HELP I FEEL LIKE I AM CRAZY.

[Xxinxxin]

I have been suffering from anxiety for 3 years. I also have PTSD.

I am leaving my home country in a week for a semester long study exchange and I am seriously FREAKING OUT.

I keep cry uncontrollably and I am so nauseous that I cant eat. I am already underweight and this does not help.

I feel that I will die alone overseas and I will not survive the 12 hour flight.

I feel like just dying to take all these feeling away and I am just so scared..

[shoppaholicsue Star]

I do really feel for you. Its taking you out of your comfort zone. Pushing yourself to do something unusual is normally a help. You will see that nothing bad happens. Its quite normal for anyone to get nervous before such a trip anyway - worse for all of us with anxiety issues.

i know it easier to say than do, but try to relax - use hypnotherapy/relaxation apps or CD's. Deep breathing often helps.

Good luck, and enjoy this once in a lifetime experience.

Sue

xx

[Olderal]

You will survive the 12 hour flight and maybe even enjoy it. Fear of it before it happens is almost always worse than doing it. I wish I had a pound for all the people who thought they would die on a flight. The odds are so incredibly on your side.

When you've done that you might believe the rest of this. You will not die overseas. Talk to a good friend who will respect your confidence about your anxiety and see your GP . Be completely frank with them . They can almost certainly prescribe something that will help.

What you have is no joke but the most important thing on your side is to have courage and calmness, even more than any prescription . Easy for me to say it, not so easy for you to do but certainly not impossible.

Take a few moments out occasionally, sit back, close your eyes,breathe deeply and concentrate only on the feeling of breathing, your chest expanding, the air moving in and out and it's sound. Nothing else matters for five minutes. You can certainly find this possible. This should help but also see your GP.

I hope, and it may well be ,that the semester will turn out to be the enjoyable and wonderful experience it should be . I certainly hope so. You have been brave enough to fix the trip, now be brave enough to enjoy your reward.

[maggie91]

You have a wonderful opportunity and you should be very proud of yourself. Keep your focus on your achievements and not your anxiety. It is ok to take some meds to help you relax on your plane ride. Lots of people have trouble flying and take something to calm down for the flight. Talk to your doctor about it. Remember though, Your focus is on your achievements and your amazing opportunity. Meeting new people and staying active will help once you get to your destination. Stay strong, anxiety is just feelings. You are stronger than your feelings and you do this by living and enjoying life.