booking Problem, followed in the silver medal podium position by issues with the travel paperwork like passport validity, and in bronze we have travel fuck-ups and delays (whether going by car, rail, air, ferry).

Strong contenders for medal positions also would seem to include: getting covid; fear of getting covid; the sheer awfulness of Gatwick; dismal weather or extreme weather; having a cabin bag a millimetre bigger than the airline’s authorised dimensions; getting medications through security; forgetting to take medicines; worrying about travel insurance; not being made to feel welcome by locals; the expense of the whole thing; worrying about leaving the house empty; worrying about the teenage cat sitter losing the key and letting Benji starve to death; worrying about the teenage cat sitter having a wild party; fear of flying; and realising you’d rather spend a week alone rocking in a darkened room than have to spend just one more day in an ‘All Inclusive paradise’ with your negative, demanding, screen-addled family.

user2848502016 · 02/08/2025 09:38

Yes definitely, especially if going abroad where it feels more out of my control that we have to rely on planes being on time etc.
Weirdly as soon as the plane takes off (or we’re on our way there if driving) the anxiety disappears.
Also when stuff has gone wrong like delays I’m fine!

Danascully2 · 02/08/2025 09:39

I find holidays anxiety inducing for similar reasons, was fine pre children (although always generally a worrier) but now the thought of having to navigate an issue around two very energetic and excited children and grumpy husband does make me anxious. I also worry a lot about leaving the house ever since our neighbour's house was properly flooded by a burst pipe. I used to also worry about leaving elderly cat but he's no longer with us.
I am generally better once we actually leave but I am always relieved to get back. I'm better when it's just me taking the children somewhere because husband is at home and so the house isn't empty.

2chocolateoranges · 02/08/2025 09:40

I’m the same, it’s the stress of packing, making sure everything including medication is packed, then I check the passports 100 times to make sure they are still in date, safe place etc.

once I’m through airport security I’m fine but it’s the build up of getting organised and packing the suitcases, I like to mix our clothes in all the cases in cases one persons case goes missing so I take charge of all the packing. It’s so time consuming but all my own doing 😂. 5hen the drive to the airport really stresses me out too.

roll on departures and a wee glass of wine at the bar before onto the plane for 2 weeks of sunshine! ☀️

Original poster
Yorkshiremum80 · 02/08/2025 10:12

RainBow725 · 02/08/2025 08:22

Yes I’m like this too. I am not normally anxious about anything at all. Often turns into something physical too - uti symptoms. It disappears immediately after I’ve checked in at the airport.

Same, as soon as I get in the airport I am fine.
It's so annoying, I want to be able to be excited 😆

OP posts:
Asabat · 02/08/2025 10:22

This is so timely - we are off tomorrow and all I can think about this morning (and for the last week is: will I be well enough to enjoy it? Should i wear a mask on the plane, what if they delay or cancel our flight, will our bags be ok for carry on, what are the rules with liquids, will my phone get knicked going through customs. Currently I am obsessed with the quality of the water in the swimming pool/sea.

We have had flights cancelled in the past, i seem to have got ill each holiday, but the rest is usually fine. It's partly social media both expectation raising and doom-mongering at the same time.

What i should be doing is shaving my legs and getting excited.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 02/08/2025 11:51

I cant settle until im in the hotel room

EssexCat · 02/08/2025 12:05

This is me to an absolute T! I just ruin (luckily for myself only as I keep it in) the build up to any holiday. Unless it’s in the UK and we’re driving!

I think it’s cos it’s me that books everything and I’m so worried I’ve messed something up. The irony is I only book it all because I actively enjoying planning and booking holidays!

The minute I’m in departures at the gate with a glass of wine I’m 100% fine!

CakesofPan · 02/08/2025 15:41

Yup, it’s a real issue in my house, have crazy pre-holiday anxiety on every level - we can’t go, we can go, we’ll be stuck on the motorway and miss the flight, the plane will crash, someone will be ill…

Original poster
Yorkshiremum80 · 02/08/2025 16:14

CakesofPan · 02/08/2025 15:41

Yup, it’s a real issue in my house, have crazy pre-holiday anxiety on every level - we can’t go, we can go, we’ll be stuck on the motorway and miss the flight, the plane will crash, someone will be ill…

Yes I have the motorway one. If it was up to me I'd set off about 8 hours early 🤣
Although a few years ago our car broke down on the way to the airport, luckily the airport was only 15 minute drive from our house. Was still so stressful though. We literally abandoned the car on a grass verge 😆

OP posts:
Original poster
Yorkshiremum80 · 02/08/2025 20:57

Asabat · 02/08/2025 10:22

This is so timely - we are off tomorrow and all I can think about this morning (and for the last week is: will I be well enough to enjoy it? Should i wear a mask on the plane, what if they delay or cancel our flight, will our bags be ok for carry on, what are the rules with liquids, will my phone get knicked going through customs. Currently I am obsessed with the quality of the water in the swimming pool/sea.

We have had flights cancelled in the past, i seem to have got ill each holiday, but the rest is usually fine. It's partly social media both expectation raising and doom-mongering at the same time.

What i should be doing is shaving my legs and getting excited.

I hope you managed to shave your legs and you have a great time.

OP posts:
Original poster
Yorkshiremum80 · 02/08/2025 20:58

Thank you for all the responses, whilst I am not happy that you all feel the same, it is nice to know I am not alone. 😘

OP posts:
Lushvegetation · 02/08/2025 21:05

I really suffer from this. I never used to but now it is a chronic problem. I’m thinking in a few years I won’t be able to go on holiday at all.

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