Updated: 10/30/2018 | October 30th, 2018
When I was younger, I was very socially awkward. I used to get anxiety when I talked to strangers. Travel forced me to get over that and become what is termed a “learned extrovert.” It’s sink or swim on the road and, since I wanted to travel and be on the road so much, I decided to swim. I had to learn how to talk to people if I didn’t want to be alone.
For many, it’s an even harder challenge. Many people are scared to travel and suffer from travel anxiety. My friend Lauren of Never Ending Footsteps suffered such bad panic attacks when she was younger that she barely left the house, developed an eating disorder, and never took public transportation.
Today, Lauren writes in-depth about her panic attacks and travel anxiety, how travel helped her cope with that, and what others can do to get over their fears and travel the world.
I was 16 when I had my first panic attack. I thought I was going to die. I was drenched in sweat within seconds, I had pins and needles everywhere, my chest was tight, and my left arm was tingling in a way that convinced me I was having a heart attack.
These panic attacks would take hold of my life — I was having as many as ten a day. I developed an eating disorder and was unable to leave my house for months at a time.
I’m not alone — 18% of the population in the United States suffers from an anxiety disorder, with around a quarter of these cases classified as severe. Fewer than 40% of anxiety sufferers are receiving treatment for their disorder.
I didn’t seek out treatment either. Instead, I decided to travel, hoping that would make me the self-assured, confident person I longed to be and hoping that having a panic attack on a beach in Thailand had to be better than having one at home.
My family and friends disagreed and told me that traveling would be a huge mistake. They didn’t think I was strong enough to deal with unfamiliar situations and were convinced I would be home within a week. In a way, their belief that was too scared to travel and their lack of faith in me spurred me on. I wanted to prove that I wasn’t as weak and as they thought I was.
By the time I left, my travel anxiety had improved, but I was still suffering from panic attacks anywhere from once a month to several times a day. In the four years I’ve been on the road, though, I can count the number of attacks I’ve had on two hands. Despite what everyone told me, travel can actually help you overcome your anxiety.
But how do you actually work up the courage to leave? How do you deal with anxiety on the road? And how does traveling actually help reduce anxiety? How to stop being scared to travel?
Step #1: Dealing with anxiety before you travel
Here’s how to calm your mind, get over your anxiety, and get yourself out on the road:
Remind yourself why you want to travel – Whenever you think about canceling your trip, picture yourself in the place you most want to visit and tell yourself that you have to get there and see what it’s like.
Imagine yourself in that place, living the life you’ve dreamed, without any anxiety in sight. These positive affirmations will calm you down, and doing it repeatedly helps you grasp the idea that you can successfully travel the world.
Imagine your life a year from now – What will happen if you decide to cancel your trip? It’s likely that a year from now, you’ll find yourself thinking, Damn, I had the chance to travel and I didn’t take it. It was the fear of living with regrets that forced me to take a chance and leave.
Find a community – There are a dozen forums out there for anxiety sufferers — my favorite is No More Panic — where you can post whenever you’re struggling and receive help and support from community members, as well as calming tricks to talk yourself down. Integrate yourself into a community like this before you leave, so that if anxiety does hit you when you’re on the road, you won’t feel like you’re struggling on your own.
Meticulously plan out your first few days – Anxiety often stems from feeling like you’re not in control, so a way to negate this is to plan out every detail of your first day or two on the road. Some suggestions:
- Look for a map and photos of the arrivals terminal of the airport and plan your route through the building.
- Google what to do if your luggage gets lost and write down a set of instructions for this eventuality.
- Plan to take a taxi from the airport to your accommodation so you don’t have to deal with unfamiliar transport on your first day.
- Write down a list of things you want to do during your time there.
By focusing on each step at a time, you can feel like you’re in control, and you won’t fear the unexpected as much.
Remember you can always go home – If you try it for a few weeks and realize travel isn’t for you or that this isn’t the right time, you can always go home. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure; it means you tried something and you didn’t like it.
Step #2: Dealing with anxiety when you travel
If you’re like me, your biggest concern will be over how you’ll cope if you have a panic attack abroad. What if it happened in a dorm room or — even worse — when you’re on a flight and can’t escape? You’ll have to deal with these fears — on top of the ones nonanxious travelers face: getting lost, getting sick, not making friends, and not enjoying it.
I still experience occasional panic attacks on the road, but there are plenty of ways to reduce travel anxiety:
Form a routine – Travel can be stressful and disorienting, and it’s often the lack of routine that increases your risk of anxiety. In order to feel like you have some control over your life, create a routine so that there’s always a part of your day when you’ll know exactly what will happen.
Try setting an alarm every morning and then heading out for a morning run. Even though the location changes, the simple act of doing the same thing morning after morning gives you something to expect and look forward to. Similarly, you could try eating a sandwich every day for lunch, or having dinner at the same time every evening. You could even set aside one day of a week as a “treat day,” where you go for a massage and head to the cinema to watch a movie. It’s all about staying in control, and these small constants help with that.
Ignore your intuition – Practically every article I’ve ever read about staying safe on the road tells you to listen to your intuition. The problem for anxiety sufferers is that your instincts will always tell you something bad is always going to happen. If I paid attention to my intuition, I would rarely ever step outside my house, would have never gone on my trip, and would never have accepted an invitation from new friends on the road.
Set money aside for the bad days – Everyone likes to save money on the road, but forcing yourself to always go for the cheapest options can negatively affect your mental health. Staying in dorm rooms night after night, long bus journeys to save a few dollars here and there — it can all add up to one big panic attack. I recommend keeping a few hundred dollars aside for these situations.
In Laos, I experienced the unluckiest 48 hours of my life: it involved eating a cockroach, staying in the dirtiest accommodation I’ve seen, watching a woman die from malaria, sitting next to the woman and her grieving husband for several hours, getting locked inside the next guesthouse I stayed in, having another cockroach run over my face as I slept, and being sexually assaulted by a backpacker.
I was on the verge of flying home, but instead I decided to blow a week’s worth of travel costs on a night of recovery. I booked myself into the highest-rated hotel in the city, I spent a day inside catching up on sleep and watching movies, I treated myself to an expensive meal, and I got a manicure and pedicure. Taking time for myself helped reduce my anxiety and regain my confidence so that I felt able to travel again.
It’s unlikely you’ll ever be as unlucky as me on the road, but if you ever experience something stressful and traumatizing, book yourself into a fancy hotel room, treat yourself to room service, and have a long, hot bath to relax. Take time out of your schedule to make yourself feel good.
The trick is to not allow yourself to do this for too long. Once I get into the habit of staying inside, it can be tough to pull myself back out of my hole and start exploring again. In cases of burnout, exhaustion, or bouts of anxiety, I recommend spending three days inside to recover and then doing something intimidating on the fourth day. (Note: Your mileage may vary, pick the time that works for you.)
Remember bad luck can often be good luck – Whenever I’ve had to deal with bad luck while traveling, I’ve felt disheartened and even considered returning home. What helped to keep me on the road was changing the way I viewed these unpleasant experiences.
Anxiety leads to irrational thoughts and will forever have you worrying about the worst-case scenario. Sometimes that scenario will actually happen — and you’ll survive it. You’ll realize you’re far stronger than you thought you were, that the things you were most anxious about are never actually as bad as you expected and that you’re well equipped to deal with things going wrong.
Leave your comfort zone – Repeated exposure to your fears is more successful at treating anxiety than avoidance, and the best way to conquer anxiety is by doing one thing a day that scares you. Travel is great for this!
Whether it’s figuring out the public transport in an unfamiliar city or accepting an invitation to hang out with a local, try stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something new every day.
But what if everything is new and frightening? Google it! I had never been on a bus before I went abroad, so I spent half an hour researching how they worked and what you were supposed to say when you stepped onboard. It helped lessen my anxiety and made me feel more capable.
Calming exercises and simple tricks are also great for helping you gain the confidence to step outside your comfort zone. Try breathing in for five seconds and out for seven seconds. Or place an elastic band around your wrist and snap it against your skin to keep you distracted. If I’m particularly intimidated by a new experience, the combination of those two things helps me take that step into the unknown.
Avoid your triggers – Alcohol always makes my anxiety worse, so I tend to avoid it when I travel. Before you leave, come up with a list of everything that triggers your anxiety and try to minimize your exposure to it on the road. Not many people consider teetotaling when they travel, but if it prevents you from having a panic attack, it’s well worth it.
Don’t compare your experiences – It’s easy to beat yourself up when you look at your friends’ travel experiences or read a travel blog full of beautiful photos and glowing trip reports. It can increase feelings of inadequacy and make you feel as if you’re the only person who’s suffering. If all you ever see is people having the most incredible time of their life, it can leave you feel like you’re doing something wrong or not making the most of the opportunity you’ve been given. Don’t let these feelings lead to more anxiety.
Remind yourself that everyone curates, so you often won’t see the bad side of their travels. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else, because you never know who’s battling with anxiety behind the scenes.
Step #3: Turning my travel anxiety into a positive
Writing about my anxiety on my travel blog was the best thing I ever did. Until that point, I’d hidden it from my writing, because no other bloggers were discussing mental health issues in public. I was afraid that people would judge me if I wrote about the panic attacks I’d had around the world — almost as if it was a sign that I was a bad traveler or I wasn’t making the most of my opportunities.
Instead, the opposite happened. People related to my article and shared with me their personal stories of traveling with anxiety. I’ve received hundreds of emails from those who have an anxiety disorder but decided to travel the world anyway (and succeeded!), and I’ve received hundreds more from people who dream of traveling but are too nervous to take the plunge.
My story of how my travel misadventures helped me overcome anxiety even caught the attention of a major publisher. My book, How Not to Travel the World, is about getting out of your comfort zone no matter how many panic attacks life throws at you. It’s about dealing with unfavorable situations, learning to push yourself out of your comfort zone, and falling in love with life on the road.
***
Five years ago, I sat home and tentatively planned out an itinerary for my dream trip around the world. I didn’t ever really think I’d be able to work up the courage to leave.
I was so scared to travel.
Today, I’m in an apartment in Madrid, four years into my travels, with 60 stamps in my passport. I’ve had a total of two anxiety attacks in the past 12 months.
Travel has been the one thing that helped me conquer my anxiety more than anything else. Sometimes it downright terrifies me, but it also challenges me by forcing me to leave my comfort zone and comforts me by giving me the freedom to do whatever I want whenever I want. The combination of all three has done wonders for my mental health.
I’ve reached the point where I struggle to even think of something that would take me out of my comfort zone, and I’ve proven that it’s possible to travel the world with a debilitating anxiety disorder.
Lauren Juliff runs the website Never Ending Footsteps and is author of the recent book How Not To Travel the World: Adventures of a Disaster Prone Backpacker. I finished it earlier this week and would definitely recommend it as good summer read. But I’m probably biased since Lauren is my friend so I’ll add that I gave the book to a girl on my Morocco tour and she hasn’t put it down. She loves it and now she’s talking about a solo trip of her own! I think that’s a big vote of confidence!
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
Need to book your trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. The are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.
Yeison Kim
I had panic attacks for over 7 years so I completely understand you. Traveling help me to be “normal” again and now I can stop traveling.
Great article 🙂
Lauren
Hi Yeison. Happy to hear travel helped your anxiety as well! 🙂
Adriana
I just found this blog and I feel relief. For too many years I’ve struggled with panic related to travel and it’s painful since it’s one of my loves. I’m so encouraged to read many people with panic still travel and cope. I’m new to this support Community but already I’m encouraged. Thanks!
Jodie
I’m having one as we speak I’m exhausted. Scared and have 13 hours travel ahead. Help
Olivia
Laying in bed, my mind is moving, i grabbed my iphone to Google “how to help anxiety from moving abroad” and I found your article.
I am in tears reading this. I recently moved abroad to Australia and have developed anxiety of feeling alone and not in control. It was and still is my dream to live here, but I never expected to experience something so mentally, spiritually, and emotionally draining. I get light headed, my circulation gets bad, and I have to close my eyes and zone out to get through it.
I’ve never been this way and have been much of a risk taker all of my life. It’s so weird and scares me to see I can have such painful thoughts and physical aches. I think practice is the best medicine and I’m trying so so hard to figure this out on my own through people like you.
Reading your article has given me inspiration – I smiled many times realizing we have a lot in common.
You don’t know how much it means to me to read this. Thank you for writing this article and for sharing your story with people like me.
You are awesome.
Best,
Olivia
Meg
Hi Olivia- I recently followed my dream too and moved across the country to a town where I know absolutely no one. I moved to the mountains to become a full time adventurer(after work hours of course) after growing up in the plains. It’s been awesome and also as you said, totally disorienting. I’m having a hard time acclimating to a new place where literally everything is so different. The geographics, people, culture, EVERYTHING is so opposite of what I know but that is exactly why I moved here! And I get here and it’s bewildering. It’s hard because I think a great deal of self-judgement is involved because we are fulfilling these dreams but it’s causing us to suffer in ways and leads us to think ‘why am I not enjoying this as I imagined’. I just wanted to say, me too!!! Hope you are doing better.
shirin
Hi Olivia,
one reading this article and reading your comment is so so comforting. I also recently moved to Australia and have been experiencing anxiety out of nowhere. I think it stems from having so much free time to think but I really want to make this dream work. It is reassuring to know that others are going through the same thing. If you’re still in Australia it would be lovely to connect.
LA
Lauren, you lost me when you stated the cockroach story because you said you suffered a rape staying in a cheaper place but decided to give it 48 hours more in a good hotel. Why didn’t you suffer any devastating panic attacks that would have rendered a healthy mind into a catatonic state of shock? You make it sound so easy to just shake off panic which is another reason why I feel your condition is hardly devastating to your lifestyle. For the rest of us, it is truly debilitating which will not be so easily resolved if ever! I find this article to be fake!
Liz
LA, it is not your place to judge anyone else reactions to their anxiety or sexual assault. Everyone is different and everyone reacts differently. It is certainly not easy to shake off panic for anyone, but as a mental health counseling student, I have learned that the best thing for anxiety is to face your fears and the worst thing for anxiety is to avoid your fears. Anxiety therapy simply helps people to face their fears. Excellent article!
Fred
Absolutely right, Liz. I suffer from truly debilitating OCD, which comes with a huge amount of anxiety about being anywhere outside of my house. I have been homebound for a couple of years, but have finally decided that I have had it and am going on a month-long vacation with my family this summer to Colorado and Utah. It will be hard and uncomfortable at times, but if I don’t do it, I will just stay trapped. Sometimes, LA, you just have to face your fears and do what you want to do DESPITE them. If you don’t, they win. I want to be the winner!
Lorraine
Omg great article. I’m leaving for Europe in 3 weeks traveling with a friend but flying by myself. I gave up s great chance to go to Japan last year because of anxiety and really regretted it. Now I’m facing my fear. I’m 53 and can do this.
Sj
This has inspired me. My husband and I have been talking about just having a holiday abroad. I’ve not been abroad since my anxiety started 8 years ago. I’m going to do it. The world is my oyster, it really helps to know others have the same fears and push through them anyway. Thanks so much x
crystal
awesome ! thanks for sharing your honesty and real life problems. it’s nice to know how you cope with it. i hope this helps lots of others !
Allison
Such a helpful and important post, considering so many people let anxiety get in the way of traveling! I remember almost having a panic attack before my first solo trip.
Lauren
Hi Allison! So happy to hear you found it helpful. I think I had daily panic attacks in the months leading up to my departure date, but then I stepped on the plane and it suddenly all faded away 🙂
Brittany Herriot
Great article on panic attacks an travel! I suffered the same before leaving home and solo travel was a big reason I decided to embark on 15 months travelling around the globe. I ‘m half way through, and have only had one panic attack (in a hospital) and feel too, as if travel has helped me overcome this mental health disorder. You can read about my anxieties before setting off on my blog post here! : http://borealblonde.com/2014/12/29/im-about-to-travel-the-world-alone-and-im-absolutely-terrified/
Lauren
That’s great to hear you’ve had so few panic attacks while travelling, Brittany! I’m happy travel has helped other people reduce their anxiety 🙂
Chris
This girl is amazing, genuinely inspiring person! Glad you conquered your fears.
Lauren
Thanks so much, Chris!
Rihanna
i had the same problem, thanks for giving tips
Ron
Very nice writing from the heart. Thanks!
alison
I’ve made many panic attacks in the past and continue to be on the verge of panic attacks. Except when I travel. I’m leaving for a month away on Thursday and I’m in full panic mode. I hope by the time the plane lands I’m OK. But as a precaution, whenever I travel a distance I try to identify a friendly place in the area where I can go if I need help. So far I haven’t needed it.
Amanda
This is such an interesting read! My family line has a lot of anxiety issues and it’s stopped a lot of them from traveling. I will have to share this with them. Interestingly, my panic attacks tend to happen a lot when I stay at home and traveling is most definitely an escape for me. Go figure! What a wonderful story to share on your blog. Thanks!
Nicola
Just wondering where the photo under the heading “Dealing with anxiety when you travel” is?? The one with all the colourful buildings?
Lauren
That’s Guanajuato, in Mexico!
Jessica
I don’t think I’ve ever related to a post so much in my life. I also used to get terrible panic attacks many times a day. Then I went to Thailand for three weeks. I did have a panic attack on the first take off, and had anxiety from time to time. Since then, I rarely get them. My favorite part of your article is “if I’m going to have panic attacks, might as well have them on a beach in Thailand.” I completely agree. Thank you for bringing awareness to mental illness, it means a lot to everyone who can relate.
Jordan
Wonderful article here. Travelling is an exciting thing, but like every exciting experience, there’s a lot to worry about too. Thanks for these tips on dealing with anxiety before travelling!
Michele
Lauren is such an amazing person & brave for putting this out for everyone. My daughter suffers from anxiety attacks. Sometimes it’s hard for me to understand because I don’t have them. I feel helpless when I want to help so badly.
I think this is a such a great book for us, that I bought us each one! <3
Sally jenkins
I cannot imagine sexual assault……you acted like it was nothing.
Richelle
I love Lauren and how honest her blog is! Thanks for featuring her.
Lauren
Thanks so much, Richelle! 🙂
Liz
Great article! 🙂 She is amazing for being able to conquer her anxiety.
Emily
Thank you so much for this article! I’m about to spend a year working abroad and I couldn’t be more grateful for your words here.
Ryan Biddulph
Super inspiring story Lauren!
I was horribly depressed before I hit the road. Since I’ve traveled I’ve become confident, assured and….gasp…..social! LOL….night/day difference. I agree fully with your comfort zone point. I sprint outside of my comfort zone more every day and fall in love with growing, with freeing myself and with freeing my audience in the process. If you are willing to be uncomfortable for a minute or 2 you can crush your anxiety, at home, or on the road.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Ryan
Nancy Lendved
I’m an older nester who loves travel, but am as prone to catastrophic thinking on the road as I am to worrying while close to home.
Thanks for this honest and inspiring article. I commend you!
Best, Nancy
Tonia
What a great article! I’m so glad that I was able to read about Lauren’s anxiety and how traveling helped change her life. Such great advice!
Michelle
Thank you Lauren for being so honest and open.
Your Laos experience was really a string of bad luck. Good for you for surviving it and now sharing it with us so we can learn from you.
As many times as I have traveled, I am always anxious before I leave. Once I land, I’m fine because I arrived at where I want to go.
Teresa D Hill
Great article, Lauren! This is the first time I’ve ever read about someone traveling with an anxiety disorder and your tips are wonderful. Thank you for being so honest in your sharing. Happy travels!
Suzanne Fluhr
I just forwarded this blog post to a friend who suffers from anxiety that keeps him from traveling even though he longs to do so. I hope he will be inspired to follow your example. Travel and write on!
Karadeniz Tur
Thank you Lauren for the wonderful article here. Thanks for the tips on dealing with anxiety!
Jason
Thanks for writing this article (and the link to No More Panic – I’ve been looking for something like that!). I’m 39 years old and have had generalized anxiety disorder since I was approximately 12 years old. Unfortunately, for many sufferers it never truly goes away. I used to (and sometimes still do) have major anxiety about traveling – even an hour and half away. I’d always pray that something would happen (nothing too bad) that would cause the trip to be canceled. I wasn’t totally house-bound, but my anxiety comes with OCD and I feel the need to do the same thing every single day. So differing from that pattern causes major stress. Your tip of finding something to do every day at the same time is a great one – something I’ve had in place for awhile.
I’ve also found that completely familiarizing myself with the room I’m staying in helps, too. I really look at every single thing – down to the light switches, the shape of the lamps, I open and close the curtains. It sounds coo coo to most, but to anxiety sufferers, it really may help!
I’m not a constant traveler by any means (the longest I’ve traveled was 10 days in a row), but forcing myself to travel has greatly reduced my anxiety about traveling. The more I do it, the better I get. I even work as a meeting and event planner now that requires me to travel throughout the US and abroad (I went to Tokyo this year and aside from a very bad reaction to Ambien, had an AWESOME time being 2000 miles from home!)
Thank you for bringing more awareness to this disorder and proving that it doesn’t have to control our lives!
Tom Miller
Excellent post, surfing, beaches…wonderful. I really enjoyed your post.
Jane M
Wow Lauren, you are amazing! Not just for travelling in the first place, but now you host meet-up groups and do public speaking, too? That is awesome.
I haven’t suffered from anxiety disorder, but I was very shy when I first hit the road. Asking someone for help or a question about directions took all of my energy and I avoided doing it as much as I could. Several years on, and guess what, practice makes perfect. Now, when I’m in an English-speaking country I’m just so glad to be understood and understand that I will talk to anybody. In other countries, I feel like I’m less worried about looking stupid miming to get my message across.
You point about saving money for bad days is spot on, for any traveller. Some days, you just need to get inside somewhere clean, take a hot shower, and snuggle in a cozy bed.
Great post! Jane
Nahal
When traveling lots of photos are taken to hold memories. My problem is forgetting to send the photos or having too many to send. Until I heard of this app, Orgit! Its an easy way to share photo albums with friends and family privately! Its so easy to use as well! check it out https://vimeo.com/131591924
Brian
I was getting on a flight to Bangkok whilst the coup was in effect. I was losing it and about to go off at my parents (who hadn’t been helping the situation) but I ended up running through the customs at the airport. Made me all the more grateful for the overseas attack I had in Fiji the year before.
Marj
This is such an encouraging article. I also suffer from a mild panic attack but I learned to overcome this with deep breathing techniques and finding some ways to distract my mind. Traveling has definitely helped a lot but lately I’ve been quite anxious about flying since several planes crashed.
Chella
this is a very informative piece and I love it. The fact that you made a huge achievement to conquer anxiety and panic attacks become an extrovert shows that those who are affected can make it too. I would like to underscore the point on planning out your first few days and setting money aside for the bad side. planning out your first days will help one settle down easily and familiarize themselves with the new surrounding. On the other hand, setting aside some money for the bad days comes in handy to cater for some emergency that would lead to an anxiety and panic attack. thank you for the insight.
rakhi
Awesome article, Lauren! This is the first occasion when I’ve ever perused about somebody going with an uneasiness issue and your tips are sublime. Much obliged to you for being so legit in you’re sharing. Upbeat ventures!
regards
rakhi
Foqrul
Thanks for the awesome writing Lauren. For me, traveling is addictive, not a month goes by that I don’t go to a new place either in home or abroad. In addition, I discovered that when I travel I find the inner peace in my heart, and I hope everyone who does travel has the same feeling.
Dinesh
Thanks for sharing and the great most people in the world dream of travel. But travel anxiety is also very common. Many people are simply afraid of travelling – some people may not even realize it – and those fears make it much harder to travel for work or pleasure.
Vicki
Lauren, you are an inspiration. I relate to you and am grateful that you have shared your journey. Peace!
Anita
Wonderful post! I find that meticulously planning out my trip actually gives me more anxiety! When I get more spontaneous, that’s when I have fun. 🙂
Lauren Erickson
This post is so helpful! I’ve dealt with some pretty bad anxiety too, especially social anxiety, so I’ve worked on branching out and meeting people at hostels but letting myself go do things on my own too. It’s good to see mental health talked about in travel because it’s so important and yet not often addressed.
gord
Thank you Lauren for your comments on anxiety.
My wife and I were attacked and I was badly beaten while in locked in a small car inNicaragua a few years ago since then I have bad panic attacks. We still travel but I do not enjoy it near as much and find that the more I prepare for the journey the more anxious I become. I would prefer to just hop on a plane and leave. I am now very claustaphobic and as you mentioned, I like to be in control and have an escape route planed . will continue later batt. low on computer. Bu thanks
jon b
This is great advice Matt…I have to admit I was quite nervous on my first trip to Asia, but it all falls into place one you get the first hostel!
Im now in Uzbekistan! Something I never would have thought 5 years ago!
Bob Merrick
This is an amazing article, Lauren. I had no idea that there was so many people who suffered anxiety and were unable to travel. How you overcame this by using travel is an amazing story which would surely inspire others. I wish I had seen such an article years ago. I had a friend who suffered from a similar problem. He loved to travel but was always afraid to and avoided going to his favorite places in the world. He envied me for going there. Unfortunately, he is gone now so I am unable to share this with him. It may have given him a chance to see his favorite places in the world. However, I hope this article will be an inspiration for others.
Suzan
This is an awesome piece and I can not thank you for writing and sharing this. After reading this I am going to shed all my fear and anxirty and make a plan for a trip. Thanks a lot!
Anne
your true experienced about travelling really inspired me a lot but there is only one thing that i am so worried is that, im afraid to be all alone even though im in the middle of so many people in the public place because i still dont know them and i cant even talk to them like an old friends…thats how im struggling it now, i dont know how to change it and make my mind calmly and not to panic. I hope you can teach me of some technique about this…thank you so much …
Valentina Duracinsky
Some truly great pieces of advice.
I had my first panic attack on a plane earlier this year. Like described in this article, my arm was numb, I thought I was having a heart attack…
But I never ever want to stop traveling!!
Thanks so much for sharing this.
Much love,
Val
Ed
I think traveling is a great cure for anxiety. It improves strength, helps build self-esteem and gives a lot of joy.
Jocelyn
You are so inspiring! Having witnessed my sister and her panic attacks…it amazes me that you have continued to better your situation by traveling and truly curing yourself. Additionally, I have a husband who has a very hard time leaving to go on trips. His anxiety of taking time off and going to some place new has often caused us not to travel! I will definitely pass this on.
As for ways to mitigate his anxiety, I have found that planning the trip out in advance helps him to prepare for what is to come. If you [or any of your readers] would like to see example itineraries please check them out at my website…jocelynlouise.com.
Thanks and travel on,
Jocelyn
Paige
So proud of you, Lauren!! I suffered from extreme anxiety as a teenager; only low level panic attacks, but constant, sickening anxiety about all my surroundings. Traveling wasn’t quite my cure–college really was a turning point–but traveling zapped the last of it away and taught me SO much. I admire your leap into travel! I don’t know how I would have fared with that, but as a college student, taking a leap to study abroad for a year made me face a lot of crippling fears and walk through them, such as going overseas for the first time alone, moving to a new country alone, and the myriad of experiences that comes with that and with being on the road. I wouldn’t change it for anything. I know personally I have changed and grown so much, and people say they see a new confidence in me–travel is the best!!
Gail
Thank you for this truly inspirational post, it fills me with a lot of confidence and courage to take the leap into the unknown and just do it. I’ve been feeling terrified about going overseas for the first time by myself, especially since i suffer from social anxiety, but i know that i need to do this, to prove to myself that i’m capable of doing things by myself . Thank you for the great advice and inspiration! 🙂
Katie
Wow. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this.
I’m 31, and my first panic attack was in high school. I’ve been struggling with anxiety ever since. It’s like something messed up my brain. However, I got my University Degree, Teacher’s College Degree, and have been teaching as a supply teacher and occasional teacher ever since. I have dealt with agoraphobia, and the crappy thing is that people around me assume I’m just lazy, or a negative person. I’m not.
There’s a shortage of work right now in the teaching field where I live. I absolutely love teaching, but it’s been 3 months of applying for jobs without success. I received an email offering the potential of teaching in China. For the first time in many years, I replied to this type of offer, and had a Skype conversation with the recruiter.
Everything seems good. And, I’m happy to say that there’s nothing sketchy about it.
Now, I’m faced with the fear of me travelling to, working in, and living in, a completely different country. I won’t be leaving for about 3 months, but all of the sudden I’m thinking of a million things. What about my phone? What about adaptors? Where will I live? What if I have a panic attack on the plane? What if I freak out on the plane and it has to land because of me? What if I become agoraphobic again? What if I don’t have my meds? What if I resort to alcohol? What if there’s no immediate medical assistance? What if I’m no good at my job? What if… what if… what if… ?
But, this is something that I feel I have to do for myself. In the months leading up to my trip, I’ll exercise more. I’ll drink less alcohol. I’ll eat healthy.
It’s weird. I’m excited but scared out of my mind at the same time.
Your article really helped me figure a few things out. However, I would love to have some replies on my comment… it’s something I need. I guess I have no confidence.
Roberto
I have this panic disorder and… guess what? I’m about to relocate myself too!
I have applied for a nice job which requires live and work abroad.
I do feel just like you, excited and scared at the same time but I know that we can make it. 🙂
Very good article Lauren!
Poonam
The same thoughts are ran through my mind when i have my first panic attack…….i have faced this at my 8th standard…..and now a days i have observed that this panic attacks during travelling alone…..day by day am becoming a loser….i have lost my job….i have lost my career……what to do….what to do???????
Val
Dear Lauren,
This is an amazing article!!! It\’s just what I\’ve been looking for! I have had anxiety for the past 3 years and it hasn\’t been easy. Now I got an amazing opportunity to study and work as a language assistant in the abroad, and although i\’m very happy , i\’m also very scared. I\’m leaving in September next year and I\’m already thinking of the worst possible scenarios. I just fear that being away from the comfort of my own country will worsen my symptoms. I fear having a panic attack all the time
However, reading your article gives me hope that I will be fine.
Thank you very much for this
Alice
Thank you for your post! We CAN control our anxiety, we just need to learn how to not be afraid and not give up! <3
Nick Stokes
Really nice article. It shows that you are not alone. The numbers are staggering. It is really sad that so many people are suffering from this medical condition.
justine
Finding this article has been a source of relief for me here at 2 in the morning. I was a very adventurous person, travelled a lot – at one point travelling Europe for 9 months straight without a schedule and being wild, free and spontaneous. Never had anxiety or panic attacks. Then 6 years ago I got advanced cancer and it changed me a lot. I found myself indoors all the time in bed, either at home or in hospital, sick/recovering, for over a year that being outside became strange and weird, plus my fundamental assumptions about life got rocked so all of this turned me into a hermit. I’ve been pretty much housebound for about 3 years now; not the outgoing person I used to be so I decided to be the old “me” I once was and I’ve gone and booked a trip to LA and Mexico for 2 weeks and fly out in a month. Now I’m experiencing anxiety and overeating, I’ve stopped exercising and can’t get a grip. I can’t sleep and I’m crying and having a panic attack right now where I’m feeling bad about leaving my pet while I’m away, something bad is going to happen to me when I travel and wanting to cancel my flight and accomm and not caring how much $ I lose. So I looked up google, found your article and feel a bit calmer after reading it and wanted to thank you so much for your insights. It’s also prompted me to call my cancer counsellor and talk about my fears about travelling, so thank you. This has been saved to my “favourites” for future reference!
Cat
Hi Justine I’m Cat. I would love to know if your trip was successful? I am nearly 30 and have suffered with social anxiety and agrophobia since I was a teenager. I recently went on holiday with my boyfriend and even though I was scared, I got through the airport the flight and had a lovely holiday. But I’ve now booked to go away for my birthday on my own in a weeks time and I’m so anxious! I feel exactly how you did and but can’t eat and cant sleep, crying loads and just want to cancel it so I can stop panicking. After reading this article I too felt better especially after reading your comments. It’s comforting to know there are so many others who feel the same and that it can be beaten.
Dale
I’m with you, anxiety over leaving behind pets is rough, especially for longer trips.
Some helpful ideas in this guide though.
Tina
@ NomadicMatt
I’m truly inspirational by your post. It shows lot of confidence and courage , I’m feeling scared about going overseas. Now i am looking forward to prove myself and get over my fear.
Regards
Tina
Disha Rana
A debt of gratitude is in order for sharing and the considerable a great many people on the planet long for travel. In any case, travel nervousness is additionally extremely normal. Numerous individuals are essentially apprehensive of voyaging – a few individuals may not understand it – and those reasons for alarm make it much harder to go for work or joy.
jessicaray4
Much obliged for sharing and the immense a great many people on the planet long for travel. Be that as it may, travel nervousness is additionally extremely regular. Numerous individuals are just anxious of voyaging – a few individuals may not understand it – and those reasons for alarm make it much harder to go for work or joy.
Annabel
This post is so useful! I’ve managed some really terrible uneasiness as well, particularly social tension, so I’ve chipped away at fanning out and meeting individuals at inns yet releasing myself do things all alone as well. It’s great to see emotional well-being discussed in travel since it’s so essential but not frequently tended to.
Eureka Forbes
Such a supportive and imperative post, considering such a variety of individuals let nervousness impede voyaging! I recollect just about having a fit of anxiety before my first solo trek.
Stu Chang
This is an astounding article, Lauren. I had no clue that there was such a variety of individuals who endured uneasiness and were not able travel. How you conquered this by utilizing travel is an astonishing story which would definitely motivate others. I wish I had seen such an article years prior. I had a companion who experienced a comparative issue. He wanted to travel however was constantly hesitant to and abstained from setting off to his most loved spots on the planet. He begrudged me for going there. Sadly, he is gone now so I can’t impart this to him. It might have allowed him to see his most loved spots on the planet. Be that as it may, I trust this article will be a motivation for others.
Emma
I’m attempting my first ever trip abroad since being diagnosed with anxiety and I am a mixture of excited one minute and absolutely terrified the next! Reading through this and seeing how you faced your anxiety and followed your travel dreams has made me feel stronger and more determined than ever! I’ve missed out on family holidays abroad for the past three years because I’ve been too afraid to get on a plane or leave the UK and regret it so much – I’ll be using your advice and am so grateful that you shared your experience! 🙂
Annabel
A debt of gratitude is in order for the magnificent composition Lauren. For me, voyaging is addictive, not a month passes by that I don’t go to another place either in home or abroad. Furthermore, I found that when I travel I locate the internal peace in my heart, and I trust everybody who travels has the same feeling.
The Shadd
Man. I was suffering an attack before I read this article. I am a signed artist in a touring band. Tonight I have a show In My hometown and have been anxious to get there. But my anxiousness turned to bad panic based anxiety. But then I remembered, man, I have done this a thousand times. I practice slow breathing techniques, and for the person who cannot travel long distances, something as simple as hiking or walking down a creek can be just as liberating. Just as one of the notions in this article mentioned, you have survived you panic on more than one occasion. Life hack, anxiety does not kill people or cause them any real harm. It’s just an assault from the fight or flight mechanism in you. Take control and LIVE!
Sheena Bajaj
I’m genuinely helpful by your post. It demonstrates parcel of certainty and valor , I’m feeling terrified about going abroad. Presently i am anticipating substantiate myself and get over my trepidation.
Pikku Sharma
Truly pleasant article. It demonstrates that you are not the only one…..
Thank u for your post :0
Benji
I’m very happy to have read this post. Although I suffer from severe anxiety I often go out of my comfort zone and it always helps. However for the last 10-15 years I’ve had the dream to take off and travel for an extended period of time, something which I have never actually done (apart from shorter travel breaks of a few weeks).
My worry now (apart from financial ones) is that I am now 33 going on 34 and am feeling kinda old for this. Maybe its something I should have tackled before and its too late now. I really don’t know if doing it will just make me realize that I’ve missed the boat on this, and make me want to come back home, feeling like a looser.
Zoe
A great article 🙂
I’ve always suffered with anxiety however only had two severe anxiety attacks in the past. Since I’ve been travelling (almost 9 months) I have found my anxieties have gotten a lot worse.
I’ve been in hospital 3 times, once in Thailand and twice in Australia with a severe hemiplegic migraine which they thought was due to stress.
I still don’t feel 100% and I’m really struggling to feel “normal” on a daily basis.
Any advice for a “novice” at anxiety attacks? 🙁
Feeling very helpless and like I want to go home but I know I would just be ruining a fantastic opportunity for myself.
rosi
you are brave keep up good work im impressed that despite how you feel you have continue traveling that is really good, anxiety will get better once your brain tells you that no one has died from a panic or anxiety attack, this helps me hope it will help you
Megan
This post definitely helped me ease up a little. I’m traveling to a major event tomorrow and I’ve been terrified of attacks or something else going horribly wrong, to the point of getting some mild panic attacks almost every day. First solo trip (not my first international) but I made that list of things I wanted to do while I’m there, and that helped a little for me to ease up. The anticipation and anxiety is killer, but it’ll at least be a lot more enjoyable having anxiety on the beach 🙂
Val
I’m 69 years old. I have been travelling long distance since I was 23yrs old. Back in those days, although sometimes anxious, I did not experience outright panic. For the past 15 years I have been a frequent traveller to India and Nepal, visiting friends and relatives and researching and learning music. During the past three years my anxiety and panic has increased – middle of the night is the worst. I cancelled a trip last year and regretted it. This year I am again planning a short 2 week trip with a friend – initially excited and confident I am now panicking again. Am I getting past it ? Am I too old? I am a healthy 69 year old and still climb mountains !! – I don’t want anxiety to get me down !! I think travel anxiety is a bit like stage fright – many performers and actors are always determined to get out there on the stage in spite of panic and fear, its in their blood to perform and life is inconceivable without it – we travellers are actors -“all the worlds a stage” – its in our blood !
All comments and encouragements welcome !!
Tori
Thats a great way to view it as actors. I like that. Thanks for sharing. Maybe the reason your nervous is because of your age but you shouldn’t be. Age is only a number. Our mindset, views of life, and our inner spirit is what gives us our age. As Lauren said if we figure out a way to have a certain amount of control just to reduce our anxiety maybe that can help. Have all info and other important documents in place in case if anything happens (worst case scenario ). If it does then your prepared and ready. If it doesn’t then maybe it can help reduce some of your stress and make you feel a little less worried in case something does go wrong. I hope this helps Val. Have a great day and enjoy your trip. -Tori
rosi
i have noticed that all has to do with what you are thinking, is we think bad things are going to happen then that triggers the anxiety. so ask yourself way do i feel this way?and depending on what the answer is, then give yourself a solution and you will feel better it works for me
Tori
Wow what a great post. I really needed something like this to help with my anxiety about our up coming trip. Thanks so much for sharing your story.
Heather
It is comforting to know I am not alone. We are going on our first flight in 8 years and I am obsessing over missing the flight because we can’t get through security.
Brook Woolf
This is an amazing article. I currently am doing research to build an e-course on mindfulness and meditations for the anxious traveler. This article touched on so many points and excited me so much to share my own anxiety stories as a traveler. This is a great read for anyone struggling with anxiety and good honest tips on how to circumnavigate those feelings on a day to day basis with simple and effective implementations. You rock!
Blythe Dolores
Thank you! I am in day 3 and have been hyper anxious so far, struggling to get out and explore due to anxiety. I am grateful to you for being open and sharing your inner and outter journeys.
Maybe we\’ll bump into on the road.
Be well!
Blythe Dolores
Danni Black
I really like your tip about forming a routine when it comes to traveling with anxiety. My husband has pretty bad travel anxiety so I think that these tips will really help him. We are thinking about seeing a psychologist who specializes in this so hopefully that will help him with his fears, thank you for the awesome tips!
Gab
I think I just emailed you via your website and I hope it worked! Your back story is so inspiring. I suffer with intense anxiety , and some up and down depression. I am leaving on a trip in 2 weeks for 2 months and while I’m terrified I’m also excited. Suffering with anxiety always dips into the what ifs and tons of scary scenarios but your writings and articles really seem to clam me down and make me realize that tackling my fears of lleaving my comfort zone for a bit and my boyfriend might be exactly what I need
Steve
Hi, I used to love travelling and went backpacking through Europe in my youth. Later in life, I had a bad experience in Mexico and since then, I have been fighting anxiety which has developed into a completely irrational fear of being sick on the road. It has gotten a bit better but I am currently vacationing in Florida enjoying the sun, and yet, I find myself exaggerating every little cramp or ache I have to ridiculous proportions. I have shielded my kids from this, and I did tell my wife about it but not in extensive detail since I don’t want to alarm her. So as I sit here in bed tonight writing this, I am dealing with a light swelling on the side of my neck that has almost sent me into a panic. Three more days. Thanks for the article, it helps to know I am not alone. I already have another trip planned for February and I am thinking on cancelling, to seek professional help first.
rosi
yes get help so you can see that is all due to your experience in mexico and you have trauma from that, and you need to let your wife know so she can help you when you are not feeling well, but is just your anxiety will go away wen you tell yourself no one has died from this this feelings are temporary and will pass like all the other times . this helps me hope it helps you
Chandler Kirby
I have extremely bad travel anxiety and am leaving for a two month solo trip through Europe. This article really helped me calm down.. kinda. I’m still freaking out. But I think I’ll just keep reading this all day until I’m in Germany.
Carlee C Jordan
I feel like I can’t leave my house half the time. We’re going to Maui again and I feel like such an asshole for bitching. I am worried that I am going to have a heartattack halfway over the Pacific Ocean and I’m going to die. Anxiety sucks so bad and makes me want to stay in bed every day.
rosi
i understand how you feel ,hope you feel better, just know they have doctors in the boat, but you are in control not your thinking, anxiety is due to our thinking negative, but just know no one has died from anxiety, your feelings will pass and go away, me telling me that helps me, hope it helps you
Peter Terp
Really nice post about a topic which is not much talked about. Actually, my wife and co-blogger on our blog have written about the subject as well. She is self-employed where she helps people with anxiety.
marq
It’s my first solo travel in 2 weeks and already I’m panicking. Does the anxiety build up even more or does it wane as one’s travel date approaches?
Victoria
Great article, I’m traveling for work right now and have spent the last couple minutes crying. Sometimes it’s hard being away from home. My home was destroyed when I was 16 and my whole family split apart, when ever I have to leave home now, I fear I will never be able to return. I appreciate your tips and will try to relax and enjoy myself more. Your pics are amazing!
Amber
Thank you for this great article. I suffer from anxiety attacks, am female, and have social anxiety and depression. I’ve dreamt of traveling around the world, but I don’t want to keep it just a dream, I would like to face my fears rather than avoid doing something I know I would grow out it. I saved this article and will keep it as a reference to not let my fears destroy my ambitions of travel and personal growth. Right now I feel like a plant that has been kept out of the sun far too long, and I am slowly deteriorating..This articles helps me see the light and maybe get back into it.
Don-Rico Da Silva
Hi there
Great article. Travelling in 4 weeks to UAE for 2 years and the only thing making me nervous is that I can get a panick attack there if unfamiliar areas.
Any good sites to read..help would be appreciated.
Bill
What a wonderful article, Lauren. Thank you for sharing. I have OCD and am vulnerable to panic attacks. My greatest challenge while traveling stems from a fear that I will get a panic attack and it will somehow wreck the experience. Who wants to remember that the one time they visited the Grand Canyon or the Taj Mahal they got a panic attack? Then your memory of that beautiful place will be forever tainted. Just the fear of this happening makes me more anxious. Any suggestions on how to counter this kind of thinking?
Nathalie Egerton-Gable
This was one of the first articles I clicked on when I googled how to travel with panic attacks, and I was relieved to know I wasn’t the only one.
I’ve travelled alone before, but I had booked another trip to go on and had a panic attack a few weeks before and so I began to doubt whether I could do it again. This article really helped to put my mind at ease. Thank you for letting other people out there who suffer from anxiety know that they aren’t alone!
Sagarika Kumari
Hello
Incredible article. Making a trip in a month to UAE for a long time and the main thing making me anxious is that I can get a panick assault there if new territories.
Any great locales to read..help would be valued.
Regards,
Sagarika Kumari
Steven J
Ah I needed this! Last year, I made the decision to travel full-time and ever since, I’ve been going in circles thinking about how my Anxiety is going to be when I’m on the road. I go through phases of extreme excitement and then pure terror. Your advice is solid though – having a routine will help me a lot as well as the Exposure Therapy of challenging myself.
Thanks for the inspo Lauren!
Steven
x
Tom
Great article! For me, in just less than a month from now, I’m planning on a trip that’s 1500 miles or more from home. This will be the first time for me traveling in six years. I am a male, 61, and never been married.
For a good while, I have wanted to go somewhere and now I have picked a place I have always wanted to see. It was daunting and dreadful to make plans and reservations. Once all of that was over (and it was much easier than I thought) I felt excited. But has time gone on, I’m having feelings of remorse.
I’ve had panic attacks and depression. Ten years ago it was really bad. But then I took a solo trip four years later. It went well, even though I remembered that I had a panic attack episode at the airport where I was changing planes. It was unexpected. I used to get all excited about traveling, but on the last couple of times in going, I would ask myself – do I have to? I would end glad that I went. I used to be such a travel warrior when I was much younger.
I have a friend who is 21 years older than me. He wants to come with me. I don’t think it’s a good idea because he’s very dominating. This trip is totally my idea and I want to do it my way. I think that he and I would become enemies quickly. As of now, I tell him that I have some remorse in going. He tells that I will be fine and it will all be OK. At least I would have him to talk to at night while I’m away.
June
I have social anxiety and depression and i’ve never travelled alone outside my town in my entire life. I also have horrible sense of knowing where to go – I have gotten lost in the town where i’ve lived my whole life, and it’s not a big town… The closest i’ve come to travelling alone is travelling with an old friend of mine. I got in to so much panic that time that my friend had to follow me to the emergency room the same morning of travel because I thought I was dying – my heart was beating irregularly and I would lose my breath randomly. Turns there was nothing wrong with me. Of course. I’ve been this way ever since I was really small.
I now have to travel for the sake of studies. I’ve gotten into my dream study but I have to travel for 10 hours – alone – to get there. I’m sure if I try really hard even I can manage to make friends over there but it’s the travelling that freaks me out. I’m afraid i’ll get really sick from anxiety on the way there. I’ve been adviced to travel though but people close to me have always thought I won’t be able to do it but now i’m being cheered on because of this. I have so much anxiety everyday and night. I hope that I will be able to get there without any problems though and hopefully it’ll only help me grow as a person… At first I was excited but the more I think about it the more sick I feel with worry. I guess things like these are part of growing up though, if i’m lucky it’ll just feel like a fun adventure and I won’t get terribly lost on the way… ;_;
David
Awesome article. I am planning a trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand and as I was making the travel arrangements I was so excited..i am still excited, but started to feel a bit nervous now. Thank you for your story and suggestions.
I really appreciate it.
Cindy
Wow.
It’s the first time I read this article (years later!), but I can say it’s really helpful!
Thank you for writing it; I can relate so much. I’ve had anxiety for about 7 years now, it got worse about 5 years ago, to the point where I couldn’t even leave my house. I’ve wanted to start travelling by myself for a while now, never had the guts to do it. I guess I always depend on other people to come with me. (If you wait after people though, it never happens. I know.)
I’m planning a couple of days to Boston in May (it’s not that far, I live in Montreal.) I always wanted to visit this city, and no one ever had the time/money to come with me. I think I can survive a couple days.
Back to your article, it’s nice to see anxiety from a different view. I never even considered that I could actually see anxiety as an ally, while I’m travelling. It can actually really come in handy in some situations. (Though it’s really not enjoyable!)
So yeah, your text really made me see anxiety in a -sort of- positive way! Thank you for that! 🙂
Anik
Seriously one of the best article i have read. Once again thank you for this type of content inspires the people dealing with anxiety to travel and how to deal with it. Don’t make your panic thing big problem consider big problem something the world is facing today and then your problem will be very small. Accept your feelings its ok it will pass, surrender(to give away your fear) to god by saying “God you take care of this i am free now” make use of affirmations. Lot of love from India. In starting i was worried what is happening to me but as soon as started research on this and found there are many others. Not a big deal in the end . F**K you fear and live your life to fullest because you live only once. Spirituality is a great path which supports your inner strength and helps in dealing with anxiety. In my religion Hinduism spirituality is to the next level it is very ancient and old. Take care all of you ! lot of love ! And never ever give up !
Stephanie
Thank you for sharing your experience, it’s so relatable. I’m leaving for a solo trip in a few days and I considered cancelling at one point. My anxiety has basically gone worst case scenario and is telling me I’m going to die. I’ve been struggling with whether it’s my gut or just anxiety. Your article reminded me that anxiety does just that, goes to the worst case scenario and now I’m feeling better. And at least this way I’ll have anxiety on a beach instead 🙂
Heather
My 12yr is suffering from stress related issues and adhd, he sure does need some trips from time to time to overcome his anxiety, he is been on and off with meds and was wondering if anyone has advice on focusing, getting over his panic attacks, any good med recommendations, Straterra has worked the best but had to stop due to depression but he was not taking antidepressants at the time, adderall, riidalin and Vyansnes don’t work, I have researched online on site’s like – mayo clinic, reddit and everydayhealth.com, looking for some handy advice.
Caitlyn Maynard
I never really suffered from anxiety until about a year ago. Now traveling seems impossible to me. Even if it’s only an hour drive, the feeling of being trapped and not being able to escape or get home to my bed quickly while having a panic attacks scares me into having one. My travel anxiety really started a year ago when i was leaving for Mexico from Kentucky with my family and friend. I’ve been on planes several times and never had any issues, I’ve always loved to travel and had so many plans to see the world, but that plane ride took that all away from me. Before taking off I could feel my panic setting in, I knew it would be like this the entire trip and didn’t want to ruin it for my family so i tried to get off the plane. My mom stopped me and made me stay, then a full panic attack started. Trembling, hyperventilating, nausea, pain in my chest, I felt like I couldn’t breathe and was going to die. My mom held me and I closed my eyes as she prayed in my ear. I had two more flights before even reaching out destination lol. The only thing that helped was my mom holding me and me closing my eyes and sleeping on the flights. By the time we got to Mexico I was exhausted and drained. Everyday of the trip I had horrible anxiety. I doubled up on my anxiety medicine, took sleeping pills at night just to get through the trip. The morning and night was the worst part realizing how far away from home I was and being stuck there. The days weren’t always as bad since I had activities to distract myself, I actually enjoyed some parts of the trip, but even at dinner one night i just broke out into tears due to this constant feeling of dread. I begged my mom to let us go home early but we couldn’t making it even worse. After getting back home to Kentucky, that was one of the worst times of my life. I feel trapped. I want to see the world I want to be free but I’m trapped in my own mind keeping me from doing it. I can’t imagine getting on another plane especially without my mother. I know I will freak out, I’m sure you all understand the horrible feeling a panic attack comes with, I don’t want to go through it again. And even if I do get over the plane ride, I’m scared everyday away from home will be like hell like it was in Mexico. Ruining everyone else’s trip. I’ve driven to Nashville and Cincinnati and considered that a win but even when I got there I still was on high alert, the only thing that got me through was knowing I’d be home tomorrow. I don’t know what to do at this point. I don’t want to waste my life being stuck in one place due to my anxiety.
Jennifer
I admire more bloggers who choose to create a post about mental health. Some people are not aware they are prone to this condition. Even me, I do not know if I can have an anxiety disorder in the future. That’s why I’m reading most tips from the internet how can I be aware and get rid of this condition.
james william
I really don’t know about this. But after reading your blog i really love it the way you express it i will definitely apply this and also suggest my friend to who are not getting follower after making many efforts in there Instagram. thanks for sharing. hope you will post more informative blogs like this in future.