Hi.
I tried to emigrate to Australia this week on my own but had a violent panic attack at the airport gate, so I couldn't fly. I'm now back home wondering what happened. Has anyone else suffered the same problem and how did you deal with it?
There is a slightly larger story to this, so here goes...
I have been to Australia a couple of time over the years and travelled around plus visited family. I loved it each time so decided to apply for the 175 skilled migration visa. I'm a software consultant. The trouble is if I were to migrate I would have to do it alone Over the years spent applying this worried me greatly.
My permanent residency visa came through a few months ago so I was planning to move this summer. Then my job required me to go to Australia for a new customer we had acquired over there. So I worked in Tasmania for a couple of weeks, then had a couple of meetings in Melbourne and finally went to Brisbane for a week to see my uncle. I loved it there as always. Tasmania is stunning, Melbourne I wasn't so keen on but I was only there for a day or so. So I can't give it a fair judgement. Brisbane was great! The weather, water sports, hiking etc... I had a great time and didn't want to come home.
When I got home I told my boss I was going to emigrate and handed in my resignation. Much to my surprise he asked me to continue working for him but from Australia. My uncle also offered me somewhere to live for 6 months. Brilliant I had everything sorted. I couldn't ask for an easier transition.
I sold my stuff and said good bye to my family and friends full of excitement! I wasn't nervous at all. A couple of days before I left I got very nervous, but I expected that. A friend took me to the airport, I checked in and had a stiff drink to calm my nerves.
When I sat at the gate I began to breath very quickly and shake uncontrollably. I alerted the airline staff so they sat me somewhere quieter. Unfortunately this didn't help. I got a lot worse. My muscles locked up and I couldn't move other than shake violently and uncontrollably. The staff managed to calm me down enough to stop me passing out but said I could not fly. They offered to put me up in a hotel and let me fly the following day. So I took them up on their offer. However the attack seemed to do some damage to my abdomen causing me a lot of pain. Long story short I ended up in hospital the following day where I was given some relaxing medication and told to go home and think about why I am making this move. Clearly something isn't right subconsciously. So that's where I am now.
The only rational concern I can put my finger on is that I will be working from home on my own in a country where I only know my uncle, who has he own life so won't be spending his time with me that much.
The whole episode was very unpleasant and I'm terrified it will happen if I try again.
Sorry for the long post but I wanted to find out what other people's thoughts were or if they had experienced anything similar themselves. Am I just a massive wimp!
Thanks
Chris
PS: The airline was Qantas. I was very impressed with their service and would highly recommend them.