I’m going on a cruise and I’m so nervous, I haven’t been out of my comfort zone for 3 years , I’m trying to stay calm and focus on the present and deal with it when it comes but I’m still anxious , what if I spike on there , what if I get Covid on there
That is so amazing! You should be so proud of yourself for stepping outside of your comfort zone and challenging OCD with new experiences. There is a good chance that OCD will show up on your cruise and try to challenge you but you got this! Keep using non-engagement techniques and ERP (if you do it with a therapist) and see this as an opportunity to challenge yourself. You will have an incredible time!
I am with Emily, congratulations on stepping out of your comfort zone. That is a HUGE step. You may spike on the cruise, but you may not, and you may get Covid or you may not, but if you don't go you will never find out - and OCD wins because it is telling you to stay "safe" and that is an illusion in OCD world. I am willing to bet that you will have a great time. When I get anxious about travel, I picture myself at the destination, sitting at the beach, or having a nice dinner, whatever I will be enjoying when on vacation. And know this, OCD is an opportunist - so it will try to strike at times of anxiety. Let us know how the cruise was - and enjoy. I live in Northeastern USA and I would love to go on a cruise right now!
I’m with you! I’m going to Disney World next week, and it’ll for sure be my biggest exposure since the pandemic started. Be proud of yourself for making this courageous decision. And remember that you can still have a good time even when you’re feeling anxious. The anxiety doesn’t have to stop us from having fun, we can notice it and then decide to go about our day anyway. I’m also trying to do more intentional exposures leading up to the trip to give my brain small reminders of what I’m capable of. Maybe that could help you, too. We got this 💜
@Killian Have a good time at Disney. The Christmas lights are incredible.
@Jeffrey Thank you!!
@Killian Enjoy Disney World , Stay Strong 💪
You can get through this! You have the tools you need 😀 I LOVE your mindset, that you are going to stay in the present and if something happens deal with it then- you don’t have to deal with it now! Whew!
Something that helps me is to do exposures prior to doing something like this. Write a worst case scenario script or come up with similar exposures to what you will be exposed to on a ship... like dinning out, going to a club--music, etc.... activities that could be similar to what you will be doing on the cruise. Also, remember to have fun! A cruise is exciting!!! ps. you could get covid right here.... maybe you will, maybe you won't.
@NOCD Advocate Jess, CPSS I’m Buddhist so I always try to stay in the moment , forget the past and wait for the future
!! TW COCD RANT !! my family and i are going away for holiday in about two weeks and i can’t stop thinking about it ,, all i can think about is lying on the used hotel beds covered in bacteria and the bugs surrounding the area - we’re going to a resort and my parents really want me to swim but i literally can’t ! when i imagine the pool i think of all the people who have swam in it and all their unclothed feet covering every inch of space available. i’m going to hopefully bring a sleeping bag from home and stay in that the entire time - we also have to travel on a plane which is even worse :( just thinking about sharing the air with all those strangers makes me want to cry :’((( also we aren’t making food in the resort so we have to go to restaurants to eat which i really can’t handle bc of the shared cutlery. i’m hopefully going to bring stuff from home to prevent panic but i’m afraid that this trip will totally ruin those safe items for me. sorry to write this paragraph but it would really help if u had anything to say which might help my situation in the slightest !!!
In about a week I will be doing my most difficult OCD Exposure which will include flying and it’s already eating away at me. I’m having a hard time sleeping. I wish more than anything i could make this anxIety go away . I’m extremely claustrophobic and have panic disorder. I’ve flown before but last time I was sat in the back and I began to panic and ended up getting off the plane prior to takeoff. I hate this uncomfortable feeling. I hate the sound of the door closing and feeling like I am trapped. I’m planning to take a half a klonopin,
So, I am going to go out of town next week for three days and I am trying to prepare myself for it when it comes to my anxiety about hotels. I am always anxious these days when I go to a hotel because of standing in a shower and even when had flip flops on in the shower I was still anxious. I want to have a good time with my family, but I don't want OCD to ruin it. Does anyone else experience this when going out of town and if so, how do you cope with it?
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