Panic attacks/PTSD

[Tammylyne]

Writing this post alone is giving me such panic attack, please no hate.
I suffer from severe panic attacks and anxiety and my family wants to go to Disney World. The thought of standing in a line feeling trapped gives me anxiety. My friend says I will qualify for a DAS, is this correct? I can handle a line for maybe 5 minutes before it becomes an overload and I need open air to collect myself.
If I do qualify can you give me advice on how to talk to them about this..Its hard for me to talk about what goes on with me without breaking down in tears..I am always afraid people will look at me like I am a freak or worse yet not comprehend whats happening

I love Disney and use to be able to go every year..it was my happy place.. I really want to go just dont know if I can do the lines

 

[redberyl]

You would likely qualify but no one can say for certain until you are actually there. Just explain it like you did here. You can even type it in a letter to give to them if thats easier for you (they wont read doctor notes but they willvread one you write yourself). However even with DAS the lines are usually longer than 5 minutes. It is not front of line access, you go through the fast pass line, which is usually 10-20 minutes. You should also research which rides have preshows; several such as test track, mission space and flight of passage you go through the fast pass line but then you enter a little room where you watch a brief video before they let you board the ride, and that can take 5 minutes in a small, crowded room.

 

[gap2368]

No one here can tell you what to say you will need to talk to the CM about your needs in line. If it help write it down ( and not a DR note but your note) and give it to the CM. while the DAS dose help with lines you will still have to stand in lines and they are normally 10+ minutes.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

You can ask for a DAS. Be very plain - waiting in an area enclosed by people causes you to need to remove yourself from the area.

But like a PP said, you often have to wait in a FP line for more than 5 minutes. Start working on coping mechanisms now to help you deal so that you can still enjoy the parks.

 

[jlb727]

HUGS! I have panic disorder, and I totally understand what you are talking about. Have you/are you seeing a therapist? That helped me tremendously with coping mechanisms. Also, I’m on meds-Zoloft and Xanax. You might need a low dose of something similar to help you get through your trip, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Finally, I also really like the app Calm. You could download it on your phone and listen/meditate with headphones while waiting in line. Good luck. I’m rooting for you! You can do it AND have a great vacation!

 

[Tammylyne]

Thank you jlb, yes I have been in therapy now for a year, trying very hard to work this out through talk therapy without medications. I have the calm app too I have been to Disney so many times so I know little nooks and places that I can go to gather myself. I just dont want a flashback or panic attack if I am in a line feeling trapped

 

[gap2368]

A few app I have that I really do like is

Relax melodies
And meditation

Also if you have a Apple Watch the breathing app on there helps me when I really need to focus on my breathing.

I also use aromatherapy ( I really like orange and peppermint I have inhaler that you have to hold right next to your nose to 1 inch away so really no one else can smell it.

Also having something in my hands helps me out a lot.

And I will put something over my head ( a light weight hoodie a cooling towel ) so that I do not see all the people around me.


Just a few things I do to help my self

 

[Hoodie]

As others have said, the FP line can be upwards of 20 minutes, so you will need to work on your tolerance to get you to that point. There are also several rides/attractions that may have a less than 20 minute wait in the FP line, but still have lengthy waits one it merges with the standby line (Test Track and Soarin' both come to mind). There are also many places that have per-shows that can get crowded with people - even I get claustrophobic there. Let the CM know you need to wait at the back of the crowd so they don't try to push you forward.

 

[jlb727]

It sounds like you are doing the right things! Talk to your therapist about the upcoming trip and see if they have anything you can do specifically for situations where the line is stopped or you might be triggered. Also, that’s great that you have been there many times before and know where to go if you need a quiet spot.

I always feel anxious BEFORE a situation where I might be triggered, but usually when I get there, it’s not a problem. Hopefully it’s the same for you; good memories of previous Disney trips will kick in and you’ll be fine! At any rate, know you’re not alone! Good luck!

 

[LilyWDW]

I am concerned if you are worried about a panic attack/flashback after only about 5 minutes in the line. The FP line is the line you will enter with a DAS. This line can be pretty much a walk on and I have been in for 20 minutes on a couple occasions. Also, at a point, it will merge with the standby line and some of those waiting areas are very crowded and you will not be moving. What are you going to do if you do have an issue? It may be difficult or pretty impossible to exit the line depending on crowds and what point of the line you are in.

 

[DisneyOma]

Another thing to prepare for is handling a ride breakdown - you could get stuck in one spot for a while, especially difficult if it happens right before you get on, and you are trapped in the queue. If that happens, ask the CM for the chicken exit (not calling you a chicken, BTW, that's the name of the exit. You don't want the emergency exit)

 

[mamabunny]

Thank you jlb, yes I have been in therapy now for a year, trying very hard to work this out through talk therapy without medications. I have the calm app too I have been to Disney so many times so I know little nooks and places that I can go to gather myself. I just dont want a flashback or panic attack if I am in a line feeling trapped

A couple of strategies come to mind, but I would certainly discuss them with your therapist to see if they think they could be helpful. Maybe you can even do some pre-planning with them, or role-playing, to practice asking for the DAS.

Additionally, if there is someplace near you that has similar queues/crowds (like a zoo, or a museum, or a local theme park) you can "practice" and see if you can increase your tolerance - obviously, again, with guidance from your therapist.

There is also a great App for your smartphone (I think it was our very own @gap2368 who introduced us to it) called "Emergency Chat".

If you get overwhelmed and can't talk - but could still text - it allows you to type a message on your phone and then hand it to another person who can then type back, or speak verbally to you. We have a family member who uses it extensively during panic attacks.

There is a splash screen that you can customize to let people know that you are overwhelmed and can't speak right now.

Finally, a strategy that you can adopt (and even practice in line, at the grocery store) is to create a "bubble" with your family. You will be in the middle of the "bubble" when you are in line. At least one adult should be behind you - that way, you can slow your forward movement to give you a small space (think about 3 feet long - not more, or other Guests will get impatient) so you don't feel so crowded on at least 2 sides. It gives you a certain amount of control over your position in line, and lets you feel like you have room to breathe.

Good luck!

 

[Mrsjvb]

Writing this post alone is giving me such panic attack, please no hate.
I suffer from severe panic attacks and anxiety and my family wants to go to Disney World. The thought of standing in a line feeling trapped gives me anxiety. My friend says I will qualify for a DAS, is this correct? I can handle a line for maybe 5 minutes before it becomes an overload and I need open air to collect myself.
If I do qualify can you give me advice on how to talk to them about this..Its hard for me to talk about what goes on with me without breaking down in tears..I am always afraid people will look at me like I am a freak or worse yet not comprehend whats happening

I love Disney and use to be able to go every year..it was my happy place.. I really want to go just dont know if I can do the lines

you can ask. but you must be able to explain why you cannot wait in line. you can write it down and hand the paper to the CM if you cannot articulate. do not use diagnosis terms. they don't care about what you have. only about why you cannot wait in line.

there will be crowds everywhere, plus long lines for transportation( can't use DAS ) and yes even the fast pass line can be longer than 5 minutes( and frequently is even on the older less popular rides)

 

[MinnieMSue]

I want to warn you to wait and go to parks after open and before fireworks because those crowds are intense. Also most fast pass lines for us with the DAS were longer than 15 minutes. It was the longest we had ever experienced in all our trips. We never got on a ride in 5 min or less. Some rides also have lines where they have people pack in as tight as possible and if you allow yourself extra space they permit others to come up and take it. Haunted Mansion immediately comes to mind with that. Also I would not take the busses because they pack people in tight on those much of the time. Parks seem to be more and more crowded every year making it hard on people who can't handle crowds.

 

[StrawberryPekoe]

Thank you jlb, yes I have been in therapy now for a year, trying very hard to work this out through talk therapy without medications. I have the calm app too I have been to Disney so many times so I know little nooks and places that I can go to gather myself. I just dont want a flashback or panic attack if I am in a line feeling trapped

If your anxiety is that bad, medication might be a good option to help you live a normal life and enjoy things. I went through therapy, and it helped a bit but anxiety is a chemical imbalance in one's brain so a two pronged approach (therapy and meds) is sometimes necessary. While the meds were scary at first for me, they're life changing. I haven't had an anxiety attack in a very long time.

Also, cut way back or cut out completely caffeine. It's awful for panic.

 

[ChanaC]

It was touched on before, but keep in mind that some rides have a preshow room, where people are packed pretty tightly into a room before getting into the ride vehicle (usually some backstory on the ride is given). Some just have parts of the lines that have an additional room before you get on the ride that feels less like a line and more like a standing-room only concert. Rides like this that come to mind are the Haunted Mansion, Monsters, Inc Laugh Floor, Mickey's Philharmagic, Enchanted Tales with Belle, The Hall of Presidents, Mission Space, The American Adventure, Soarin, and Rockin Roller Coaster (and I'm probably missing some). Talk to the CM at the front of the line - they may be able to let you skip these parts, or maybe let you stand in the back of the room next to a exit door (people tend to stand as close to the front of the room as possible so they can be let in as soon as the doors open.

Also of a note, something that always bothered me (even without PTSD) is the queue for Buzz Lightyear. The whole line had sirens and flashing red lights, which was always really irritating to me, especially considering some parts of the line are literally in a small, fairly confined hallway.

 

[DisneyOma]

It's Tough to be a Bug also has the holding room before you get to the show room, as does Dinosaur. Dinosaur doesn't seem to crowd a lot of people in that one room with the monitors though, which is nice.

 

[ChanaC]

Something else that was briefly touched on - sometimes the rides stop in the middle of the ride. This happens pretty frequently on omnimover rides, which are the ones that are continuously loaded back to back. These include Haunted Mansion, Buzz Lightyear, Little Mermaid, the Peoplemover, Spaceship Earth, and The Seas with Nemo. You will see the load platform is a moving walkway and the ride never stops, you just hop on. These rides stop often. 99.9% of the time, they will stop because someone has a mobility issues or is in a wheelchair and needs a little more time getting on the ride than the pace regularly allows. This is pretty common on pretty much all of the rides listed above, especially on Spaceship Earth. You can almost guarantee it.

The thing to remember when the ride stops is that nothing is wrong. There is no emergency. The ride will start moving again in 60 seconds or less. Even if there is a technical issue with the ride and it stops, it doesn't mean that there is an emergency - it just means it broke and you will be safely escorted off the ride very soon. All of these rides allow you to bring your bags on, so if you want to get on one of these rides perhaps have an iphone and some headphones ready to go to play some music or whatever else helps you calm down. On all of these rides you can sit with at least one other person, so you can talk to your family as this is happening. You can also just not get on the ride. Talk to the CMs at the door and they can help advise. Part of their job description in that position is to provide all the information possible about the ride before you get on,