Anxiety about attending the Alzheimer's Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C.

I am on a plane headed to Washington D.C. to attend the Alzheimer's Association advocacy forum. I was just trying to take a nap but I couldn't fall asleep, instead I thought that I was going to cry. I'm feeling nervous and afraid and I just wished that I didn't feel like this. I know that I've gone to these conferences for the past two years. This year I'm staying in a different hotel in a different location and that might be why I'm feeling this way. I am sitting on a plane with a close friend who is sitting next to me but she is resting soundly so she is unaware of my struggles.

It is just so hard for me to be in a different city and state than where I live. New surroundings are very difficult for me to deal with, but I know that I will somehow be okay. I remembered that the conferences are very long days and I have already decided that if I become overwhelmed, I will just take a break from the conference. I will go back to my hotel room and relax. I can return to the conferences when I'm ready. I know that from my past experiences, that these three days can be overwhelming for me! All we are thinking and talking about is Alzheimer's disease!

A short time ago, my friend was talking about someone and used their name. I had to really think for a few minutes who she was talking about. Then I remembered that she was talking about her husband. I know her and her husband very well and I spend time with them. I can't believe that at first, I didn't know who she was talking about. I'm so happy that I was able to figure it out.

Later I was approached by someone who knew me, but for a brief moment, I didn't remember her. Luckily, I figured out who she was and that I knew her. In the evening my friend and I attended a nice dinner. This was held in a very large ballroom with hundreds of other advocates. I had to leave the table to go to the ladies’ room. On my way there, I wondered how I was going to find my way back to the table. I walked a little bit, then I turned around and saw a painting behind me. Now I knew when I came out of the ladies’ room that if I saw that painting in front of me, that I would be headed in the right direction. Luckily, I remembered this, and it worked out so well that I found my way back to the table without a problem. I wondered if there had also been a painting on the opposite corridor, would it have confused me? I can't even tell you what this painting looked like, except that it was a painting. This task can usually cause me stress and anxiety. Luckily, this time I found a way to make it easier for me to find my way back to my table.

Overall, I feel that this trip went pretty well and that I didn't have any major problems. So, if I have the opportunity to attend this conference again, I think that I might do so.