NE21 worrier
12-07-13, 10:38
Hello everyone,
Do not worry, folks. I have not fallen off the face of the earth :) - but I have been rather busy and tired out by returning to work full-time and writing on my blog (http://theintrepidreporter.blogspot.co.uk/) after my holiday.
My last thread (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?p=1174627) here was on the first morning of my holiday as an inevitable feeling of anxiety came over me before I had set off. I must say 'Thanks' to everyone who responded - I did check the replies on my phone but I don't have a modern Android-type mobile so I could not find a way of replying.
I think you will all be glad to know that, by the time I got to Stansted Airport (in the car from Newcastle) for Budapest, I had settled down. I thought I might need some Diazepam to see me through but, on this occasion, I did not even have to rely on it to be nice and relaxed in the airport bar with a chicken salad and a pint.
From there, the low-level anxiety continued almost all the way through the holiday, allowing me to see the sights of Budapest, Zagreb and Ljubljana almost without a care in the world. I ate and slept really well; it was bliss, and perhaps the most peaceful state which I had found myself in since my holiday to Thailand last year (which I almost did not go on due to anxiety!)
All three places were really interesting with lots of (fairly recent) history to take in. We went to the Terror House in Budapest, which was used by both the Nazis in the 1940s and the Communists in the 1950s onwards, and the castle. Budapest was the biggest of the three places we visited and perhaps deserves another visit because we struggled to get around all of it.
Zagreb was lovely, if a little too hot - but this merely encouraged me and my friends to find a few museums, one of which had an exhibition on a 2000-year-old statue of a Greek athlete which had been rescued from the bottom of the sea-bed off Croatia.
Ljubljana was little but absolutely beautiful. It barely even looks like it was part of the former Yugoslavia, with its little bridges over the Ljulbljanica river and cafes on either side, and a castle on a big hill. It looks like something out of southern France, or Italy, which I guess is just next door. Interestingly, it has the oldest found wheel in the world - from approx 5200BC - on display in its excellent City Museum.
Everyone agreed to go to Lake Bled on the last full day - but, unfortunately, it was on this morning that I had my only real bad moment of the holiday when I had a really bad attack of acid reflux which involved me bending over double and quite a bit of nausea and bile. Consequently, I had to let the bus go and returned to the hotel for a bit more rest.
I was fine by afternoon so I made the right decision, as far as I am concerned, but there is also a feeling that I totally missed out (sorry Annie!) If anything, it is an excuse to go back. I did at least see Lake Bled with the castle on the island from thousands of feet in the air as we flew directly over it on the way back to Blightly, whereupon I survived Glastonbury and returned to full-time working hours (having had eight weeks off April-June!)
It is busy at work but this has helped distract me and things are going well. I have little major planned between now and my 30th birthday in September so I'm finding little to get anxious about - though I do still get terrible morning anxiety (lots of bloating) until I make it through the doors and see the familiar faces in the same, mundane working space.
I have begun to read and listen to Dr Claire Weekes quite intently before and after work, and she is absolutely superb - I recommend her to any new visitors to this site, along with many others, I am sure. My therapy with the NHS is due to start soon, although still TBC, and I am glad I can go into it with a positive frame of mind.
I am not quite there yet with all my anxieties - but I am living life again as I want to, and not being dictated to by this condition. Thanks to everyone on this site for your support, especially to you, Annie, as you have always been there to answer my questions.
Apologies for the long read, and if Admin wishes to move this to Success Stories, that is fine by me. Thanks again,
Peter :D x
Do not worry, folks. I have not fallen off the face of the earth :) - but I have been rather busy and tired out by returning to work full-time and writing on my blog (http://theintrepidreporter.blogspot.co.uk/) after my holiday.
My last thread (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?p=1174627) here was on the first morning of my holiday as an inevitable feeling of anxiety came over me before I had set off. I must say 'Thanks' to everyone who responded - I did check the replies on my phone but I don't have a modern Android-type mobile so I could not find a way of replying.
I think you will all be glad to know that, by the time I got to Stansted Airport (in the car from Newcastle) for Budapest, I had settled down. I thought I might need some Diazepam to see me through but, on this occasion, I did not even have to rely on it to be nice and relaxed in the airport bar with a chicken salad and a pint.
From there, the low-level anxiety continued almost all the way through the holiday, allowing me to see the sights of Budapest, Zagreb and Ljubljana almost without a care in the world. I ate and slept really well; it was bliss, and perhaps the most peaceful state which I had found myself in since my holiday to Thailand last year (which I almost did not go on due to anxiety!)
All three places were really interesting with lots of (fairly recent) history to take in. We went to the Terror House in Budapest, which was used by both the Nazis in the 1940s and the Communists in the 1950s onwards, and the castle. Budapest was the biggest of the three places we visited and perhaps deserves another visit because we struggled to get around all of it.
Zagreb was lovely, if a little too hot - but this merely encouraged me and my friends to find a few museums, one of which had an exhibition on a 2000-year-old statue of a Greek athlete which had been rescued from the bottom of the sea-bed off Croatia.
Ljubljana was little but absolutely beautiful. It barely even looks like it was part of the former Yugoslavia, with its little bridges over the Ljulbljanica river and cafes on either side, and a castle on a big hill. It looks like something out of southern France, or Italy, which I guess is just next door. Interestingly, it has the oldest found wheel in the world - from approx 5200BC - on display in its excellent City Museum.
Everyone agreed to go to Lake Bled on the last full day - but, unfortunately, it was on this morning that I had my only real bad moment of the holiday when I had a really bad attack of acid reflux which involved me bending over double and quite a bit of nausea and bile. Consequently, I had to let the bus go and returned to the hotel for a bit more rest.
I was fine by afternoon so I made the right decision, as far as I am concerned, but there is also a feeling that I totally missed out (sorry Annie!) If anything, it is an excuse to go back. I did at least see Lake Bled with the castle on the island from thousands of feet in the air as we flew directly over it on the way back to Blightly, whereupon I survived Glastonbury and returned to full-time working hours (having had eight weeks off April-June!)
It is busy at work but this has helped distract me and things are going well. I have little major planned between now and my 30th birthday in September so I'm finding little to get anxious about - though I do still get terrible morning anxiety (lots of bloating) until I make it through the doors and see the familiar faces in the same, mundane working space.
I have begun to read and listen to Dr Claire Weekes quite intently before and after work, and she is absolutely superb - I recommend her to any new visitors to this site, along with many others, I am sure. My therapy with the NHS is due to start soon, although still TBC, and I am glad I can go into it with a positive frame of mind.
I am not quite there yet with all my anxieties - but I am living life again as I want to, and not being dictated to by this condition. Thanks to everyone on this site for your support, especially to you, Annie, as you have always been there to answer my questions.
Apologies for the long read, and if Admin wishes to move this to Success Stories, that is fine by me. Thanks again,
Peter :D x