I’m just a little over a month I am going to be flying to the east coast to visit with friends of mine. I have GAD, panic disorder, and have developed agoraphobia as a result. I want to be able to go on this trip and I am going to drag myself through it if I have to do it kicking and screaming. I am not worried about the actual traveling aspect—I can make myself focus on the task at hand of “get to your gate, get to your flight” then vomit when I get on the plane. It is the actual arrival at my destination that is likely going to trigger the first panic attack. Likely because it’ll start firmly setting in that I can’t just flee back to my house. This will almost certainly lead to about 12-14 hours of physical symptoms. My friends have been given a heads up, I’ve got my medications ready, and am having a telehealth therapy appointment immediately when I get settled.

With all this being said, I would love some coping strategies or techniques that I can start practicing to help make this easier. This is my first big step in trying to conquer my agoraphobia and I am, naturally, terrified.