Travelling for six months.

[LaurenCasey]

Hi there!

I'm completely new to this forum but have always turned to it to read other people's posts when needing comfort/support. I feel really quite strange about posting as although I know I suffer emet, I guess I feel like I'm telling the world!

Anyway, the reason for my post. I'm sorry if somebody else has posted this or I'm in the wrong bit but I guess it is up for discussion. I'm 23 and have suffered emet for seven years. Although my anxiety is intense, I do try and fight it on a daily basis. I'm not currently working due to it but I have been studying for the past two years, I eat out at restaurants, I see my friends and try to be as 'normal' as possible. Don't get me wrong, it's REALLY difficult!

So, due to a few things that have happened in my life this past year, I've decided I want to go to Australia for 6 - 12 months. I want the experience, I want to do something for myself, I want my independence back. I just really want to have some fun and make some memories I can carry with me for the rest of my life.

I'm super excited about going and am due to leave England at the end of May, however.. My emet is hitting me full force. It's like it knows I'm disobeying it and I keep having the little 'emet devil' pop up on my shoulder with his 'what ifs'. I want to be like every normal person and have this fantastic experience yet, I'm absolutely terrified that I'm going to get out there and the emet will ruin it for me.

The 'what ifs' are absolutely killing me. I'm just wondering what everybody else thinks about travelling with emet? I don't intend on actually backpacking round Aus, I'm going to Brisbane and I will be renting a room for my entire stay. I want to make it a 'home from home' experience in that sense.

Would you travel? Would you let your emet stop you? What would be your biggest fears and worries?

Any feedback, advice, support, criticism would be much appreciated

Lauren.

[Mamafear]

Hey Lauren, firstly, way to go on your OE, it's proof that you can kick Emets a**!(sorry : /). You know, I used to be absolutely emet free in my teens and twenties and I had a very restless spirit. I travelled the world over the course of five years and most of the places I went were third world and had limited sanitation. I got sick (2 bouts of d*) once. You must make the most of this experience and see that beautiful country! You'll be less exposed travelling around than you will be poking around the city anyway! It's an incredible world, go explore it sweetie! Xx

[jkl81]

I'm a little older and one regret I do have is that this fear has stopped me from travelling as I would have liked to. Six months is an awful hard way to ease into it, but it is what you've chosen, and others here have travelled successfully with this problem. Pop in and let us know how it goes for you.

[musicfan92]

i traveled for six weeks abroad a couple years ago which was the longest i've been away from home. of course, my emet wasn't as bad then as it is now, but i was just careful about what i ate. i took it slow with eating new foods i wasn't used to and made sure i didn't eat anything i thought might be unsafe (some restaurants and places were kind of unsanitary). i would suggest taking some pepto-bismol or those kinds of things with you just to have some on hand. just having access to those kinds of things i knew i could take helped me feel more safe. honestly, most of the time whenever i'm on vacation, i'm too distracted and busy to even worry. i'm guessing the same might hold true for you.

i'm getting ready to possibly take another international trip this summer so i'm kind of experiencing the same feelings you are. but i'm not going to let emet take over my life, and i don't think you should either. i'm sure everything will be fine and you will have a great time. i would love to visit Australia some day.

[LaurenCasey]

Thank you Mamafear for your encouraging words, you wouldn't believe how much your post relieved my worries

And to you too musicfan92, I really love hearing other people's stories and it's amazing to see that you managed to experience something that most of us would find terrifying but came out the other side and actually enjoyed yourself!

All of your words are offering me comfort at the moment and I really appreciate that! I will definitely do my best to keep everybody updated while on my travels.