So I survived the trip last week. The train ride down was good (quiet car, wheeeeeeeee!). I also knew from previous experience to make sure to have a snack ready when I arrived, so that worked well.
The event itself wasn’t bad. First was a cocktail hour type of gathering which I was able to easily excuse myself out of since everybody felt it was too hot and crowded in there. I escaped to a quiet corner with a couch and a few people from my party and held out there until dinner.
Dinner itself was good. Surprisingly so, considering I was expecting a rubbery chicken sort of affair. But no, actual good food. Go fig.
What was not good was that after hours of this (four, by my quick mental count) my introvert self went into complete overload. Too many people, too much constant talking, too much having to be “on.”
Symptom-wise I found myself clutching my hands really tightly. I took a lot of deep breaths. I debated leaving early but, long story short, there wasn’t a way to bail without my group so I was stuck with everyone else until our ride got there (which fortunately got there early as well).
A surprising bit of help was that I brought my small sketchbook with me. Doing some sketches of the space around me helped calm my brain enough to get me through the worst of it. (That and being able to text some friends who understood my freakout – thanks friends!)
So on the whole not a total health-filled extravaganza, but still one I was able to get through with help. I’m calling it a win.
