I’ve been to 8 countries, 23 states, 6 national parks. I’m only 24. I want to continue to see the world but my sudden anxiety and insomnia is getting in the way.
It all started a few months ago I had a flight for work and had to get up at 3 in the morning. The time change hit me hard and I didn’t sleep for 3 days, I was unproductive and useless on the staff retreat. I came home and continued to have issues with sleep. Then the anxiety came. I flew again in October to visit family and had that same awful 3 am wake up and ended up getting stranded for a night in a gross hotel and didn’t sleep 3 days.
Our Italy trip was again that 3 am wake up call. I thought I was prepared this time as doctor gave me seroquel and I use cbd which has worked for me. It didn’t work that night. I cried and hyperventilated about how I wasn’t sleeping. I cried about the 8 hour overnight plane ride that I knew I wouldn’t sleep on. I knew I was doomed because by the time I got to Italy I’d have been awake for 50 hours. So I cancelled. The first time I ever cancelled. A 2.5 week vacation. Cancelled.
I travel about 6 months out of the year, 2 for pleasure, 2 to visit family, and 2 for work. I fly with delta always. I am not lying when I say, I am on the phone with delta at least twice a month trying to fix my flights that they keep changing and rescheduling. They’ve actually changed my final destination on me without asking. Supposed to fly to Marquette and they changed it to end my journey in Detroit. That’s 8 hours away.
This keeps happening. I’ve had numerous flights cancelled day before, numerous layover changes, getting stranded due to short layovers.
I was never fearful of flying or traveling or anything.
But with all the uncertainty of flying it has given me severe anxiety.
I am wondering if anyone else here has anxiety in general or anxiety with all these flight changes and has tips to help. I am getting into therapy. I don’t ever want to cancel a trip again
I feel everyone always talks up travel but I think we all can admit that at times it’s really stressful and exhausting.