Hi everyone. I am leaving on an unexpected trip to Europe for work in two days. It came up quickly, and I am having to leave my two little boys (1.5 and 3) home with their daddy. My mom is also 10 minutes away and is going to be around a lot, and my MIL is flying in for a few days to help out as well. They are in very very loving and capable hands.
My problem is that I get panic attacks traveling away from the kids, and just traveling overseas in general. This is my 3rd time I think leaving my boys to travel abroad, and it has never ever been easy. I generally to do fine while I am busy during the day, and usually even enjoy myself and the freedom from the kids, but once night-time hits and I'm alone in my foreign hotel room, I get very anxiety ridden, and start missing my boys and panicking that I can't tuck them in, or kiss them, or see them. Once I start with the anxiety I have a very hard time sleeping. Then I'm sleep deprived all day and it's just a nasty cycle. You'd think I would get over this given that I travel frequently in the US for work, and at least once a year abroad, but I just have a really hard time.
Anyone else deal with panic attacks? Or with traveling away from your children. How do you handle missing them? I'm not *worried* about them b/c they are in great hands, but I just get an icy pit in my stomach that I am SO far from them....
THANKS!
K
I like the suggestions of a drink and xanax lol, but unfortunately I am 6 months pregnant, so none of those options are going to work! I can't put anything into this body except warm milk, tea, and water unfortunately haha. I need natural, non-drug remedies....
I'd take a computer with a webcam and do a video chat when you can arrange it. That way you'll still feel close to them and don't have to worry about expensive phone calls.
Rescue Remedy from a health food store. There is liquid and lozenges.
video chat with them on SKYPE it is free!! bring a small photo album with you full of your favorite pictures, and a blankie or something that smells like them!
Call your doc and see if you can get a prescription for xanax. It's designed to be used in short-term situations like this.
Alternately, and this is real advice by my mother who is a therapist, when you get back to your hotel room, have a drink. Just one, or you'll end up feeling worse, but one drink will take the edge off and help you get to sleep.
Yeah, yeah, unhealthy coping mechanisms...I'm not suggesting that you would handle anxiety this way if you had it every day, but since it is so context specific and rare, I think this is a fine way to handle it.
Have a good trip.
I used to travel a lot when my son was age 6 to 13 - stateside only and mostly within my home state. However, the first few times were the hardest - it really didn't matter how safe I knew he was, how well cared for I knew he was, I just missed him at night.
I packed a photo or two of him for the night table in my hotel room and I called him every night - sometimes twice - and each morning before he went to school. I called so much that as he got older he began to compain some. LOL
It got easier as he got older but I don't think it ever felt "right".
Maybe plan things to do in the evenings after your work is done for the day - dinner out, a little shopping for something for your babies. Something that keeps you a little busy.
I like the Skype idea - that way you can see them. Brings lots of photos for your hotel room - maybe an audio tape of them singing and laughing.
You are good Mommee and they are in good hands and you need to try and take of your health and your expected one while you travel. So, you are really not traveling without your children since you have one with you right now. :)
