


- The Rush of People. Most of us in our daily lives are not used to a sea of people moving around you, rushing up behind you or quickly cutting in front of you. If your anxiety is tied to the sudden movement of things around you, try to prepare yourself for it as Disney is never short on crowds. Be aware that you might be unnerved by the feeling of people coming at you from all directions.
- Energetic Music. Some of us find the fast-paced accompanying music of Space Mountain or Rock 'n' Rollercoaster adds to the thrill of the experience. For others, this can send your blood pressure soaring when the unexpected surge of an action-packed soundtrack blasts in.
- Plans that change suddenly. For some, anxiety is triggered when our plans are disrupted sending our minds and bodies into a disorganized state. Theme parks are places where virtually anything can happen. Perhaps the attraction you are waiting for breaks down or even something as simple as the path to your next destination being temporarily blocked by a parade. Whatever causes your movements to change can be unsettling. Expecting this in advance can be a very helpful tool as you make your way around theme parks.
- Tell your travel family about your anxiety. It might feel embarrassing, but in truth, it isn't anything to be ashamed of. Anxiety is real and hiding it will only amplify its intensity. Let everyone you are traveling with know what you are dealing with. Face it head on and take away any power it has over you by not holding it back. You will more likely than not find that someone else close to you struggles with the same thing. Make jokes about it if it helps, trivialize it until the mention of it doesn't sound scary anymore because the people you are with have the best chance of keeping you calm and drawing you back up from that slippery slope. Let them know what it looks like and what triggers it if you can. Let your people be part of the solution not left feeling like part of the problem when they don't know how to help.
- Have a plan. It's easy to think you won't be bothered because you will be too busy having a fabulous time and that might be true. But, in line with the philosophy that if you take an umbrella, it won't ever rain, make a plan anyway. Make a note of what works for you and different techniques to try then keep it in your wallet; just something small to remind you of the basics when your head is racing into a meltdown. Talk to your medical professional and see what they can suggest for you.

- Recognize what is happening. For the more experienced anxiety suffers, it is essential to be able to recognize what is happening to overcome it. For instance, when mine sets in, so do the sharp chest pains. Now I can tell you after several ER visits in fear of a heart attack, I know that this particular sensation is actually the initial onset of my panic. As I begin to feel like I am about to drop dead from heart complications, I remind myself that it isn't that. I consider the logical steps that I have taken to eliminate that as a potentially related problem, and I go over them in my head. I then start to bring my physiological symptoms back into mind and combat them one at a time. To alleviate my chest pains, I might shift my clothing or undergarments to release any pressure. I might remove my cross body bag to release that pulling sensation around my neck. I do these things while paying attention to the effect each one has; reminding myself that I can feel in control of each feeling. This is my process, and everyone's will be different, but the steps to understand what you are feeling are important, no matter what they are.
- Talk about it. As soon as the words come out of your mouth, there is a small release of tension, just a little one, but it can bring with it a flood of relief. Saying the words can bring your worries out of hiding. They can no longer fester in the shadowy corners of your mind and instead are brought to light where it can be seen that they are nothing to fear. Don't let your silence fuel your mind's ability to create a tornado of emotions, whipping up at a faster speed with every moment.
- Feel something else. This one might not work for everyone, but it is an essential part of how I cope with anxiety. I need to feel something on the outside to compensate for the overwhelming flood of emotions I am feeling on the inside. It can be simple like running some ice over your forehead or shoulders. It could be going out and standing in the wind or the rain for a moment and concentrating on how each droplet or gust feels against your skin. Whatever brings you to a place of peace, find a way to make it happen.