When I go on vacation, I post filtered selfies and photos of landmarks, like most millennials who travel and use social media. But here’s the thing: I often lie and say I’m having a great time. I have generalized anxiety disorder and have always struggled with any change in my routine - at age 9 I hid under the table at summer camp wishing I didn't have to go on a field trip, which became a legend in my family. Things weren't that bad anymore, but being out of town took a huge toll on my mental health. I have travel anxiety and I eventually tried to overcome it by doing things that scared me and traveling alone.
Travel anxiety is fairly common, says board-certified psychiatrist Steven Levine, MD, founder and CEO of Actify Neurotherapies . "Travel brings inherent uncertainty and unpredictability," he tells Bustle. "For some people who see it as an adventure, that's part of the appeal. For others, the disruption of daily life and the possibility of novelty cause anxiety. If you can't imagine it, you can't get ahead of it. planning, and this can trigger the body's 'danger' signals. "This pattern is very predictable for me: A few days before I'm going to travel, I'll wonder if I should cancel. I cried the night before as I thought about all the things that could go wrong. As I drove to the airport, I felt sick and scared. My hands shook and my chest ached. This particular trip—a solo business trip to California—was no different.
I’m not entirely sure how much travel anxiety affects me, mostly because it feels like an embarrassingly privileged thing to begin with. In order to feel anxious about traveling away from home, you have to have a way to get out of town—which makes travel anxiety sound like the ultimate first-world problem. Complaining about having the ability to see the world but skipping travel because of the difficulty sounds like neglect, which is why I rarely bring up the subject. But as I prepared for my trip to California, those all-too-familiar symptoms suddenly occurred to me.
If you deal with the fear of the unknown, dealing with anxiety is about maintaining your daily routine, Levine said. Try to wake up and go to bed at the same time, and eat on the same schedule, he says. "Gather information to help you paint a picture of your new situation: Talk to people who have been there, read online reviews, find pictures online, and if possible, consider doing a test run," he tells Bustle.
Once I actually get to my destination, I can function normally, but I'll be counting down the days until I get home. One of my biggest regrets is not studying abroad in the UK in college because the thought of leaving the country panicked me. But while traveling is relatively unpleasant for me, I’m doing my best to face these uncomfortable thoughts head-on. I read some stories about people who traveled around the world and tried to imagine myself in their shoes. Before I leave, I talk to my therapist about how I'm feeling.
If you're feeling anxious, Levine says, bring something that reminds you of home, like a stuffed animal or blanket. Making an effort to meet other travelers also helps, he said. "There's nothing scarier than the silent fear that swirls in our heads," he told Busy.
I had a great time in California, even though I was almost nervous preparing for the trip. It taught me that overcoming travel anxiety is possible and embracing the unknown can actually be a good thing. I'm sure I still get anxious before traveling, but there's a sense of excitement that I didn't have before. Changing my habits wasn't easy for me, but it turned out to be worth it.
