Time off and Change

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Hi

Just wondered if anyone else got this way.

I work in a college and find that every time it gets to a vacation period, I struggle with the change.

I really look forward to the time off as I am tired but then it comes to it and I just want to be at work again.

I find that if I actually go on holiday somewhere, it is even worse, I hate it for the first few days but then am ok.

I moved to a different town and had panic attacks/meltdowns for the first six weeks....its ridiculous...I can't keep doing this.

Does this get better?

Am trying CBT Therapy but they keep asking questions along the lines of

'how do you feel?'

and stating that I should be 'more spontaneous' which is causing the problems in the first place!

There doesn't seem to be any end to this, in fact, I think its getting worse.

this is good question. I have the same problem. I believe it to be primarily an issue of disrupted routine, in my case anyway. Vacation has no established routine. You feel stressed/anxious and possibly depressed for the first several days until you can establish a new routine, at which point you start to relax again. With ASD's specifically, the whole point of the routine is finding safety and security in tightly defined structure. Limits being surprised, feeling afraid, disoriented, and so forth. Routine = safety and security. Predictability.

Pull that rug out from under a person with an ASD and much distress occurs.

I asked my therapist about this specifically. Her suggestion was to establish a day-plan before the vacation period starts that you will follow during your off time. The idea is to shorten the time it takes for you to establish a new daily routine to follow. Thereby shortening the period of stress/anxiety. I have not had a chance to put this to the test yet. The upcoming week will be my first try and I intend to write out a basic timetable in which to follow on a day to day basis during the holiday period. I really hope it helps. It sucks very much to spend the majority of vacation time dealing with anxiety spikes.

Maybe give it try yourself?

"Be more spontaneous" is NT advice for NT people. Does your therapist know you suspect you may have an ASD? I clicked your profile and it said not sure if you have.

Hello.

I have the same tendency though not as bad as what you described. I don't really panic, but I feel really stressed. For example, when I go to my parents' for a perioud of time for a vacation, I get a certain level of stress at the same time as feeling happy to see them. The stress comes from having to develop and adjust to a new routine for that period. What helps me is, as someone else has suggested in an earlier post, to have a list of things I need and to start thinking about a new routine in advance. It significantly helps reduce the stress. Maybe you can try something like that as well?

I am on disability, but yeah, traveling always creates a bit of anxiety for me. I find my family very not-understanding of this.