Posted by JenStar on August 23, 2004, at 19:42:06
In reply to Re: Sorry, above for partlycloudy not 721 » Susan47, posted by partlycloudy on August 23, 2004, at 14:26:47
Oh PC,
what an event! What a drive! You're not a failure and you're not a poop-head! It was a stressful trip and it took a toll on you. It doesn't mean anything about the root YOU.I can't even tell you (because it's embarrassing) how absolutely, terribly horrible I've been on car trips and international trips with my family. I turn into a monster! I have totally, totally done the same thing (crying, snotting, giving up) while driving in a foreign country. And I know others who have done the same!
It doesn't mean anything except that driving in a foreign country with jetlag and no maps and pouring rain and no direction and a spouse who is probably cranky himself is JUST STRESSFUL. (I have to say that, I guess, because otherwise I too am a failure, and I don't want to be one!) But seriously, that's a situation in which anyone would have a hard time.
Don't be too hard on yourself.
Are there some fun events or foods you can recall and tell us about? How was Wales? Did you buy any Doc Marten shoes?
JenStar
> I was doing the driving on our holiday in England. It was all I could do the keep on the correct side of the road, despite having lived over there for 7 years. My husband agreed to be my navigator. It worked swell, until we didn't know where we were going. I would send him in (to a pub or gas station) and he'd come back saying we were all set.
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> Then he'd admit that he couldn't understand what the person was saying. Don't ask me why I couldn't have gone in and done the same - I made it his job and gave him a miserable time.
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> So we're toodling around The Potteries, trying to find our bed and breakfast we had reserved a room at. It was "throwing it down" with rain - isn't that a great expression? My husband asked for directions 4 times. At one roundabout, I asked - north? south? what town am I headed for? - and he didn't know any better than I. I went around 3 times and took an exit just to get out of there. Pulled into the next street. Parked the car.
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> Started screaming: I can't do this, I can't do this, I can't do this!!!! Hit my legs with my fists. Sobbed like there was no tomorrow. Had snot running all over, which I promptly rubbed into my jeans and t-shirt. Kept this up for 10 minutes or so. Stopped because I started gasping for breath. Started to drive again, and pulled into traffic on the wrong side of the road. Started screaming again. Everyone else on the road sat patiently and waited for me to get the heck out of there.
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> 20 minutes later we made it to the bed and breakfast. I was shaking and stalled the car 3 times trying to park. Husband went in to tell the owners I was having a hard time. Came back with paper towels to wipe up the snot. My knees buckled when I got out of the car. Husband almost carried me in to the home and up the stairs to our room.
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> I feel like such an utter failure and like I was a real poop head to my husband. I know he did not realize the extent of my anxiety until this happened. I thought I was getting better and I fell apart.
>
poster:JenStar
thread:380888
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040821/msgs/381502.html