Travelling anxiety..

I'm planning (don't want to but I have to it seems) a trip to pick up my wife and bring her back to the UK but it will be the first time I get on a plane on my own and go through all the airport checks etc and I'm so anxious about it.

I'm worrying, borderline internally panicking about things that I don't want to go but I have to. And I'm worrying on the return journey as the country I'm picking her up from is notorious for annnoying, corrupt airport officials and she's going to be looking to me for re-assurance and IDK if I can give her that! I can't even compose myself.. then there's other issues but I feel like lashing out but struggling to articulate my feelings..

I get anxiety with things like that too. I haven't traveled on a plane by myself before, but I used to get really scared about doing other things by myself. The first time is always the scariest; I can relate. Not sure if this would be helpful, but maybe you go could go to the airport on another day before your trip. You could walk around to get at least a little bit of a feel for what it's going to be like when you have to take the actual trip. I know it'd be different since you're not going on the plane then, but maybe it could help you to prepare for the airport atmosphere. Any time I'm taking a trip that is going to induce any anxiety, I prepare some music that is calming. Hope this helps a little bit. Wish I had a better answer.

^Thanks for your reply. My positive is that I travelled with family last year but travelling on my own, I'll probably end up at the wrong boarding gate!

SilentAndShy said:

I'm planning (don't want to but I have to it seems) a trip to pick up my wife and bring her back to the UK but it will be the first time I get on a plane on my own and go through all the airport checks etc and I'm so anxious about it.

I'm worrying, borderline internally panicking about things that I don't want to go but I have to. And I'm worrying on the return journey as the country I'm picking her up from is notorious for annnoying, corrupt airport officials and she's going to be looking to me for re-assurance and IDK if I can give her that! I can't even compose myself.. then there's other issues but I feel like lashing out but struggling to articulate my feelings..

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Hi there, I was in your shoes before and I understand your anxious feeling. It's a scary thought to be at a crowded airport, go through the security checkpoint, and sit on the plane alone amid all these strange faces. I had my first plane travel alone when I was 13 because of my family situation (I didn't want to but I had to). For a tiny 13-year-old I was dead scared while dragging along my luggage, trying to navigate through the airport, finding the correct gate, speaking with the check-in clerk, and sitting next to a stranger on the plane. But I found that when I had to do something, I somehow had the courage to see it through. Sometimes, life will give you the opportunity to challenge yourself by putting you in a situation where you have to do something, I'd say, take it wholeheartedly and make it a success. Bon voyage, you can do it!

Well the tickets are booked. I'm just trying my best recollect my steps when I went a year ago plus I'm hoping airport staff will guide me along also. I'm not overly worried about interaction on the plane, last time I got talking to the person sat next to me or I'll dive into the entertainment that's available but it's the getting around from airports and connecting flights that worries me.

So, I've had my return journey. On the way there, I was nervous at every step until I sat on the plane. Kept checking my pockets to make sure I had all my travel documents and on the way back, there was alot of nerves (what if the luggage wasn't transferred from my connecting flight?) but man, such a relief when I was sat in the car going home. I guess next time I can be more relaxed rather than worrying so much.

It's never as bad as we make it out to be

I love being at airports and flying in planes, and I take pictures of planes every now and then at the airport. The thought about my luggage getting lost crosses my mind because of connecting flights, but everything goes well. On my flight in August I was very worried about going through the airport where I arrived as it doesn't seem to have a good reputation, but to my surprise everything went smoothly, so yeah things are never as bad. I worried myself about little things that I really should not, other than that I love flying, and looking forward to fly again in about 5 months.