off on holiday, but really anxious about it

milo2020

Active member
I'm off to the Philippines at the end of February, family visit, I went because my mom wanted company, afraid of saying no, and depressed of being here and wanted to get out of here, thinking I would be fine...I thought I could go to therapy and everything will be fine...but never went.....I just never felt ready...

But as time goes nearer....my thoughts and anxieties come closer.

Afraid of being mind blank and quiet all the time, never have anything to say, just small talk, my social awkwardness and confusion eats me inside, making me feel and look awkward.

I usually ignore it, but staring that some people give makes me anxious and even more awkward that I'm being watched and sometimes laughed at. Sometimes in the past I hear someone saying in bisaya about me even though they don't know me just for being white or appearing American. ( I can understand tagalog and bisaya-but can't seem to speak it fluently) so it feels awkward when some people are like that...

There was once my mom's neighbour, a gay guy who said something before about me, I wrote what he said to a filipino online, just to make sure...it was not nice.

I always smile and be respectful to people even when inside I'm nervous.

To me stares and laughing was usually done in school and college back here in the UK by people who were taunting or commenting about me in a bad way or tormenting. Which is probably why I find staring uncomfortable, especially blank stares.

When some people talk to me, or when I talk to them, it's like I'm going to cry, the more I suppress it, the worse it gets, and my face twitches on camera.

I like visiting historical places though and being active, going trekking into the forests etc. but during last summer here in the UK, it was very hot, and I was feeling light headed, off balance and panicky all the time, it made me tired and sweaty and easily get hungry. And feeling hungry or always having a dry mouth all the time, despite drinking lot of water makes my anxiety worse.

It's like I've developed a different kind of anxiety, that happens any time and for no reason. I taught myself to keep it under control especially the palpitations, but it can be really difficult and quite scary.
 
I love it in the Philippines, eagerly waiting for July so I can go again. But it can be really hot there, I sweat like crazy sometimes and that's not fun because it makes my anxiety worse. I got an anxiety attack once waiting in line at a fast food place, started sweating out of no where. I find traveling quite exciting so it sort of diminish my fears, even though I know I will find myself in a situation where my anxiety kicks in, every time.

I've always believed you can only get better or cope better by exposing yourself to these situations that induce your anxiety. Once you have been through a lot, the fears and anxiety won't be as they were the first times.
 

milo2020

Active member
I love it in the Philippines, eagerly waiting for July so I can go again. But it can be really hot there, I sweat like crazy sometimes and that's not fun because it makes my anxiety worse. I got an anxiety attack once waiting in line at a fast food place, started sweating out of no where. I find traveling quite exciting so it sort of diminish my fears, even though I know I will find myself in a situation where my anxiety kicks in, every time.

I've always believed you can only get better or cope better by exposing yourself to these situations that induce your anxiety. Once you have been through a lot, the fears and anxiety won't be as they were the first times.

Yeah its a really nice country overall, you are right, always seem to forget, that in order to fight these feelings I have to face them, no matter how scary.
What do you do to keep yourself cool and when anxiety kicks in? ^^
 
Yeah its a really nice country overall, you are right, always seem to forget, that in order to fight these feelings I have to face them, no matter how scary.
What do you do to keep yourself cool and when anxiety kicks in? ^^

I act as if I have to go do something, for example go to the bathroom. This gives me a chance to calm down, usually the anxiety lasts for about 5 to 10 minutes, and then after that I start feeling cool and calm again. I seem to always feel hot and sweat at my forehead when I have anxiety so that becomes noticeable and that's what makes everything worse.

When I get these anxiety attacks it's as if the place I'm at is cursed and I have to leave, otherwise the anxiety will stay. That's because in my mind the people there maybe could have noticed my anxiety and that bothers me.
 
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