Help me Im new

Having dealt with those panic attacks, specifically crowd related, part of the trick is in relaxing. Worse than the attack itself is tensing up beforehand fearing you'll have one... and then causing one because you stressed yourself out. If you think it'll be bad, it'll be bad. If you can manage to banish the worry from your mind... you won't have problems. It sounds stupid, but really, that's the key issue here. I speak from experience. Know how to deal with it if it happens, but don't worry about it happening. Know what to do in a car crash, but don't worry about everytime you get in the car it COULD crash.

Plan some de-stress time into your routine for the con. Don't try and do everything. If you overtax yourself, you won't enjoy any of it. If you know crowds wear you down after a certain amount of time, schedule yourself a break. Take a walk along the river, go back to your hotel room for a little bit, go take a shower, chill out and listen to your ipod, read you favorite book, take a break and sit in the corner and have some M&Ms, whatever will make you relaxed and happy and make you stop thinking about how you're nervous, stressed, or tired.

You'll be way off your usual schedule so try and bring as much of it with you as possible to stave off nervous breakdowns. If you eat the same thing every day for breakfast, BRING IT. Sleep with a stuffed animal? BRING IT. Little things that comfort you go a long way.

From your profile, it says you're in Ohio. Depending on where you are, you may be able to take the train to the con, which will get around the flying issue. The train is a long trip, but I went back and forth between Ohio and CT by train all through college. Pittsburgh is nowhere near as long a trip as that!

As to the finding a roommate or travel companion, you should hopefully be able to get some other Ohio folks to pop up and go "I'm in Ohio! where are you in the state?" and meet with you. besides here, there's also plenty of forums and communities on livejournal and similar sites that a simple post of "I'm in X, is there anyone nearby?" will probably get you quite a few responses. Meeting a few local furs before going off to a big con will probably make it all go much smoother.

It may help if you bring a friend along with you. I found that quite helpful at my first Anthrocon (waaaay back in 1999), because not matter what, I knew at least one person at the convention.

I also found it helpful spend time on forums (both here and elsewhere) before the con to try and get to know other people that will be attending.

 
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My LJ - My Website

Hello fellow furry!
I know how you must feel.I plan on goin to this con in 08.
It was kinda spontaneous cause I never heard on Anthrocon until a couple weeks ago.I just jumped up and said "Im goin".I didnt think twice on rides,money,time.I just knew I would be goin.And suprisingly I am stationed in Deleware which is really freakin close.So I got lucky.Score!!!

Anyway you are really close to philly too.It shouldnt be too hard to get a ride.
Talk to people in the forums(They are more friendlier than you think)
Your nervousness is something you will have to overcome.
This con is to bring people with a common intrest together(mainly Furry).I Gaurentee you wont feel like an outcast,or anything like that.You will make friends,for sure.
They are all there for the same reason.
LIke they say take breaks if you need it,dont over exert youself, know your limits. About 4 days of fun,Its alot of time,no need to rush.
And stop thinking negatively.Think positive.It goes a long way how you view things in life.Expect great things and they will come.(EX:I went through boot camp.One of the harshest things anyone can do,But with the support of my family and myself I overcame and conquered)Memories.....
Have a concrete plan too. Itll help.Start planning NOW(or soon).
I am,for sure.
Anyway,Im getting twitchy not because Im nervous but because I cant wait to enjoy myself at Anthrocon.
(This is not from personal experience from the con,I just ask alot of questions and get more knowledge)
And Yes I have never been to a con of any sort

Hey there Woof. In what part of the country do you live? Chances are, there is a much closer convention that you could simply drive to. AC is the biggest one, but some people need to work up to a big con. Many of the furs that go to AC also attend their own local conventions.

I've been to AnthroCon twice. The first time was a spur of the moment thing where my brother and a friend were going. Most recently, it was a planned event. I have some anxiety issues but they're under control.

From what I've experienced, once you get to the con, all the jitters go away. You are amongst friends or people who are like minded and you should easily find some folks to talk to. Everyone on the staff is very helpful, too. And fellow furs will be happy to assist you if they can.

Here is a super example! I had never been to the convention center/hotel complex in Pittsburgh before. My brother and I just followed some fursuits from the parking garage to the convention center. The ladies at the door told us we needed to register over in the hotel first. "Ok. How do we do that?" She starts talking and it sounds like it will be a huge trek and we'll need to camp overnight, bring sled dogs, the whole bit. Instead, a nice vendor comes over and says, in a thick TN drawl, "I'm headin' over thar to pick up a phone fer a friend o' mine. Why don'tcha all just falla me?" So, off we went with this really SUPER sweet guy. He took us right up to the registration desk in the hotel where we registered while he went to his room. Brother and I were able to find our way back, thanks to that gentleman's great directions. =^+^= (We later visited his kiosk and bought some comics.)

AnthroCon is a good thing and, once you get there, all the trivial things that stressed you out are forgotten. Even that huge back up on 376 that took you through Squirrel Hill and God only knows where else before you could get back on the toll road to Harrisburg.

I was planning on going to anthrocon 2007 also for my first furry convention but I ended up taking a college class instead. I am defiantly going to 2008 anthrocon for my first time with a friend from Scottland. We're both kinda nervous but excited just the same. Your more than welcome to try hooking up with us, but of course would be wise to get to know at least me. I'm the one planning this and getting my friend to the US to go. It does help to have at least one friend with you or anyone really.

Hi.

I'm New to the con scene myself, and was wondering if you need someone to split the cost of a room with. is my E-Mail address if you want to E-Mail me, and let me know. Thanks.

Cheetar "Spots" Cheetah

When I first attended Anthrocon, I went on my own, and it was kind of intimidating, at times. On the first day of the con, it took me almost 30 minutes just to work up the courage to leave my hotel room! However, there were two things that helped me out, quite a bit:

-Bringing something familiar: in my situation, that was a camera, camcorder, iPod, etc... My camera and camcorder gave me a reason to look around the con (besides having fun, of course), as I wanted to create a montage video of my experience at Anthrocon. The iPod was really only useful for passing the time on the way to Anthrocon.

-Being in contact with someone you know: although it only helped to a small degree, I always had the option of calling my parents on my cell phone (which I usually did once a day just to see how things were, back at home.) Just keep in mind what time zone the person you're calling is in - don't make the same mistake I did, by calling someone, and then realizing it's only 5 A.M. where they live!

Hope this helps!

--Kero

Well woof, To get use to the hole con thing. I would say this find some ohio fur whos going to morphicon (http://www.morphicon.org/2008/) make friends and go to it with them.

meh, I have panic attacks too, but nothing that intense. Mine usually happen during stressful moments in life and I usually find myself unable to speak except to answer yes no questions, but I did find out that they have an advantage. A panic attack is nothing more than your adrenal glands going wacky and producing more than they need to, meaning you get hyped up and nervous over stuff that you dont need to be hyped up over. The trick to getting over an attack is to understand it, and either have meds available to cope with it, or learn to push past it. I actually succeeded in learning a way to use it to my advantage.

I got one a few years ago, a day or two before AC and I couldnt sleep a wink, and with this in mind, I put on my clothes, kissed my mom goodbye and utilized the unique adrenaline rush that a panic attack was giving me to keep my butt awake while I drove to the con at 5 in the morning. Since then, ive made it a yearly thing to do to drive there before the sun rises so I can actually see the sunrise while im on the road. The panic attack I have every year seems to work well. I get nervous, then I realize mentally what my body is doing, and I just start driving. Because of the adrenaline, I know in the back of my head that I cant fall asleep on the road, so aside from the attack's attempt to make me nervous, I actually feel safest when Im having a panic attack. Screwy, but it works.

You on the other hand seem to have it much worse off. It looks to be at a stage in which getting over it will be tough, but not impossible.

and the best thing you need, is a freind to travel with. remember that as long as you pick a public place to meet someone off any of the following lists, you wont have a single worry. Be sure to spend lots of time talking to said person too so you both can get to know each other and get over each other's quirks before you have to spend a whole weekend together.

First off, what area of the world do you live in? If US, what state? I have, at my disposal, a good sized list of online discussion groups for furs to find and meet other furs in their area for socializing and fun. There are also a few links in there for the IFPL and similar sites(some of which are slightly lesser known) Ill just post the link here and if you want to browse it, please do. I would be happy knowing this list helped a fur find some other local furs.

have fun, and good luck.
CJ

My first con was a small one, and I had a similar problem. I spent the majority of the convention out on the patio (the designated smoking area) being antisocial. I hope not to do the same at AC, that would defeat the purpose.