Travelanxietycan strike even the most unflappably chill among us.
The list is endless.
When you think about it, the travel experience is practically designed to boost stress.
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One is when we dont know whats going to happen.
The other is situations where were not in control.
There are also, in a sense, two major kinds of travel anxiety.
One takes place when youre actually traveling and some part of the process is going belly up.
Theres also help out there if you dont think you’re free to manage on your own.
Here are seven tips to get you started.
The simple thought of some inconvenient, unexpected circumstance crashing your travel party might ramp up your anxiety.
Instead of just steeping in that stress, use it to fuel action in the areas where youdohave control.
This can help you avoid feeling like youre woefully unprepared for anything that might not go according to plan.
Thats why Antony describes this as normal, useful anxiety.
Acknowledging that things might go wrong is really the first step in making sure they dont.
So, how do you use that travel anxiety to prevent any major fumbles?
Good question…
A little practical planning can help you avoid some of the most common anxiety-provoking travel scenarios.
While the specifics here vary based on exactly what increases your travel stress, you get the gist.
You know those nagging what-ifs about everything that could go wrong as you travel?
Dont simply run those stressful scenarios on a mental loop or make a run at block them out completely.
This even works if youre nervous about gettingreallyill.
Picture yourself calling the hotel management and asking them to get [you] to a hospital.
Then picture going to the hospital and getting medicine.
Each roadblock you successfully navigate proves youre capable of getting through travel intact.
Doing this will also prepare you better for the next time because itll help you learn from your mistakes.
Thats a way to reframe some of these negative experiences, Antony says.
Its not a reason not to travel, its an opportunity to learn how to travel better.
Then theres irrational stressing out about things that are unlikely to happen, like a terrorist attack.
Pretty unlikely, right?
If itll help tame your anxiety, you might look at statistics to back this up.
Looking at the numbers might reassure you of just how rare certain scary eventslike terrorist attacks ormass shootingsreally are.
Of course, this isnt a solution for everyone.
it’s possible for you to know just how unlikely something is and still be afraid of it.
See if it sounds reasonable or a little bit ridiculous.
If it makes you laugh, then maybe its something you dont have to listen to, Hendriksen says.
Its important to seek help for youranxietyabout traveling if its affecting your life.
The first is how much the anxiety interferes with your ability to travel.
The second is how important traveling is to you.
Is it something you really want to do more?
Are you in a relationship with someone who loves traveling?
Could you benefit career-wise from taking more work trips?
Is your best friends destination wedding coming up?
