I’m terrified of going on school camp

[Forrest_123]

Even though my school camp is months away I am so worried about it and keep bursting into tears and not being able to breath properly however it is compulsory and 10 days long in tents. I think I am scared mostly because people always vomit on camp and I HATE vomit. (Last camp someone vomited and I was up until 2am crying in the nurses room and then I said I felt sick even though I didn’t end up being sick) I am also scared of being away from my family and not being able to get out of it if something bad happens and keep having dreams of me running away into the Forrest to escape.

On camp I am scared of getting food poising so I generally don’t eat much at meal times and stick with the packaged things at recess and afternoon tea. I don’t know what to do to feel better when I go on camp and not get so worried. I think I might have a phobia of vomit but I really don’t want to go see anyone about it or talk to anyone in person.

Someone please tell me what I can do, should I talk to my year coordinator about my fear of going on camp or do you think I do need to see a phycoligist or is there another way around it

note: (we aren’t allowed phones or food on camp)

[Forrest_123]

Hey gems,

could you explain what you did on camps to get through it if you weren’t allowed devices?

[uncut_gems]

One of my favorite things to do at camp was to get a book of sudoku or crosswords to keep my mind busy– I would do them whenever I got scared like if there was a big thunder storm or I thought someone in my bunk was going to be sick. A good book is also a great escape if you need to get away for a little bit.

Depending on how strict the rules are, you might be able to get an exception and take something with you that wouldn't normally be allowed, like a music player or something. I remember one time a camp counsellor let me listen to his ipod (I'm dating myself here lol) and I just closed my eyes and got lost in the music.

I also have a tiny little travel chess set (you can get this for other games as well!) that I would take out and play. A deck of cards is always a good idea as well!

[geoff]

Hello Forrest, can I thank you for your comment and it something that does happen on many an occasion, and I was in the same position as you, petrified of going on a 2week camp when I was at school, something I couldn't avoid, it was compulsory.

I thought that if I write to the nightly newspaper, which was printed many years ago, that someone, anyone who read my comment would have an answer, at that stage there was no medication available to help me through these couple of weeks, but was told to take it day by day and try to associate yourself with another person who you may feel as though they could be in the same situation.

There is available help for you to overcome this fear of being away and the feeling of wanting to vomit, so please find the courage and not be afraid to ask for this, that's something I wasn't able to do many years ago.

If you want you can ask any question you would like to know.

Geoff.

[Forrest_123]

Hello Sarah,

I am a bit worried now about coronavirus as apparently it makes some people vomit before hand. I know chances are low but I still worry. What if I get it and vomit?

[Aaronsis]

Hey Forrest_123

It is so wonderful to chat to you again, things have really changed in our community since we last spoke.

The coronavirus is like nothing we have known in the past and we learn new things everyday, there is so much on the media and in the papers and on social media that it is hard to keep focused on the facts.

Firstly more importantly that anything I think if we adhere to the physical distancing and stay at home and do what we have been asked to do, I think then you can eliminate the chances of the virus even impacting you.

I understand though, vomitting is terrifying for you and hearing that must have really caused you fear and anxiety. I personally have not heard that it is one of the side effects however, I think like a common cold or any illness really we are all effected differently.

I hope you can try and remain positive and really adhere to the guidelines that have been put in place, I also think limiting the amount of information that you do consume on this and try not to get overwhelmed with a truck load of information, it really becomes too much to manage.

What have you been doing to keep yourself busy at this time? I have started painting and while they are no masterpieces they have kept me busy and I really enjoy doing it.

It has been so very great to chat to you some more Forrest_123

Huge hugs to you

Sarah xxx

[Forrest_123]

Me again, School camp is back on for about 2 months away but I am even more scared. My year coordinator knows about what is going on but isn't doing too much to help. One Of the main problems is the bus ride there and back. 2 hours of torture. The travel sick people sit at the front and I don't want to sit with them so I sit at the back but then if I sit at the back and someone at the front is sick then I'll have to step over it. I am terrified of someone being sick around the campsite but even more so on the bus where I can't escape. Also recently my sister was sick and I saw the vomit in a bowl and when into an anxiety attack like at camp last year. I want to get help from a professional but I am too scared to talk to someone. I just don't like talking about my own feelings. I had to go to a therapist as a young child for some random reason and I didn't speak the entire time and when they asked me to draw how I see my family I drew a house with 4 stick figures standing out front of it. When I had to speak to my year coordinated because I was being bullied I cried all the time in the lead-up and again barely spoke. Everyone seems to think I am always happy, when people ask how I am I say good but that is often not the case,I am always scared anxious and feel like people are always judging me.I am really done with this all why did all these problems have to pick me. Please help I don't know what to do.

[Aaronsis]

Hi Forrest_123

It is great to chat with you some more and I am so pleased that you have reached out here when you are feeling so very overwhelmed. I am reading all the things that you are worried about and the things that make for a really unpleasant experience for you so I am wondering how you would feel about reaching out the amazing people at Kids HelpLine? Now before you worry about talking...I hear you it makes you very uncomfortable, they have a web chat service and I am going to put the link here for you :

https://kidshelpline.com.au/get-help/webchat-counselling

This might really be a great way to get some extra support with the fear of vomiting and with other people being sick and how that impacts you and your experience with camp. Also with some of the other things that you have mentioned too, feeling scared and anxious and that you do want to get help and talk to people but you are terrified. You could even put some of what you have posted here as you have expressed yourself so very well.

Can I ask you a question? Other than the bus trip (which is really about the vomit and being sick) if that was put to the side do you feel like you are ok to go on camp? I know that the food side of things was causing you some anxiety (not sure if food equals vomit) but outside of the "sick", do you feel like you are okay to go on camp?

I am really looking forward to chatting some more to you Forrest_123 and to hearing about what you think about the Kids Web chat and more about camp.

Hugs to you

Sarah

[Forrest_123]

I am feeling ok about the rest of camp, I normally get a bit home sick but mostly the only problem is sickness. I feel like I could push through if someone was sick at the campsite as long as it isn’t the person I am sharing a tent with but the bus trip is worse. I will try the web chat soon and let you know how it goes.

[Aaronsis]

Hi Forrest_123

Great to chat to you some more and I am so happy to hear that other than the bus trip you actually feel ok about the rest of the camp. I have some really great memories of school camp and I hope that we can get you there so as you too can have this feeling of success and that you have overcome such worry and fear and have actually been able to go and enjoy camp.

I have this idea and I am not sure if it is possible but I thought worth chatting to you about. Is it possible for a parent or family member to drive you to camp??? I know it may be hours away but this eliminates a really big fear and still allows you to be able to go on camp and be with your friends and have this experience. It will be a big ask for a parent to do this but at least you do not have to go on the bus, you don't have to be riddled with anxiety and you don't have to be sitting on edge waiting for someone to be sick. I would really like to know what you think about this and if it is a conversation you could have with your parents.

Once you have been to camp and had a great time and even if someone is sick, you can manage that part and move yourself away from the situation and have some strategies to be able to cope with that, if it even happens that is. Then maybe during the course of the year before the next camp comes you can maybe even take some longer trips on the bus, to almost to like exposure therapy to see that mostly people are ok, that not every trip someone vomits, you can also see some of the country side too!

Hope you have been able to enjoy your weekend and look forward to chatting to you soon.

Hugs

Sarah

[Forrest_123]

I tried the web chat but I waited for an hour and then a thing came up saying the queue was full. I ended up using the beyondblue web chat and the person suggested I visit headspace. I did think about being dropped and picked up and I will ask my parents after having one more chat with my year coordinator about any other arrangements although I expect I will just have to take the bus with everyone else.
I’m really glad you are still responding, it has helped me so much and made me feel like my feelings matter. Thank you.