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Extreme Anxiety & OCD on holidays

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kelly83085
kelly83085

Hi all, I’ve suffered with OCD & Anxiety since I was a young child.

I get so excited when I book a holiday to a different country and spend weeks looking forward to going, however, once I get there my OCD & Anxiety takes over horrendously and I end up having an awful time and just want to get home 😦

I have symptoms like:

Scared I’ll have a heart attack and die.

Scared I’ll lose my mind and be put into a secure hospital or get arrested by the police.

Scared I’ll act on my harm OCD thoughts.

Scared I’ll never see my family again.

Barely able to eat as I feel sick and so anxious.

Every time I try and fall asleep on holiday, I get a rush of what feels like Adrenaline which is terrifying, and stops me sleeping all night.

(Absolutely no sleep, not even a minute)

Which then makes my Anxiety & OCD worse the next day.

It goes from my stomach into my chest, like the feeling you have if your anxious about taken a driving test, or going on a scary roller coaster.

I don’t seem to have this if I go away in my own country, just if I go abroad.

I’m not scared of flying, so I know that’s not it. It just feels like my mind goes into overdrive when ever I go to a different country, like it’s got something to be fearful of.

I even make sure I know where the local ED/ER is and the emergency numbers, just in case.

I still go away every year, but each time I go the symptoms seem worse.

It must sound pathetic as most people have some freedom from their OCD & Anxiety when they go on holiday, but mine is so much worse.

Does anyone else experience similar?

Thank you x

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • sasical72
    sasical72 kelly83085

    Edited

    Hello,

    Yes, I have 100% had this is the past, it's because of moving away from our "safety".

    I also check where all the hospitals, medical centers and chemists are.

    I go through phases when this is worse and others when it's better.

    What I do to stop it, is repeat to myself, if something is going to happen to me it can be here or at home, so I might as well live life.

    I do have to repeat this like a mantra though haha.

    Are you on holiday at the moment?

    • kelly83085
      kelly83085 sasical72

      Edited

      Hi, thank you for replying.

      Its a terrible thing to go through!

      I hope you have over come it now, and can enjoy your holidays?

      I went away last month, and once again Anxiety and OCD ruined it for me.

      I so look forward to going abroad, but this always seems to spoil it and i can't wait to get home.

      I even check the flights to make sure there are ones back to the UK each day!

      Its the adrenaline feeling i get when trying to fall asleep when i'm away, it comes out of nowhere when i try to fall asleep.

      Then after a sleepless night, the panic and OCD is so much worse and i convince myself that i will go mad or drop dead and never see home again.

      I understand how silly this may sound to some, but i just can't get away from it.

      Take care x

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