Is Travel Anxiety Real? 7 Symptoms and Ways to Manage Anxiousness When Travelling

Travel is all about fun, relaxation and rejuvenation, but for some it can cause anxiety and further interfere with daily functioning.

Planning, making reservations, booking tickets is a lot. Traveling is about relaxing and letting yourself get lost. It’s time to get away from the bustling chaos of cities and the hustle and bustle culture. But sometimes, this whole idea of ​​planning an itinerary and traveling itself becomes anxious. Sure it’s considered something fun, something that helps to rejuvenate, but sometimes it can also affect mental health. The thought of venturing into unfamiliar territory can be stressful.

So is travel anxiety real? How exactly do we identify and overcome it? India.cm reached out to a few experts to understand. In an exclusive conversation, Dr. Austin Fernandes, a psychiatrist at Dr. LH Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, Mumbai, said that. “Yes, travel anxiety is a real problem that affects many people. It is a specific type of anxiety disorder that is triggered by the anticipation or experience of traveling, especially when it involves leaving a familiar environment and moving to a new or unfamiliar environment. Travel anxiety can manifest in various forms and intensities, ranging from mild discomfort to severe panic attacks.

“Travel anxiety is real, but it is not a mental health problem, but it can be severe enough to interfere with people’s daily lives. Some people may experience travel anxiety due to previous negative travel experiences or because they have an anxiety disorder, but it is a common problem that many people experience when planning to travel or during their trips. There is no single cause of travel anxiety; triggers differ from person to person,” said Dr. Santosh Pandey, a naturopath and acupuncturist at Rejua Energy Centre, Mumbai, when asked about the realities of travel anxiety.

COMMON TRAVEL ANXIETY SYMPTOMS

Some people have travel anxiety throughout their lives, some show up in situation and location. Symptoms may come in a variety of forms, including nervousness, restlessness, nausea, diarrhea, sweating, tremors, restlessness, trouble sleeping, or fear of travel.

1. Excessive worry: People with travel anxiety often worry persistently and excessively about various aspects of the trip, such as transportation, accommodation, safety, or fear of getting lost.
2. Physical symptoms: Anxiety can manifest itself in physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, tremors, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness. These symptoms may increase as the travel date approaches or during the trip itself.
3. Avoidance behavior: People who suffer from travel anxiety go to great lengths to avoid or postpone travel plans. They cancel trips, make excuses, or look for alternate modes of transportation so as not to trigger their anxiety.
4. Panic attacks: Some people experience panic attacks, which are characterized by sudden, intense feelings of anxiety, accompanied by physical symptoms such as chest pain, a feeling of suffocation, and fear of losing control or dying.
5. Sleep disorders: Anxiety can disrupt sleep patterns and cause difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. This can lead to fatigue and make anxiety symptoms even worse.
6. Irritability and restlessness: travel anxiety can lead to increased irritability, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating. The sufferer may feel constantly irritable or on high alert.
7. social retreat: People with travel anxiety may withdraw from social activities or avoid group travel due to their fear of experiencing anxiety symptoms in front of others.

Seeking professional help from a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, is recommended. They can provide an accurate diagnosis and develop a personalized treatment plan, which may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), medication, relaxation techniques, or exposure therapy to help manage and overcome travel anxiety.