Published on 12, July, 2020
I've just arrived home from a short holiday to Portugal. I've not been on holiday for nearly 10 years so I have been in a near panic attack state for about a month.
Proud I did it, but my god was it hard to make myself live through the flights each way. I find being in confined spaces, with loads of strangers, limited toilet access, and random goings on, really anxiety inducing.
Id love to open up more and be able to travel, for my family as much as myself.
Anyone else feel the same about flying? How do you manage it?
for me it's all about strategy.
I plan trips and ask for accommodations, like early boarding, and wear my NC headphones, black out eye mask, and earplugs.
I also make a chart of when I need to be there and give myself a lot fo time to do all of it: If my flight is a 5pm I am at the airport by 1:30. this gives me lots of time to acclimatize; if a connecting fight is calculated for under 1 hour I choose a later flight to avoid panic and hurry.
I also research y location and make a holiday calendar, like an advent calendar but you can see all the days at once.
I also research the public transit options and study a map of the area, looking for good ways to get around and have the map in my head. Having the map in my head helps also in that I may be where there is no cell tower.
Now there is googlemaps., but they cannot determine bad neighborhoods and construction deviations.
Quiet cafes are a comfort zone for me. and libraries. I use then as bolt holes if things feel overwhelming. Finding a quiet cafe these days is hard, though. Libraries are still the same, overall. find something/place calming.
I don't book too much in one day.
there are many strategies. I am 70 so I've had lots of time to find what works. experiment.
One of the hardest things used to be the pat-down. I cringe at random groping and wimper, panic, fidget. Now they are all very nice and accommodating. Right after 9/11 it was hell.