Sunday, May 18, 2014

off we go...



Soon we will depart on a holiday. We both love seeing new places or at least we did.

Since PTSD started travelling with us things are a little different.

Instead of looking forward to all that might be ahead of us as we venture off I am filled with the awful anticipation of what might happen along the way. That horrible stomach churning anxiety that turns excitement into dread.

Travel is not easy these days but we both refuse to stop doing it.

PTSD has taken much from our lives but travel won't make it to that list.

Airports create a hyper vigilance and level of anxiety that can only be calmed by medication for my husband and don't talk about delays or security!

New places once were exciting and fresh and a level of curiosity abounded until we could get out and explore for ourselves. Now there is a cautious tempered curiosity that sometimes turns into total 'get me out of here' anxiety.

The familiar is good, but the unfamiliar throws up all sorts of threats, real or otherwise, that need to be dealt with. Sometime I'm good at the 'dealing with' but other times I wonder why we leave home.

We try and travel without too many stops and plonk ourselves in one spot for a while rather than being on the go constantly. Many stops and constantly changing places doesn't work anymore.

At least this time we will have a discussion and talk about how we are both feeling before we leave and work as a team while we navigate our way to our destination. We will have a game plan of sorts and try and stick with it until it all goes to custard.

We both know we need to break. So off we will go to discover new places and gain a refreshed appreciation for what we already have on our door step.

Bring on that first cocktail I say!

Mel x

Do you have similar problems when you travel?
Any tips on getting through airports drama free?


6 comments:

  1. Oh enjoy! I hope it goes smoothly and you all have a fabulous time!

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    1. Thanks so much. It's 4 degrees here this morning so waking up to 22 will be lovely.

      Mel x

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  2. Hi Mel. What a wonderfully sincere blog you have here. Offering your vulnerability, hope & experiences to allow others to do the same. Whilst not personally familiar with war related PTSD, I've lived a life or two amongst childhood trauma & managing that as an adult, whilst raising 2 children (one of whom shares our unfortunate genetic pool of depression).

    Thanks for your lovely writing & photos. I'm an IG fan myself & hope you might share the name of your IG account so I can follow you. Kylee xx (aka boomerang jane)

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    1. Hi Kylee- thanks so much for your kind and lovely comment, much appreciated. I'm sure you can relate to much of what I write about. The effects of trauma seem to manifest in very similar ways no matter the source.
      My IG account is lillidaisy would love to share my photos with you. I've just followed you!

      Mel x

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  3. Hi Lyn
    Great to hear that you are off on a break too. Your wise words certainly help me keep things in perspective and give me something to think about. It is great we can still share these times together and try and make the most of them.

    We have done the lifestyle program and it was certainly very worthwhile. I think you will get much from it. It certainly opened and exposed many areas we needed to work on and helped open the door to much needed treatment of my husband. Sharing our experiences among like-minded people is always beneficial.
    Take care Lyn and thank you.
    Mel x

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  4. Hi Lyn

    That's so lovely of you. Yes times are tough around here at the moment. Just tying to get through each and every day as best we can. I do appreciate you thinking of me and asking after me. I wonder how you went at the Lifestyle Program? I'm sure you would have come away with more skills to help you cope.
    I think I need to get back here to write a bit, it always seems to help.
    Thanks for checking on me and take care yourself.

    Mel x

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