Shopping and gathering, done. Phew!
Tiny cross body purse so no one can make me carry a goddamn thing
So help me God, if The Mister hands me a single receipt, I will imagine shoving it down his throat and I will be ripping it up
Six hundred gallons of dermatologist approved sunscreen so Sassy and I only get a little sunburn
A vat of aloe for when we get a little sunburn
Fifty lip balms with SPF6000
Nine hundred hats so our faces will forever look a decade younger than they are and no one will see our wild and crazy hair
Five thousand hairbands for when we just can’t stand our hair anymore
One tube waterproof mascara so when I sweat I won’t look goth
Some water
Twenty pounds of fruit, because like water, but tasty, and with nutrients!
Ice, because frozen water
Goggles so Moo’s eyes don’t dry up and fall out
Sarongs so no one can see the thigh chaffing
Until we’re on the road, a million worries.
How much sleep am I getting? Half of what I should.
I put a lot of hyperbole here in this post, but I am not exaggerating my anxiety or stress level.
The trauma of returning to the south — Ugh.
I truly believe constant heat and sun added to, maybe even doubled my anxiety when we lived in Georgia. I am frightened that the heat and sun will trigger that anxiety. Perhaps some mild case of PTSD exists just below the surface of my freak-out…
I’m so excited to spend time with family and friends, but I’m seriously a wreck.
I realize many people think I’m being dramatic. People who don’t suffer similarly are surely sucking their teeth and thinking how absurd, or even ungrateful, I am. People think I can turn it off for vacation.
I cannot turn it off, ever, that’s why it’s Anxiety Disorder.
I keep telling myself, “it’s just a trip. made this trip a hundred times. not like we’re movin there again.”
I shall spend my days in gratitude: I’ll have many of my loved ones, air-conditioning, fans, shade, cocktails, seafood, coloring books, music, the healing powers of the sea…and I do so love a road trip!
As everyone with anxiety knows, I will be feel much better once I leave the house.
In the meantime, while I suppress my fear, I am glad for wine. Everything is so much better with wine, isn’t it? I’m totally not drinking wine at 6am, unless you think that’s fine, then I totally am. No, really, I’m still on coffee, but later, wine.
Are you hot just thinkin about it? Do you suffer from before-I-leave-the-house anxiety? Do you need a nap?
Take a deep breath. Hold it…exhale. Girl you sound a wreck. Maybe you need to cut out the coffee? I know it’s early but maybe;just maybe a bit of vino may help. You know for medicinal purposes only. Just a taste.
LikeLiked by 3 people
LOL My coffee is decaf 😛
But yes, later, wine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wine does make everything better. I expedite the same kind of trauma leading up to a trip, except I only have to pack for two. I experience it when I get home too… Did I spend too much? Should we have gone to that place instead of that one? Why can’t there be an unpacking fairy?
I’m hitting the road today but my destination is only two hours away. Owen is in a baseball tournament. I hear there is zero shade where it is at so I’m sporting a had as well!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Safe travels and good luck to Owen! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I hope your vacation is lovely and is as relaxing as possible with children involved 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much 🙂
LikeLike
That is my kind of packing! The heat is misery unless there is a large body of water just steps away. I dread every summer here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I dread summer, but summer where it’s hotter than here? Ewwwww.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pre-trip jitters seems to be a common ailment, I know lots of people who get like this before a trip. It’ll get better once you get on the road. Remember, vacations are to be enjoyed so: GO. HAVE. FUN.
And consider this another vote for the vino as well 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you 🙂
I’ve just finished my breakfast, so I’m certainly on the path to wine…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoy your trip. Take some wine for the road and have fun with your friends and family. You know what to expect so just go with the flow..:) Have fun
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
Ha – you make it sound scary and fun at the same time. I hope you get on the road soon.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Preparing to leave for a vacation can be so stressful, even for those without anxiety disorder, so I can only imagine how stressful it must for you. I was thinking about you off and on yesterday after reading your post about going on vacation and was hoping that all the preparations were going well. Hang in there, Joey! Have I told you lately that I truly think you’re an amazing, capable, and hilarious woman? Seriously, your ability to cope with all sorts of things while living with anxiety disorder is an inspiration.
“More wine!”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aw, Jewels, you are so sweet! Thanks so much! I really appreciate your kind words today. ❤
More wine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Take it easy and enjoy your break!!! Chill, woman!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Tiny cross body purse”—This made me laugh because I do exactly the same thing when I travel. Little purse that fits my phone, mints, money, and not much else. I refuse to be anyone’s pack mule on vacation!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Me too!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Love this post! I can totally relate to before-I-leave-the-house-anxiety! It’s awful! I’m an emotional wreck, especially coordinating care for four cats, two dogs, ten sheep, and ten chickens–not to mention a vegetable garden. Having control issues and OCD makes getting out of the house like an act of congress! I’m often heard muttering the words: “I really need a drink,” as I walk out the door. My advice: go ahead and have that wine. You deserve it! 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks! It’s nice not to feel alone in these matters. I’m okay leaving the three cats, because you know, they’re cats. We’ll miss one another, but we’ll be fine. But I am struggling to leave the dog. I’ve never left my dog before! I know she’ll have a great time with the housesitter, but I’m going to miss her so much! Ugh! I’m jealous of the housesitter.
Can you imagine if I had more animals?!?
More wine!
Thanks again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m right there with you! Sometimes I feel so stressed before leaving that I really don’t know if I’m going to make it. There’s usually a little bit of crying and cursing involved, but with a bit of determination—–and a drink for the road–I make it out. 😉 Drink up and have fun!!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have a wonderful trip Joey.I bet you have a wonderful time, despite your worries. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m counting on it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is kinda why I don’t travel so much, and there’s only two of us to coordinate and I damn well make Hub pack his own shit. But I still worry about the accommodations and whether I’ll be sick in the car on the way or if I’ll need a bathroom while we’re mid-smack-in-nowhere. When we get there I worry about being able to sleep and if we’ll be able to find gf food so I don’t get sick (plus I have tummy issues, so I worry about being sick during vacay). Then when we’re there I worry about the trip home. These days, we travel closer to home if we go away (and we always drive). I also worry about our dogs while we’re gone…
Coming home presents new issues, but I’m pretty much always ready to come home no matter those worries.
I have no doubt you’ll enjoy your trip once you get there. Safe travels to the whole gang and enjoy the vacay once you’re there!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am so sad to leave Sadie. I know she’ll have a great time with the housesitter, but I’m going to miss her so much!
Idon’t have the gf trouble, but since I’m not big on meat, I pack fruits and veggie stuffs I wanna eat. That about killed me when we drove north to move here, all the freakin meat places, and I just needed some light nutrition! I get the tummy issue-middle of nowhere thing, mmmmhmmm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I pretty much can’t travel unless I bring food. I do know that if I stop at a fast food place, I can sometimes get a baked potato or a salad without croutons. But honestly, that isn’t too appetizing for me, so we pack food to snack on. And this past trip I pre-looked at local restaurants and found a bunch of places with GF menus. Turned out they were all owned by the same family and one of them had gluten issues, so we lucked out. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s pretty nifty! I’m makin macaroni salad and celery with peanut butter and raisins for this trip. Of course, I made a hundred turkey sammiches for the people, to eat with their chips! 😛 lol
I like a GOOD salad. A GOOD salad is hard to find at fast food! Baked potatoes? Nah, only at home. Somethin about Wendy’s baked potatoes reminds me of plastic. That cannot be good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely I understand. The high anxiety during the anticipatory/waiting/planning stages is almost always worse than the event itself. It doesn’t matter whether other people ‘get it’; it is all too real for you, and it’s awful to endure, like a ticking time bomb.
I can tell you that a combination of new drugs, retirement, downsizing our too-large house, reaching mid-60s with time leaking away have all miraculously made that type of anxiety almost disappear. For some reason I can now visualize wrapping that anticipatory anxiety into the time block of the event itself so the ‘before’ anxiety doesn’t happen (as much anyway).
So there is hope!! And wine!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Sammy. It does matter that YOU get it. Downsizing helped me, too! Happy to have left behind 2200 sq ft of bright and light! And the floors! One day I will write about those floors!
Not takin meds, but the wine…self-medication…you know, lol!
It’s gonna be great, I just gotta get outta this house! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
My advice on the anxiety drink plenty of wine, enjoy the seafood, and pray you get some unseasonable cool temps.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am so the opposite of you. I’m sure just thinking about how I get ready for a trip would cause you anxiety, so I’ll spare you.
Wine. Sit. Close your eyes and breathe from your lower belly. The wait will be over soon and you’ll be so happy when you get there, this will all be a distant memory if that. Have fun, my dear. You deserve it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, I do have similar anxiety before trips and sometimes just before going to the grocery store.
Best of luck. I’m sure everything will be fine.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I almost always feel like this to go to the grocery store. About the only time I don’t feel anxiety before leaving the house is when I’m going somewhere spur of the moment. If I have a schedule, I’m a mess until my departure. Sorry, but also, thanks for being able to relate.
I think I’ll write about this another time.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Remember to not drink too much water or you will have to pee a lot. I hope this was helpful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, helpful. Let me just add diapers to catch all the water…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good call.
LikeLike
I SO get it. I’m getting it while thinking about an overnight tonight just to doggy sit my grandpuppies at my daughter’s. I had it last weekend to visit my son and the beach. All my energy goes into the getting ready. Life is so much better once I’m there.
Funny, I never get it about coming home though I have to pack the same amount of stuff.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Absolutely! I don’t getting coming home, either! Thanks so much! I can’t wait to leave!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahhh you speak the truth woman. This is my life every morning trying to get the kids out the door down the elevator and to the bus stop. So there’s the stressful/anxiety-ridden routine stuff and then the one-off trips (like you’re embarking on), but the anxiety is pretty much the same. I cope by swearing (a lot) and sweating (not really my choice), but I can appreciate your feelings. You are absolutely not alone in your reaction to stress (and someone was circulating an article on “good stress” the other day). I really don’t think “good” and “stress” should be in the same sentence let alone side by side. Enjoy vaycay!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Right? Gah. Good stress is still stress. I’m not sweating and swearing, I’m just virtually naked and grunting a lot — which is usually more fun…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol. I haven’t heard (or read) the word “grunting’ in forever. As long as you’re having fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always panic that I’ve left doors unlocked or the stove on, or I’ve forgotten to unplug things and there’ll be an electrical storm. Also, I do a massive tidy because if we die tragically on holiday, I don’t want people judging my housekeeping skills. I’m a wreck by the time we leave.
LikeLiked by 3 people
RIGHT?!?
I’m glad I have a housesitter, and a tidy one at that!
I’m almost done, almost!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I never leave the house without my camera. When I feel a panic attack coming on I look at something through the lens and starting shooting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a really good trick! Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eventually I started using it to take pictures so it worked out. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL Yes, I can see that. Art in its wisdom and all 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wine makes everything better! I’ve had this advice from a few different directions in as many days! Must be true. I hope your trip goes well and I love the tiny cross body purse strategy :).
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Danica!
LikeLiked by 1 person
YES! Before (what if things out of my control happen and I freak out), during (OMG, I am not sleeping, I need to be home, is it OK if I leave the day I get there, I don’t care what people think, what if people think less of me if I leave), and after (thank God I am home, why didn’t I enjoy myself more, why did I have to ruin things by freaking out, what must people think of me?) It’s all happening, the yin and yong energy, oops sorry that’s what the instructor on my yoga dvd says.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL Yep!
Sleep has been elusive now for about a week. I had four hours last night, and that was spooning my cat like infant co-sleeping! I will be okay once we leave, and I will enjoy myself plenty 🙂
Thank you for commiserating! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
People who don’t show you understanding can F off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
sounds like you are all set! Breathe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do get anxious, Joey. That’s why I check that I have my wallet and all important trip papers so many times. Seriously. Please enjoy to the maximum ability.
LikeLiked by 2 people
((hugs)) I hope you have a safe trip.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep….let the wine flow. I like your idea about the small purse, I wish I would have thought about that long ago. My husband has tons of keys on his keyring. I wonder if he knows which key fits which lock–minus the house and the car of course.
LikeLiked by 2 people
oh….sorry that you have to spend your vacation in the south. It sure wouldn’t be my destination vacation–unless I was visiting family like you are. I’m just happy my family lives in Seattle.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Are you braggin? Lol — I’d LOVE to be in Seattle today!
LikeLike
Actually, Seattle is supposed to be around the 90 degree mark–not so nice for all those who don’t have air conditioners because they would only be used a few days a year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True!
LikeLike
Happy travels. Can’t wait to hear a tale or two about them soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally understand being overwhelmed
I had 3 kids and they were born within 5 years. It seemed as a single Mom, all of the world rested on my shoulders. Once snacks, clothes, “blankies” and pillows were packed, I would feel a big sigh of relief. Hope you felt this moment and breathe in deeply the “air of vacation,” Joey!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
When don’t I need a nap.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Anxiety — When It’s Time to Go | joeyfullystated