People with travel anxiety may be unable to see family and friends, go on vacation, or travel for work. They may feel anxious about traveling for various reasons. For example, the stress of planning a journey, traveling in enclosed planes or trains, or visiting new, unfamiliar places can lead to anxiety symptoms.
This article looks at travel anxiety and how a person can overcome it.
Causes
People who have had bad travel experiences may be worried that they might happen again. Experts, on the other hand, state that the majority of driving anxiety is unrelated to previous accidents.
Other circumstances that may trigger anxiety include:
- driving through storms, snow, or other bad weather
- experiencing a panic attack
- getting lost while driving or looking for connecting buses
- experiencing road rage
Symptoms
Symptoms a person may experience includeTrusted Source:
- Sleeping problems leading up to the date
- being unable to control feelings of worry and concern about traveling
- feeling restless or on edge while in airports or train stations
- being irritable and short-tempered
- having panic attacks, which may cause a racing heart, sweating, and feelings of being out of control
Lifestyle changes
It can also be managed through lifestyle adjustments. To deal with generalized anxiety, the Anxiety Disorders Association of America recommends the following methods:
- living a full, active life
- eating a healthy, balanced diet
- talking with a trusted person about anxious feelings
- keeping a journal of anxiety triggers
Planning
People may experience anxiety because of the unknown. For example, they may wonder what would happen if they ran out of money, got lost, or became ill. Having a plan in place for worst-case scenarios may help ease these fears.
Although it is impossible to plan for every eventuality, having a general plan can make people feel more in control and less anxious about traveling.
Medication
A benzodiazepine like lorazepam, for short-term, immediate relief from panic attacks, may also be recommended by a doctor. Simply carrying this medication around may help people feel less anxious.