Going on holiday and terrified

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I just booked a trip, I'm going to Seattle and Vancouver in three weeks but I'm terrified, I don't know why I did it, at the same time I am excited about going but it's all feeling overwhelming and I'm so nervous. I've always wanted to go to these places but never thought I would.

Does anyone have advice about how to deal with this? I also get problems with sleep and constipation/diahorrea when I go to strange places or break my routine.

How far is it that you're traveling? What are the accommodations like?

I don't know a lot about your specific situation but I had my own situation where until this year I had never left the continental US. I live in the midwest/east coast split, have been to Canada at most, more recently got a job which does more traveling which may have helped. Regardless I booked a trip last summer, for this past January, to spend two weeks in Australia and New Zealand and hit four different major cities. My idea was that I wanted to cross the equator, go somewhere real interesting, and do it while I still had the money. As that trip was coming up it still didn't feel quite real, when I got from Cleveland Hopkins to LAX I was a little nervous but okay, I knew for sure it was happening when I got on the Qantas flight, and once I actually got to Australia (Goldcoast) unfortunately I had been up for more than a day - can't sleep on planes, and had to drag everything around with me for a couple hours because the hotel wouldn't let me check in till 2:30 PM. Mind you - I took this trip by myself, none of my friends had the money to join me.

What I've found to be true is that this kind of thing, first time with anything big as an adult, can be a little daunting. On the other hand though when you actually get to your destination, get the rental car or shuttle, and get to where you need to go - that feeling will lighten up considerably.

Very good for booking your trip. Sometimes we benefit in the long run by taking ourselves outside of our comfort zone.

Just don't think much about it and go. Usually the anticipation is the worst part. If it makes you feel better, make an itinerary of what to do. In fact, make two or three and save the two others as backup itineraries.

What are you looking forward to seeing and doing in Vancouver and Seattle?

When I travel I always take some senna leaf tea bags with me to prevent constipation. I get it at the health food store or the health food isle of a supermarket. There are various brands. Drink a cup the 1st evening you're there and the next day you should function normally. Don't take more than a cup per day.

Thanks everyone.

I'm travelling from the UK.

The thing is, I have travelled before. I studied abroad (which I hated) and lived in Japan for three  years on an organised programme which was very structured.

I have been on a couple of trips but nowhere in the last three years apart from an organised trip with work. I hardly ever leave London and when I do I panic about being away. And I have never been this far away by myself or spent so much on one trip.

Everything is booked in advance and I tried to make a detailed itinerary, to give structure but also to make sure I see everything I want to. I have a hotel in Seattle and am staying with a friend in Vancouver. I'm also anxious about this because I don't normally stay with people.

My biggest interest is zoos so I am going to three zoos and two aquariums as well as some national parks and wildlife areas. Canada is also a big interest of mine and I have never been there before.

Any plans of hitting Victoria or Olympic National Park? Those are both big attractions along your angle as well (one for its botanical gardens, the other for being in the top ten of US national parks).

Yes, I am going on daytrips to both and also Mount Rainier.

Sounds awesome. Be sure to post some pictures if you bring a camera, I've got quite a few locations between the US and Canada that I've wanted to hit and those have been curiosities along with Banff and Glacier National Park.

BTW - in Seattle do know that its high crime. Obviously though you have to be a bit streetwise if you're from the 'L' and if ever in doubt about a neighborhood call a cab.

Is it that bad? I thought it was one of the better cities for safety in the States.

Its not Detroit, Chicago, DC, or Baltimore but its still got some dodgy patches.

I leave tomorrow and my bag is packed and everything ready. I am very nervous but am trying to focus on what a great opportunity it is.

Congratulations and good luck on your trip! I don't know you of course, but I can tell you that for me, whenever I'm doing something incredibly terrifying like this, the most effective way of dealing with it tends to be to just try not to think about it. As long as I know the next step (in your case, going to the airport and getting on the plane), I know I'm not about to explode or become homeless or die or anything like that. I try to focus on where I am at the moment, and continue focusing in that way throughout the trip.

I find that most of the unpleasantness of breaking my routine is directly caused by looking ahead and worrying about what will happen. When it comes to the actual situation, when I'm actually doing it, I just do what I need to do. Constantly terrified about the next step, but if I can keep my mind off it I'm ok.

I hope this information is useful to you. Enjoy your trip and try really hard not to worry!

Thank you that is useful. I'm just focussed on getting to the airport and going through the process of check in and departure. I always find that difficult but breaking it down to the component parts of the process helps in my experience.

I'm back now. I feel a sense of achievement but to be honest I would never do a trip of that scale again, it was too much. I had two meltdowns but was ok on the whole, I have become quite good at identifying when things are getting too much for me.

But I saw some amazing places and experiences I never thought I would have so that's good.

I hope you have a good trip. I don't have any tips because I've never traveled out of the country before. I do agree about the cab though.