Travel Anxiety: tips & advice

I will be the first to say – I suffer with travel anxiety and that I am not a ‘natural’ traveller. I have done everything from spending the day at work, driving to the airport and getting on a plane like it’s just part of my daily routine to packing and repacking, convincing myself that everything will go wrong and having a full on panic attack or two before I go away. I will forever aspire to be the be somebody that books a flight, throws some things into a bag and flies off to an exotic location without a second thought. Despite this, I still love travelling and get excited at the thought of booking a new trip.

Trvael Anxiety: I have worried about *literally* everything:

• Convincing myself that I would never be able to leave Cyprus and get on the plane because the plane windows would burst.
• Having a panic attack hours before going to Australia because I was convinced something would happen and I would be ‘stuck’ on the other side of the world.
• I went to Jersey for a weekend back in January, around the time that a really bad flu was going around. I was so convinced that I was going to catch the flu on the plane (the flight is 45 minutes) I raided Boots at the airport. I landed in Jersey like some sort of drug mule with everything from antiseptic throat spray (?) to a huge (probably illegal) amount of paracetomol.

The list goes on. If you are also stuck in this strange place between fear and wanderlust, then here are some of the tips and advice that I have picked up over the last few years:

Don’t worry; you’re not alone in this!

So many people travel these days I think it’s easy to feel that you’re the only one who is anxious at the prospect of taking a trip. I can assure you, you are not.

Have a coping mechanism for travel anxiety

For me, it’s calling home. As long as I know that everything and everybody at home are okay, then that puts me on the right track and I feel much better. I was in Australia for 6 weeks and I spoke to somebody at home almost every day.

Have an Emergency Fund

I have a big fear that I will get stuck somewhere, so much so that my parents let me take their credit card to Magaluf (!?!?!) ‘in case of emergencies.’ It spent the whole time hidden at the bottom of my luggage – I didn’t even touch it once we landed but it gave me peace of mind. Knowing that there is some money stored away in case you run out, want to book a flight, need money quickly, takes some of the pressure off. Top tip – if you can’t trust yourself not to spend it ask somebody back at home to keep it in their bank account so they can transfer it to you if and when it’s needed.

Travel at your own pace

If you need to have everyday scheduled to make you feel more relaxed, do that. Alternatively, if the idea of restricting yourself to a rigid itinerary makes you feel sick, then decide what you want to do as you go along. Either way, just make sure you research where you’re going so you know if you have to book something in advance or be lenient with travel plans in a particular destination.

Research. Research. Research

It’s always a good idea to research before you go on a trip anyway but especially if you are anxious. This way you’ll have some sort of idea what to expect, what there is to do etc. so you’re not thrown in the deep end.

Be careful with medication

If you are on medication that controls anxiety and depression, please be sensible with it. Make sure you have stocked up on enough before you go away and don’t try and wean yourself off whilst you’re travelling, even if you feel fantastic.

Don’t make yourself miserable

We are often faced with quotes like ‘life starts at the end of your comfort zone’ and ‘do something every day that scares you.’ Whilst that is good advice, sometimes facing everyday with anxiety is a big enough challenge. Push yourself, and try not to pass up opportunities because you feel anxious. That being said, if something will make you truly miserable or really is one step too far out of your comfort zone then don’t do it. There is not point being unhappy.

YOU ARE BRAVE

Whilst you might not think so – you are brave! You’ve faced your fear and done it anyway! Happy Travels!