Rant #3: Panic Attacks in Greece
I almost had a panic attack… I’m guessing if you are like me, you have uttered this sentence once or twice when you have been frazzled, stressed, or anxious.
Like when we struggle to make a deadline or can’t find our passport. Or we have a flat tire or hear unsettling noises walking alone at night.
Without a doubt, I was guilty of this too. But not anymore.
The year 2021 sucked for me, both for my mental and physical health. However, after what I experienced on our trip to Greece, I know I will not jokingly utter this sentence again.
This post is about my first panic attack that happened in Greece.
A First Time For Everything
After not traveling for a year and a half, we were thrilled to travel internationally again.
In July 2021, Covid numbers were low, and Greece’s borders were open. So, we planned a last-minute trip and flew to Greece on July 6th.
Although our trip to Greece was amazing, it was full of interesting surprises and unexpected firsts.
It was the first time we could afford to fly first class, thanks to the surprisingly low prices during Covid.
The first time to enjoy every single meal we ate in a country. Honestly… Greece has the best food!
The first time the airlines lost our luggage… twice.
The first time to swim in gorgeous blue, crystal-clear waters.
The first time we were stuck in a heat wave. That’s right, the hottest summer recorded for Greece in 43 years.
The first time our trip was affected by a natural disaster. We cut our trip short because of the terrifying forest fires near where we were on the mainland.
And it was the first time I experienced a panic attack. Or two.
Overheated In Greece
After spending a few days in Athens, we flew to the unique island of Milos. This was the beginning of the heat wave.
On our second day, the heat was overwhelming and unavoidable.
With many Covid restrictions still in place, there was no indoor dining and a limit on the number of people allowed in shops. Because of this, we were outside most of the day.
And let me just clarify… this old lady body of mine does not like heat.
I know what you’re thinking, why did we go to Greece then?
After being stuck at home for months, our travel itch needed to be scratched. Greece was taking precautions for visitors and seemed like a safe choice.
And it was safe. It was just bloody hot!
We wandered the cute town of Adamantas in the morning as the heat began to rise. We downed water, ducked into shops, and kept ourselves in the shade as much as possible.
At lunch, I ordered a glass of ice and rolled each cube up and down my overheated face and body. It wasn’t enough, my body had reached its limit.
My mouth was a desert, nothing could quench my thirst. My head started to pound while my body sweat profusely. It was too late, heat exhaustion had set in.
Unfortunately, this smothering heat wave became an uninvited guest that accompanied us for the remainder of our time in Greece.
Something is Wrong…
The next morning, we were catching the 12 pm ferry to the island of Sifnos. We stopped for a drink along the port and chose a table with exterior fans blowing on it, to keep as cool as possible.
After my drink arrived… something changed.
I was suddenly hit with a huge wave of nausea and was instantly dizzy.
My peripheral vision was full of black spots, and I couldn’t see straight.
My heart was racing, and there was intense pressure in my chest. I felt like I would pass out.
The waiter brought me more water. Travelers at the next table offered me rehydration tablets, which I took immediately.
But something was wrong. I had never felt like this before. Not even with my fake heart attack that turned out just to be my fibromyalgia.
As soon as I could walk, we headed back to the hotel, which happened to be located beside a pharmacy. We went in and they took my blood pressure. It was extremely high. They instructed us to go to the hospital immediately.
Here we go… another emergency room, another hospital, another country.
Why Do I Need A Xanax?
They got me in quickly and put me on a bed in a large blue room full of machines. Nurses, technicians, and doctors surrounded me, all speaking fast and in Greek.
With the Covid restrictions, Gavin wasn’t allowed in the room. I was by myself, confused and scared.
Thankfully, a nurse came in who spoke some English. As I described my symptoms, a chaotic, yet seamless, dance of nurses performed several tests around me. They took my temperature and my blood pressure. Normal.
The dance continued as they hooked me up to an ECG machine to check my heart. Normal.
They took blood samples, then wheeled me to another room for x-rays.
Just as abruptly as the dance began, it was over, and I was put into a separate room. Thankfully, Gavin was allowed to join me while we waited for the results.
About 20 minutes later, a nurse came and handed me a Xanax, saying the doctor wanted me to take this. WHAT?! I know what a Xanax is for… why are they giving this to me?!
I was confused but took it anyways.
After 30 minutes, the doctor came to update me with my results: Normal. He asked if my symptoms were still present. They weren’t. I felt better…. What just happened?!
Apparently, it was a panic attack. We left bewildered.
Was It The Ferry Ride?
Honestly, I didn’t know anything about panic attacks and was still in disbelief that I had experienced one. It couldn’t have been a panic attack. I wasn’t panicking.
When I told Gavin that something was wrong at the restaurant, I was speaking in a calm voice. I wasn’t yelling or hyperventilating. I wasn’t shaking or crying. This didn’t make any sense.
I was racking my brain to figure out what happened. Gavin asked if I felt nervous about the ferry ride. I didn’t think I was… but at the time, it was the only logical explanation.
I like to think I have a healthy fear of the ocean. It is powerful, can be unpredictable, and demands respect. But it’s not like I have ever experienced a horrible accident or trauma at sea. Did I?
When I was young, my parents took us whale watching near Vancouver Island. My dad and I get horrible motion sickness and spent most of the time puking our guts out. I only remember seeing a glimpse of a tail.
That’s when I was introduced to Motion Sickness Wristbands. These are amazing and have significantly reduced my motion sickness in cars, planes, and on boats. Most of the time, they work magically…
However, the first time I was in Greece, I took the speed ferry from Santorini to Crete. For those who battle motion sickness… I recommend sticking to the slow ferries. Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.
Then there was the time our boat tour became trapped in a freak storm in Thailand.
We were visiting Koh Phi Phi Leh and watched as dark purple clouds inched toward us. Our little boat used up all its gas fighting huge waves and strong winds.
We ended up on a deserted island and had to call for help. It was terrifying.
But was this really the reason? Did these events plant a huge fear of the ocean deep in my brain?
I tried to put it out of my head and boarded the ferry to Sifnos. The ride went smoothly, and I put this ordeal behind me.
By the way, Sifnos is my new favorite Greek island!
Intense Heat Wave
After the islands, we rented a car and toured the Peloponnese region for a couple of weeks.
We were looking forward to cooler temperatures and the ability to experience authentic Greek life. Our first stop was the cute mountain town of Stemnitsa.
We checked into the adorable Tsarbou Guesthouse and quickly discovered no AC in the room. What?! How is that possible? We were dumbfounded as to why they would not have any air conditioning!
After speaking to the hotel owner, we learned this was the first time the area had experienced such heat… EVER.
They had never needed air conditioning before. It was a mountain village after all. They too were astonished!
Despite having no AC, our stay at Tsarbou Guesthouse was amazing! The owner was friendly and helpful, the hotel charming, and the breakfasts homemade! Seriously… the best breakfast we had ever tasted!
We did our best to keep our room as cool as possible. We would open the large windows at night and shut them down during the day.
But sleeping was a challenge… there was just no escape from the heat.
We looked forward to the next part of our journey on the Mani Coast. At least we would have the ocean to cool ourselves down.
Funny how the universe laughs in your face…
I don’t know how, but the heat wave was more intense closer to the water. By 8 am, temperatures were already 36 degrees (97 degrees Fahrenheit). By midday, they reached the mid-40s.
We consistently got up early and did as much as we could before the heat made staying outside unbearable.
We noticed that in several towns, we were the only people on the streets. But it was just too hot…
Surrounded By Forest Fires
Meanwhile, forest fires around the country were growing uncontrollably.
People on the island of Evia were being evacuated. Fires were raging outside Athens and was near Olympia, close to where we were.
As the dense smoke increased, we started to wonder about our safety.
It was difficult to get any news in English, so we had to rely on information from our hotel. The fires were growing, and they were difficult to contain. The intense crippling heat didn’t help either.
On August 6th, we headed for our next destination. About 30 minutes into our drive, we noticed new fires starting on top of a nearby mountain.
Yeah… that’s how intense this heat was! Fires were igniting all on their own!
After another 20 min, the sky grew black, and it looked like it was snowing. Impossible, I know.
We pulled over and realized huge pieces of ash were falling from the sky landing on our car. We looked at each other in shock and agreed it was time to go home.
It was a 3-hour drive to the International Airport in Athens. We were worried fires would ground the planes, and we wanted out.
It was an incredibly stressful day. Thankfully, we make a great team and managed to get a Covid test, change our flight, cancel the rest of our vacation, book a hotel in the city, and repack our bags.
Fires surrounded Athens. The rooftop pool of our hotel was closed due to the thick smoke and falling ash. We both had anxiety that our flight might get canceled and we would be stuck here.
We went to bed hoping for the best.
It’s Happening Again…
That night, I had another panic attack.
The intense pain in my chest woke me just after midnight.
A warm, uncomfortable wave of anxiousness rippled throughout my body. I felt lightheaded and dizzy and my mouth was dry. I was confused and terrified.
But again, I didn’t scream or hyperventilate.
We Googled what to do in a panic attack.
Gavin did his best to distract me with conversation and math games. He had me count down from 100 to 3s. Math is not my strong suit, so I guess the distraction helped.
We were both worried… not understanding what was happening to me.
It took 2 hours for the sensations to dissipate and for my body to calm down.
This time, it was easier to accept that I had a panic attack. Nevertheless, we needed to get home.
The fear I experienced from witnessing the fires, the possibility of evacuation and not getting home were real. Maybe that doesn’t seem realistic now, but at the time, it did.
The next morning, our plane departed from Athens. Despite a horribly painful flight and two very long travel days, we were finally home safe.
Time to Reflect
It has been 6 months since we were in Greece. I have had some time to reflect on the events of that trip.
What happened to me was strange… I have lived through some difficult and stressful experiences, but none of them ever resulted in a panic attack.
Nevertheless, it opened my eyes to how the mind reacts and controls the body when faced with fear.
Sometimes I must remind myself that, just like you, I lived through a global pandemic. Just like you, life was uncertain for a while. Things were out of my control.
Maybe, it had more of an impact on my mental health than I realized.
I think the events in Greece reminded me how important it is to listen to your body, mind, and soul. That it’s essential to take time for yourself, heal your body, and put things into perspective.
I will learn from this experience and be better prepared in the future, should this happen again. We will have to wait and see…
Stay tuned for more updates!
