Panic Attacks at Disney

[chinitopoop]

Since about 2008 I have been struggling wit panic attacks/mild agoraphobia, I used to be able to do disney with no problem, but it seems like every trip my anxiety gets worst and worst. The anxiety is at its peak in extremely tight/overcrowded spaces. I rode space mountain the last time I was there and I was having severe anxiety just waiting in line. Also had another instance on a crowded bus from the ak to mgm, had to stand the whole way, and felt like I was going to pass out from the anxiety right then and there. I love going to disney, but just thinking about having to wait in such crowded spaces for so long brings up intense anxiety within me.

My question is, is there anyway I can ride the attractions, without having to experience some of the more crowded queues? I dont like having to turn away from enjoying any ride just because I'm afraid I'm going to have a panic attack while waiting in the line. Do the rides have a little room off to the side or something you can wait in until you get called for people who cant do overcrowded lines?

 

[rct247]

First, try to avoid the busy times of year so that crowd levels are not too bad, but you may also consider visiting guest relations when you visit to see if they may be able to give you advice or help you with your situation.

 

[graphite1326]

I know your problem. However, it could be, true in my case, that your panic attacks are caused or augmented by the fear that you will have one while standing in line. Mine would occure while carpooling to work. I found that the more I thought about it the more likely it would occure. Go on the internet and look up help for panic attacks. The breathing exercises helped a great deal. Whenever I feel one coming on I just take deep breaths and it goes away. Honest it really works. Also, whenever I think about it I try to push it out of my mind and think about something more pleasent. Like when you first walk in MK and see the castle.

 

[docnabox]

Hi, sorry to hear of your problems making what should be a pleasant experience so difficult for you. Just my two cents, as I am sure you are seeking assistance on this with a doctor but if you do hope to have some sort of special arragements in terms of avoiding the long lines, you might want to consider having a note written from your doctor explaining the situation in general detail to show at Guest Relations. That way, they can see that you are genuine and not just someone that wants to avoid lines. I get asked for notes like that from my patients for various reasons all the time and from what they tell me, they are generally pretty useful in helping to get the assistance needed.

 

[stargrl33]

I don't have a lot of help re: ways to get out of waiting in line, but as someone who experiences anxiety/hates crowded spaces, I do have some tips.

The first thing to remember is that even though it seems like you are "stuck" in places like the space mountain queue, you aren't. You can turn around at any point or ask for assistance to leave the line quickly. I know this sounds silly to point out, but it's something that I have to tell myself repeatedly whenever I feel trapped: leaving is ALWAYS an option. And people will help you if it looks like you aren't feeling well, you just have to ask.

I always, ALWAYS, have a water bottle full of COLD water on me. If I start to panic or not feel good, I take two to three slow sips. It helps me cool down and slows my heart rate. I will also take the bottle and rest it against my forehead and focus on how that feels rather than what's going on around me.

Distractions are good. Have some word games to play with whoever you are waiting in line with.

Know the layout around you. I am always keeping an eye out for park benches, bathrooms, shady spots that I know I can escape to if it gets too much. I know which queues are nice to wait in and which queues I try to avoid. Luckily, most of the "avoid" queues have fast passes which helps a lot.

I guess the best and last piece of advice I can give you is to just be confident in yourself. I have some health problems that almost always act up when I travel. But I don't want to stop traveling because of it. I just pack medication and think positive. Plus, what's the worst case scenario: I get sick in public? Faint and embarass myself? It's not like I'd be the first person in WDW to do that!

I hope this helps a little.

 

[Atomicmickey]

I would think that you're seeing a doctor for this condition, that would be a help.

You obviously love WDW, and love the experience of the attractions--it strikes me that this could be a strong motivator to work your way through the lines--to remind yourself of why you are there, and the reward you have waiting for you as you work to overcome your anxiety.

Is there any better reward in the world than the exhilaration of WDW? So, tell yourself how lucky you are to be there, remind yourself how much you love it, and it would seem to me like you can overcome this thing.

I'd talk to the doctor about it, and embed the WDW experience into your cognitive therapy--seems like that would be a great help. I wish you well, and hope that you can overcome or diminish this feeling so you can just enjoy the parks without fear! Best of luck to you.

 

[dave&di]

I also have suffered panic attacks and recently saw a phycologist, here are a few things I learnt that have helped me:

When your heart is pounding your blood pressure rises, you cannot faint when it rises only when you have low blood pressure - you will not faint.

What is the worst that can happen when you panic inside, nothing, you may feel unpleasant but no one knows that, no one is laughing or staring at you. You are not mad.

You are never being restricted of air by standing in a queue or standing in a crowd, think logical, you may feel there is no air, there is! Air is around you constantly.

There is a saying - 'Fight or flight' Don't fight the feelings you feel, if your mind tells your body theres danger your body will react, hands sweat, pins and needles, fast heart beat. This is your mind panicking. If this happens, go with it, so what, your hands are tingling, whats going to happen? Nothing, there isn't an arrow over your head and no one is looking at you.
Adrenaline can only last for so long, it runs out.

Theres so much I could say but I don't want to lecture! Hope this helps.

 

[chinitopoop]

I also have suffered panic attacks and recently saw a phycologist, here are a few things I learnt that have helped me:

When your heart is pounding your blood pressure rises, you cannot faint when it rises only when you have low blood pressure - you will not faint.

What is the worst that can happen when you panic inside, nothing, you may feel unpleasant but no one knows that, no one is laughing or staring at you. You are not mad.

You are never being restricted of air by standing in a queue or standing in a crowd, think logical, you may feel there is no air, there is! Air is around you constantly.

There is a saying - 'Fight or flight' Don't fight the feelings you feel, if your mind tells your body theres danger your body will react, hands sweat, pins and needles, fast heart beat. This is your mind panicking. If this happens, go with it, so what, your hands are tingling, whats going to happen? Nothing, there isn't an arrow over your head and no one is looking at you.
Adrenaline can only last for so long, it runs out.

Theres so much I could say but I don't want to lecture! Hope this helps.

Please do lecture! I would love to hear more!

 

[disneychic71]

My daughter has a rather severe anxiety disorder, which was misdiagnosed until recently. Her many panic attacks resulted in stomach problems when she was young (misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome), so to this day there are some WDW restaurants that we avoid due to the bad memories. As one person already said, the memory of a past anxiety attack can prompt even MORE anxiety as you try to cope with it.

That being said, I have a few tips. First of all, if you are being treated my an M.D., you could ask for anti-anxiety medication (such as xanax). We always carry some just in case; just having it nearby can reduce your anxiety since you know help is at hand whenever you need it! Also, as for the "flight or fight response," what the previous writer said is exactly the case. When anxiety levels rise, your adrenaline starts to pump whether you need it or not. Keep in mind that the only way to get rid of an adrenaline rush is to let it work its way through your system (15 to 20 minutes). If you can distract yourself for that amount of time, it will pass and you will be just fine. Again, as a previous writer said, have something on hand to distract and comfort yourself. My daughter finds that plugging in her ipod (to avoid crowd noise and feel more isolated) helps her a lot.

No matter what you try, I hope you find something that works so you can continue to enjoy your "happy place"! Don't let anxiety defeat you! You can and will beat it!

 

[NewfieFan]

Wow, great advice here! For someone who has also sufferend panic attacks since I was a young girl I completely understand. I usually have panic attacks over the fear of panic attacks (sounds silly, I know). I have them at WDW as well... not b/c of anything that I'm apprehensive about in the parks but b/c of the reason above. I want to have a peaceful vacation so bad that I end up worrying about panic attack thus creating them!

A lot of it is mind games for me! If a panic attack comes on full force I keep reminding myself it will pass and I will live through it. I actually find an object (or something) to focus on (kind of like what I did when I was in labour) and take deep breaths. I travel with my family so I always have a distraction by my side! :animwink: I'll start up a game of eye spy with the kids, look for hidden Mickey's, ask the family what the game plan is for the rest of day, etc. Anything to get my mind off the panic attack and focused on something else.

I find lack of sleep, heat, and hunger make them worse. Try to stay on a somewhat semi-schedule while on vacation, have something to cool you down quick (whether it be cold water or a personal fan), and carry around snacks (especially if you're not eating full meals at the parks). I also find the panic attacks are worse in the first couple days of my vacation and then decrease or disappear completely. I think I just need to convince myself I can relax and have a good time and then some of the worry goes away.

Sorry to ramble but I hope this helps a little. You're not alone, there are others that suffer, and you're not crazy b/c of it!

 

[WDI 1998]

That being said, I have a few tips. First of all, if you are being treated my an M.D., you could ask for anti-anxiety medication (such as xanax). We always carry some just in case; just having it nearby can reduce your anxiety since you know help is at hand whenever you need it!

I was perscribed Xanax for anxiety once. The first time I took it when I was having an anxiety attack I ended up blacking out for most the day. According to my Shrink, it turns out there is a rare alergic reaction to the Benzo family (which Xanax is part of) of drugs that can make you black out and not remember what you did all that day. I heard some interesting stories of what I did that day but I can not remember any of it!

I sympathise with everyone about the attacks. They are no fun and can be very debilitating. I have suffered them in various forms all my life. Thankfully at the moment they are few and far between. The breathing techniques worked well for me. Good luck and dont let them beat you.

 

[Raven66]

I've only recently started having panic attacks. I've only had a few in public. I had one in a very very crowded sporting goods store. They were having a drawing for a gun of some sort and my husband was entered. It was wall to wall people and I could hear people walking upstairs and I just flipped. I heard my daughter tell her dad I was having an episode, so he cleared a path to the outside. Freezing cold weather never felt so good. I'm also now afraid of flying. I didn't used to be but the older I get the worse it gets. I saw my doctor and he didn't think my attacks were often enough to get me meds, so I have a friend that takes xanax so she gave me some. My husband and daughter tell me that I had my arms spread out wide and yelling "weeeeeeeeeeeeee" for the whole flight. I don't remember that, and I told them without proof I wasn't going to believe it. If you do decide to try xanax don't take a whole bar. Just take 1 to start off with and see how you react to it.

Take slow deep breathes if you feel one coming on. That's what I do. One of my dogs knows when I'm having one and she comes over and insists I pet her which helps a lot. I wish you well. Like someone else said, have something there to take your mind off of it.

 

[cowanfamily]

great thread. I'm amazed at the number of people that have experienced this.

 

[Tom]

Since about 2008 I have been struggling wit panic attacks/mild agoraphobia, I used to be able to do disney with no problem, but it seems like every trip my anxiety gets worst and worst. The anxiety is at its peak in extremely tight/overcrowded spaces. I rode space mountain the last time I was there and I was having severe anxiety just waiting in line. Also had another instance on a crowded bus from the ak to mgm, had to stand the whole way, and felt like I was going to pass out from the anxiety right then and there. I love going to disney, but just thinking about having to wait in such crowded spaces for so long brings up intense anxiety within me.

My question is, is there anyway I can ride the attractions, without having to experience some of the more crowded queues? I dont like having to turn away from enjoying any ride just because I'm afraid I'm going to have a panic attack while waiting in the line. Do the rides have a little room off to the side or something you can wait in until you get called for people who cant do overcrowded lines?

I have minor "attacks" anytime I'm out in crowded places. For that reason alone, I avoid fairs and malls as much as possible.

I've talked to my doctor and he's given me two prescriptions that really help. I take them as needed. One is a beta-blocker (blood pressure reducer) and the other is the generic for Valium (Diazepam). The beta blocker will keep you from getting hot and flushed (because your blood won't be pumping so hard when you start to freak out). The Valium will give you that wonderful feeling of 100% apathy (that our country's youngest generation must be on all the time).

It doesn't happen so much to me at WDW, partly because we go in the off season, and use touring plans to avoid every possible line. Now, when we're exiting a park after fireworks....that can be bad news.

 

[fastpass99]

I am a mid 40's male. I have no health problems and I was surprised to experience a first time panic state during a show at Animal Kingdom last year.

During the 3-D show It's tough to be a bug (located underneath the Tree of Life), there is a scene where they spray some sort of "dry smoke" (something akin to stuff they use for rock shows).

I forget exactly how it came to be since I just freaked out at that point in time. At this I found myself panicking, having a totally new experience, the sensation of having no oxygen to breathe. Heart rate went through the roof, and all I could do was try to calm myself down and rationally convince myself to "just breathe and stay calm". I thought it would never end.

Funny how we think we are tough and stuff. Could happen to anyone. Anyway, avoid this movie. BTW Philharmagic at MK is waaaaaay better!!! No panics there!

 

[Tom]

I am a mid 40's male. I have no health problems and I was surprised to experience a first time panic state during a show at Animal Kingdom last year.

During the 3-D show It's tough to be a bug (located underneath the Tree of Life), there is a scene where they spray some sort of "dry smoke" (something akin to stuff they use for rock shows).

I forget exactly how it came to be since I just freaked out at that point in time. At this I found myself panicking, having a totally new experience, the sensation of having no oxygen to breathe. Heart rate went through the roof, and all I could do was try to calm myself down and rationally convince myself to "just breathe and stay calm". I thought it would never end.

Funny how we think we are tough and stuff. Could happen to anyone. Anyway, avoid this movie. BTW Philharmagic at MK is waaaaaay better!!! No panics there!

People with asthma also panic during shows and rides that use theatrical fog/haze. Definitely common, so you're not alone.

Rest assured asthma sufferers, the product they use for fog/haze is hypoallergenic and non-asthma-affecting. That doesn't help if you're prone to panic attacks, but just know that it's still safe to experience these shows.

 

[dave&di]

Please do lecture! I would love to hear more!

Try to face your fears bit by bit, I will tell you what happened to me 2 years ago at WDW: my BF and I had tickets to MNSSHP, I was looking forward to it so had no reason to panic but just before boarding the Monorail I felt overly anxious, had a overwhelming feeling of dread. We arrived at the MK but after only 1/2 hour I had to return to the resort, leaving my BF alone. I was really disappointed I missed out, my BF kindly filmed the parade for me. Anyway - after this event whenever I saw photos of MNSSHP nights, and seeing the cast in those perticular costumes, plus hearing the 'Boo to you' music, made me feel exactly the same I did on that night. So we booked tickets for last year! Basically, I stayed positive, and really enjoyed the Party, I no longer have them feelings when thinking of the Halloween event.

What am I getting at! You automatically connect certain situations with panic attacks and feelings of helplessness. You already know you will panic before it even happens.Pick a situation that bothers you, example, a crowded train, take a loved one for support, remembering the points I mentioned in my earlier post, take the train to the next stop then get off, you survived! Nothing happened, the world didn't end!!! Sounds sarcastic, but it's true, just be logical, what will happen on that train? The air hasn't run out, it won't, you haven't fainted, you won't, you haven't run around the train screaming and shouting, you won't, in fact there never has been a documented case of anybody doing anything ' out of control' during an attack. Next time get off two stops later and so on. You will then replace your negetive experience with a positive one, if you can do it once there's no reason you can't do it again.

I have waffled on once again! Hopefully I have expained what I mean. My phycologist recommended a book, its only 30 pages long, and is easy to read with bullet points and things so it's not like a massive text book! I don't know if you can advertise on this site???? I can always PM you your'e interested, it is only a few $ on ebay.

I hope I don't sound self righteous, I haven't cracked it myself, but I know the logical answers, they don't always pop into my head at the right time!! but it's getting better!

I feel better just knowing there are so many people in the same boat! We are not alone. :sohappy: