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Originally Posted by
snowberry
OP, may I suggest firstly that you give yourself permission to have a panic attack when you go away? Instead of thinking: 'I really hope I don't panic, even though I probably will,' you should be thinking: 'If I panic it's okay. I will deal with it if and when it happens.'
It's not a case of being pessimistic, more accepting that if panic comes it's not the end of the world and you will be able to figure it out. By thinking this way, you're bound to alleviate at least some of the stress you're feeling right now, which certainly won't be helping.
I want to ask as well, do you know how to breathe properly when you panic? Many don't, and that's why their panic attacks always escalate and become scary. If you find yourself panicking, sit quietly, relax your muscles, and breathe in through the nose for a count of 4 and out for a count of 8 through pursed lips. If you're feeling really bad, you may wish to breathe with a paper bag, but this isn't necessary. The reason this works is that it stops you from hyperventilating, which is what makes panic so bad that many people dash to the ER. You will still feel crappy for a while but you will eventually calm down to a manageable state once the adrenaline has passed.
Lastly, sit down with pen and paper and really question yourself as to what it is that causes you to feel anxious when sleeping away from home. For me, it was simply that sleeping in unfamiliar territory made me feel vulnerable and I found it difficult to relax. I thought about whether or not there was any truth to how I felt. I realised that, in all likelihood, I was no more or less vulnerable than sleeping at home, and decided to see it as an adventure - I imagined being a bad-ass, intrepid traveller making one of many pit stops, and how interesting it must be to sleep somewhere different. It took time and practise to change my way of thinking. Your reasons and your solution might be different - taking a comfort book and reading before bed may help.
But please don't be afraid of your panic attacks, no matter how bad they get. Occasionally I still get them really bad and post on here for support, but I always know deep down that I can manage them. Start thinking 'If I do X and panic, it's okay,' rather than 'I'd better not do X in case I panic'. It's not the end of the world and there are a million different ways to excuse yourself so you can go somewhere quiet and do your breathing exercises. Good luck to you.