Getting Anxious and Changing China Plans

May

Posted (Dan) in My Trip, Weltanschauung Life on May-9-2008

Well lets start with the good news first, I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago now and I have Social Anxiety and some Depression. I’m quiet but everyone always said I would grow out of it and I always believed it until now. In fact this trip was largely planned to help me grow out of it, hopefully it will still put me on the right path. If anything it is going to make this a real challenge for me. I have been put on medication only because I will be travelling, combined with a slight dose of food poisoning when I started it the first week made me feel pretty crap but now I seem to be getting back to normal and it only gives me the odd day of weird feelings.

I still don’t have anywhere for my dog while I am gone, it’s really stressing me out now to the point where I can’t even bring myself to try. I can’t give him away though.

I had almost forgotten about Visas until the other day and I looked for the Chinese visa application and found that back in April the requirements were strictly tightened for the Olympics, return travel and every night of accommodation must be booked and provided when applying. This really isn’t the way I want to travel in China so I have decided to delay China until after the Olympics when visas are back to normal and re-evaluate then. So instead of doing a sort of anti-clockwise loop through SEA, China, Nepal and India I’m thinking I’ll do India and Nepal before entering China. We’ll see how things go. I’m sending my stuff of for a Thai Visa today and an India one will probably be next.

Dave on May 12th, 2008 at 3:28 pm #

Hey Dan - wow, courageous of you to share your personal health concerns with readers. I went through some cognitive behavioral therapy about 6 years ago for my social anxiety and it made a BIG difference in my life. I can’t speak about depression from personal experience, however I find I’m *less* socially anxious while traveling internationally than I am at home in the USA. I think it has a lot to do with caring less about my social status and image, plus the immediate need to interact with others for companionship and support (whether other travelers or strangers). I hope you stay on track with your travel plans despite the challenges.

Lara Hopkins on May 14th, 2008 at 10:55 pm #

Sounds like a great trip, not sure if its such a bad thing to miss China out with their ongoing record for brutality. See this: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/12/1047431092598.html

Suz on June 3rd, 2008 at 2:27 am #

Hey Dan-
My husband suffers from pretty extreme social anxiety and depression (not something I knew before we were married!) and it can be very debilitating. I found Dave’s post about being less socially anxious when traveling interesting. I think one of the things that helps Tim a lot is to have a routine, even when situations and circumstances change, so that he has some structure in his day.

Our animals are why I don’t push more for extended travel. It’s hard to leave them, and expensive to boot. If you were in the US I’d offer to watch him for you, unfortunately he’d have to be quarantined for too long to come over here.

psi guy on June 4th, 2008 at 5:45 am #

Pretty brave of you to mention your anxiety. I have had that for a long time myself, and I know it is difficult to overcome. I think though, that the best thing to do is what you are doing-confronting and meeting head on. Keep up the good work.

Dan on June 4th, 2008 at 11:35 pm #

I went to the bookstore today, I want to find something to help me practice sparking conversation, thats what I struggle with most. I have another book I’m reading too though that is pretty revealing at times.

Anxiety Disorder Guide on December 30th, 2008 at 4:59 pm #

Hey Dan, anxiety and depression is pretty common in the hectic environment we live in nowadays. Kudos to your openness about it. Other than the meds your doc’s prescribing, do you have plans to join any support group on that? As a patient myself, I think therapy and support is the way to go about treating it in the longer term.

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