The holidays are coming up and you're probably thinking about planning a trip, but worried about how anxiety may hold you back. With these tips, you can overcome travel anxiety.
Preparation Is Key
This is something I have always been passionate about. As a Taurus with anxiety, I love a plan. I feel more secure and solid when I have a plan. That's how I spend each day. With anxiety, you may react with fear to anything that catches you off guard.
Many stressful circumstances may be avoided with careful preparation. With the right plan, traveling is simple. It's nice that not everyone is wired to go along with whatever happens. If you feel safer with a plan, then make one.
Expectations Don't Serve You
Instagram is flooded with stunning images of beautiful places and happy people having the time of their lives. You can't rely on the accuracy of these pictures since they're only a snapshot.
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Expectations seldom correspond to actual outcomes. Being let down is inevitable when the actual world doesn't meet your expectations. That's a stupid reason to hurt ourselves. As a traveler, I recommend keeping an open mind. When you don't anticipate anything, you're always pleasantly surprised.
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Traveling Doesn't Fix Anxiety
To continue with the theme of expectations, you should not anticipate that a trip will alleviate your anxiety. Even if you may have read or heard somewhere that travel "cured" someone of their anxiety, you should not expect the same results for yourself. That can't be true. You'll probably experience the same level of anxiety traveling as you do at home. Fear originates in one's mind and body rather than the external world.
There are always outliers. The stress of work or family life may be alleviated by seeing the world. It's possible that it might happen again if you return to those settings.
Escaping your problems by running away is not a viable option. My anxiety levels reduced in some respects while I was away, but in others increased. There's no way to foresee travel's effects unless you experience it, and there are no guarantees.
A Travel Buddy Isn't Always Good
I would suggest taking a friend or family member along if you suffer from anxiety and would feel unsafe venturing out alone. When I travel, I find that having a buddy isn't always beneficial.
As a person in a relationship, my partner and I make a great traveling team. Having a constant companion makes problems easier to avoid. It's nice to have, but it's not necessary. If you suffer from anxiety, you may not know that avoiding situations contributes to your condition.
Put it out there that you need their motivation to get you through this rough patch. I could always count on my spouse to calm my nerves if need be. Having this knowledge allowed me to avoid potentially stressful situations, which resulted in my increasing reliance.
Self-Care Is Essential
Most people just don't understand how draining traveling can be. Taking care of your mental health at home and abroad is equally important. The want to always be busy is understandable. Take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and have fun! Taking time to unwind is essential, and I can't stress it enough. You can't go on without a recharge. And I learned this the hard way.
That's especially true if you're an empath. You should be prepared with self-care strategies for good and bad days. Get some fresh air and mental stimulation by reading, taking a stroll, or listening to music on headphones.
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You'll Be Reminded That You Love Home
We often adopt the erroneous assumption that a trip would somehow mend us and make us fall in love with a destination to which we will eventually wish to relocate. There's no reason this couldn't happen, either.
For me, vacationing somewhere is the ultimate way to get away from it all. Interestingly, I found that by leaving my familiar surroundings, I could better appreciate them upon my return.
Although not everything is perfect where I am, I have a lot for which to be thankful. I treasure family, friends, and the ties I've established with those near and far. Sometimes I feel like we lose sight of what is right in front of us because we are so preoccupied with trying to find something else.
You're Stronger Than You Think
Through traveling, I learned that I have more inner strength than I give myself credit for. Being on the road tested my mental fortitude in ways I didn't realize I was capable of withstanding, yet I always managed to emerge unscathed.
While some may see my accomplishments as inconsequential, I feel rather pleased with my progress. And honestly, that is what matters most.
