5 things I've learnt travelling with anxiety

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Travelling is my biggest passion; I love nothing more than jumping on a plane and jetting off on my next worldwide adventure, and I can't wait until things are back to normal to travel again. It wasn't always like that though, I used to have terrible travel anxiety and flying would terrify me but with travelling more, I managed to overcome my travel anxiety.

Although the thought of travelling somewhere new isn't a trigger to my anxiety anymore, I still suffer with anxiety in general and that doesn't hide away sometimes when I'm travelling. Whether you cope with anxiety on a regular basis or are nervous about travelling, here are 5 things I learnt travelling with anxiety. 

5 things I learnt travelling with anxiety

To appreciate everything even more

I like to think I'm a hugely grateful person and a massive overthinker. There was a time in my life when the thought of leaving my own front door terrified me to the core, that now when I travel freely without worry, I'm even more appreciative. At 18, I couldn't even stomach the thought of getting on a flight and now I travel freely, I backpack and I'm constantly experiencing new cultures and coming across the most amazing things. It's made me appreciate the whole experience even more as there was a time I didn't think I could do it.

It's okay to not do everything on the travel agenda

One of my main ways to cope with my anxiety is to stay in control of a situation and that means when it comes to my travels, writing travel agendas, and planning my trips, sometimes down to the finest detail. As I spend a lot of time researching and planning, I want to accomplish everything on that list but sometimes it's not possible. Whether that's down to time, money, my mental health or other circumstances, I can't always see everything I want to and that's okay - being spontaneous is all part of the adventure. 

The world isn't a scary place

Before I travelled, I was terrified of the world. I thought new places were scary and new experiences were terrifying. But the more I travelled and the more sights I saw, the more countires I visited and the more countries I experienced, I realised the world isn't a scary place. Every country is full of kind people and wonderful experiences, that there is no reason to be scared of what's out there. I've felt safer in newer countries far away from home than I have in my own town. It's important to stay safe when travelling but don't let the worry of the unknown keep you from experiences the wonder of adventure.

I can do anything I put my mind to

This is my favourite lesson. Dealing with anxiety my whole life, I always have this voice at the back of my head saying 'well, what if' and it's stopped me from doing so many things. But, when I ignored this voice and actually started pushing myself and realised things weren't as bad as I thought they would be, I started learning, I could do anything I put my mind to. And if I could, then anyone can. This goes in all areas of my life but especially travelling; I've overcome my fear of heights, pushed myself to go kayaking and jump in open water and so many other things I never thought I could do.

It's okay to have mental health days when away 

Anxiety doesn't switch off as soon as you go away on holidays, the same way as it doesn't go away on special occasions. It's always there lingering and sometimes it can be triggered when I'm away. I hate when that happens but I've accepted that's all part of dealing with anxiety and that's okay. Mental health days are incredibly important, even when you're away. Look after yourself just as you would if you were in the comfort of your own home.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What things have you learnt if you travel with anxiety?

Thank you for reading <3

63 comments

  1. I really enjoyed this post. Pre-pandemic I was hoping to travel more and start to see the world even though it does terrify me and I do get anxious travelling especially alone. Hopefully we'll be able to start traveling again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! Yes, hopefully we can travel again soon x

      Delete
  2. Thank you for these tips. I want to travel more when we can but I am such an organised freak I will get anxiety if something goes wrong!

    https://www.emilyclareskinner.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I get that, I hope you're able to travel more soon x

      Delete
  3. These are really helpful tips. I also struggle with travel anxiety, so I'll be considering these when I next go travelling - thanks for sharing!

    Sophie | Love and Literature

    ReplyDelete
  4. These are the exact thoughts I had when I first travelled solo! These are such amazing tips for anyone who is anxious about travelling solo! x

    Lucy | www.lucymary.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is such a great post! I especially love the first post and it's something I really relate to. Travelling is such a great help xx

    Hannah | https://luxuryblush.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  6. These are some great things to have learned about travelling with anxiety. This post will hopefully help and inspire others. Thank you for sharing.

    Lauren

    ReplyDelete
  7. You are right, it's ok not to do everything on our travel agenda, even though it's sometimes disappointing.

    https://www.ninakobi.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Omg I'm so related with this! Thanks for sharing you thouths! <3

    www.pimentamaisdoce.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great tips! I feel like the more I travel the better my anxiety is in general in life. Travel just reached us so much about ourselves and the world around us

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love this and can relate to it so much! I remember the first time I travelled without my parents in 2019, I had so much anxiety the night before. It was my first time going to a new country where English wasn't a primary language they spoke. I've learned so much from that trip and i'm looking forward to travelling again soon! Thanks for sharing Della x

    www.lynnmumbingmejia.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. FEAR - False Expectations Appearing Real. I really like Liz Gilbert's book 'Big Magic' in which she says that the first step to overcoming it is to say to Fear, ok you can come along for the ride, but I'm not going to let you drive :) :) Really enjoyed your inspiring post.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great post and some brilliant tips great ro hear someone else's perspective ��

    Www.chalkandcheesetravels.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. This was so interesting to read! My anxiety has never affected me travelling or flying up until now and this post was just what I needed. Will definitely be bookmarking it to read in the future (when we can actually travel haha).

    Katy | www.katystephenson.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you lovely, I hope it helps in the future xx

      Delete
  14. Really enjoyed this post, especially like the point about achieving anything you put your mind to. Thanks for sharing ��

    Lauren & Lottie | https://www.twinsgoneroaming.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great points! It's true, being on holiday doesn't mean one's brain always cooperates and stays calm. Thanks for sharing your insights.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lovely post, I have found a lot of similar things when I'm travelling too. Especially not being as scared and accomplishing anything you put your mind too. Challenging those anxious thoughts has been one of the best things for me! :)

    Anika | chaptersofmay.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thank you for this. This is so inspiring. I've always wanted to travel alone or just go on some holidays / weekends away alone but after my anxiety hit me so hard a decade ago I thought that dream was firmly off the table. But now I'm through the other side, this is something I aim to put my mind to when it's safe to do so! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I'm so glad you're out on the other side and I wish you all the luck with your future travels xx

      Delete
  18. I'm glad you overcame your anxiety and went travelling - I was beyond inspired reading this! A lot of the lessons you learnt I found mirrored my own experiences travelling xx

    mia // https://beautiful-inspiring-creative-life.com/

    ReplyDelete
  19. I really loved this post, it's not usually that I relate to posts on travel blogs! You are completely right though, it's okay not to do everything on your travel agenda and anyways, it gives you all the more reason to visit again! x

    bumblingalong.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I'm so glad you related to it xx

      Delete
  20. Thanks for sharing, these are great tips to have when travelling I know that I suffer with anxiety before a trip, once I'm there I'm fine exploring :)

    Nic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes

    ReplyDelete
  21. Travelling is fantastic even if it is stressful sometimes. Great for the soul

    ReplyDelete
  22. I can imagine how difficult this is. With the anxiety is a bit harder to enjoy the new places you're seeing but worth practicing and overcoming.

    ReplyDelete
  23. This was such a great post! I have not yet overcome the fear of travelling solo, but hopefully as soon as it's safe to travel I will. I loved all those tips and mostly doing everything you put your mind on. Thank you so much for sharing, Della x

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thank you for sharing this super honest and candid post! I have never had to travel solo but it is something I would like to do. I've travelled as the lead passenger and enjoyed being in charge! The pandemic has made me want to take more risks and enjoy life more so this is defo something I want to do!

    Rosie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I hope you get the chance to travel again soon x

      Delete
  25. Such a fab post! I could never travel solo I don't think as I would be too scared to leave where I was staying. Such an inspiring post!

    Tash - A Girl with a View

    ReplyDelete
  26. At first, I thought it would scary traveling to another country and place, but when I first did, it all changed haha.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank you so much for sharing your tips. I love travel so much and can't wait that it will be possible again.

    New Post - https://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com/2021/01/rose-infused-products.html

    ReplyDelete
  28. It is so important to remember that on those difficult days, to not put yourself down, even when you're away!

    Love, Amie ❤
    The Curvaceous Vegan

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love this! I did my first solo travelling in October 2019 and I learnt so much about myself!

    Katie | katieemmabeauty.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. i like traveling blogs, because can help to know another world just reading.. so make me more interested to know more

    ReplyDelete
  31. Wow! What a great post! It’s always so helpful to be reminded we don’t have to achieve everything on our travel agenda - it’s not a checklist and you don’t fail if you miss a few things! x

    ReplyDelete
  32. This is such a great post! I think it will help a lot of people who have anxiety and want to travel.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thank you so much for sharing these great coping strategies! I think it's perfectly fine to build in extra time to travel plans for down time. There's a lot to be said for rest & relaxation without an agenda.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I get so overwhelmed wanting to see everything when travelling sometimes which really sets off my anxiety. Will definitely be bookmarking this post for future reference (whenever that may be) x

    Samantha | https://samanthajblogs.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  35. To appreciate everything even more and The world isn't a scary place.
    13x4 lace frontal wig

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for reading my blog! I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful in anyway. I'd love to hear any feedback you may have.