Disney, Meet My Dark Little Friend, Anxiety

Disney, Meet My Dark Little Friend, Anxiety toimetaja-tolkeburoo-KQfxVDHGCUg-unsplash

It’s been quite a while now since we first broached the taboo topic of anxiety together, so I thought it might be time to revisit the subject and unpack those unfavorable feelings a little more thoroughly. For anyone looking for that first article, When the Crippling Grip of Anxiety Takes Hold, you can find it here.



Previously, we briefly looked at how the onset of anxiety can strike at any time and what you can do to keep it from overtaking your dream vacation. This time, I wanted to delve a little deeper into the delightful moments when anxiety breeches the most safeguarded of plans. After all, misery loves company, right? Or, is it, there’s strength in numbers? I don’t know, one of those peppy, we are all in this together sayings; just pretend I said the right one. 

Even those of us who have poured our heart and soul into limiting our anxiety can struggle. And believe me, I’ve done it all. Meditation, yoga, medication – and no, I don’t care if anyone has feelings about it. But, when you are within earshot of that intoxicating music, and everything feels right in the world, what better time to be struck down with heart-stopping anxiety that brings your excitement to a grinding halt? 



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For me, my first go-to move is to ‘feel something else.’ So when my heart is pounding, and I feel like Main Street, U.S.A., is starting to spin, I need to find a way to feel a different sensation against my skin to bring me back to reality. In the parks, this can be as simple as standing out in a cool breeze or the warmth of the sun; sometimes, it can help to splash water on my face or take an ice cube from a drink and run it down my arms. Anything that makes you feel something different, anything your senses can refocus on that is real and not a reaction to your falsely triggered fight or flight response.

Another critical step is to declare it rather than try to hide it. If my anxiety hits, the first thing I do is let my family know. Not only is it essential for me, but I like to think it is important for my teens (who also experience anxiety) to understand how to identify it within themselves and realize they don’t need to hide it. Lead by example, I guess? No matter how unpretty it is. (And yes, I know unpretty isn’t a word.) In some instances, the mere expression of saying it out loud can be enough to release that vice grip from around my throat, the one making me feel as though I can’t force my chest to expand with another breath. Almost like staring a bully in the eye, as if to say, I see you, and you aren’t going to get the better of me.



If your anxiety needs a calm place to shut down and regroup, it can be hard to find somewhere in the parks to take a break and reduce that stimulation. In a pinch, look for a restroom that is away from the mainstream of crowds then choose a stall away from the overhead lighting. I don’t know why, but restrooms always seem to be darker than they need to be, so if there isn’t anywhere else to go, it can help bring your stress levels down a notch. It is not great lighting for retouching your makeup, but it is handy for de-escalating that pesky anxiety attack.

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Understanding your own anxiety and what triggers it can make all the difference when learning how to deal with it. For instance, I don’t have any fear of rides or heights, nothing that you would expect might be related to a theme park, so for me, even when I can’t explain its onset, I know that the distraction of being rocketed through the dark air of Space Mountain might be just what I need to pull through it. On the other hand, if you were a person who struggled with, say, confined spaces or overwhelming noises, you might be better off giving the parks a break and heading back to the resort for a swim break.

Whatever you do to return to your baseline, don’t forget to appreciate your family or friends who came along for the ride and hopefully helped you find your calm again. As a family with additional needs, I do a lot of caring for others, so when the attention is turned on me, and I am the one who needs the extra help, I appreciate it all the more. The thing is, appreciating it and saying it isn’t the same thing. Perhaps you feel embarrassed that it happened in the first place or want to move on now that you’ve found your breath again, but really, those Thank You words are ones that need to be said—every time.



Anxiety can take its toll on everyone in your group, but with a bit of understanding and the proper management plan, you can work around anything your mind throws at you, carrying on with your Disney days while staring that bully in the eye.

I see you…

Zoë Wood is a travel writer from Sydney, Australia. Since her first visit to Disneyland at the age of 6, she has spent her years frequently visiting Disney Parks and traveling around the world.

Join Zoë as she lets you in on all the tips, tricks, anecdotes, and embarrassments that arise from her family adventures.
















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