I have had panic attacks in some of the most impressive places on our planet, there once on the Peruvian coast where I got on an empty lifeguard chair to escape from a stray dog that I mistakenly imagined had rabies, there another where I asked the natives of the Amazon would take me to a doctor because I have the idea that I am dying of a tropical disease. On another occasion in Indonesia, I became convinced that I had been drinking infected water. I’d probably be an environmental journalist, I like to stop by Pone, meet new people and hunt down endangered species, but I’m an unwavering traveler. When I’m abroad, I’m like a cross between Inspector Clouseau and Monk.
Having struggled with intellectual illness since I was a child (anxiety, depression and OCD), it would possibly be unexpected for me to be a globetrotter – I love nothing more than being in a new place, however.
Most of the time, writers write panegically about travel; we celebrate how it widens the brain and empathizes with the spirit; we write with love about food (it’s so good!), People (they’re so warm!), Culture (so different!), Places (beautiful!). But be honest, traveling for most of us can be difficult and incredibly stressful. You may be surrounded by strangers, not able to speak the language and wonder if your next glass of water will involve typhoid. At least that’s who I am. I’m terrified of water, assailants, horses, stray dogs, motorbikes, planes and tigers.
So, from someone who has traveled the five continents with debilitating anxiety, here’s a little tip to make your next vacation as relaxing as possible, even if you’re worried.
Let’s start with the elephant on the plane: the COVID-19 coronavirus has remodeled how and where we are this year, and especially whether we are or not. So, my first tip? Don’t go. Sérieusement. Si there was once a moment not far from home, it’s now. Not only for their own safety, but also for the safety of others. “There is a clever explanation for why many countries in the world have now closed their doors to Americans That is because we have done a mediocre task of containing the virus, and they do not need our combination of irresponsibility and chance in their communities. If possible, wait for a vaccine.
Of course, we have no selection and you need to travel, even in case of a pandemic, so if you have to go do some studies and live up to expectations, don’t be an idiot and leave your mask at home. . Bring additional hand sanitizer bottles and have one available at all times. If you go abroad and the country requires a quarantine period, prepare accordingly and do not blame your host country. Remember, they’re just looking to save him. other people to die – this is a valid purpose for a little annoyance.
One of the most productive tactics to alleviate travel anxiety is to do a smart preparation task. Now I’m meticulously making plans for a vacation, knowing where I’m going to stay and what days, this allows for less uncertainty. You can simply say that it also means less adventure, and you’re right, but for those of us who are anxious, knowing how we move from point A to point B and where we go to bed at night is a valuable commitment.
Before I can get to the airport, I also make sure to have my phone loaded with laughing podcasts (humor can be a wonderful to break anxiety) as well as long and potentially drowsy meditations. I also make sure that all my medications are available smoothly on the plane – I rarely panic on the plane. I’m packing some smart books. All those elements are “tools”, in the language of my therapist, to keep at bay anxiety in flight (which I appreciate as much as duct treatments) or long stops, or actually any downtime.
I listened and laughed at my brother, brother and I for hours crossing Sumatra through a truck or immersed myself deep in the D-game podcast
Also, practice your breathing, your deep breathing that relieves stress. You know, all for seven, for four, for eight. This might seem harmless, but it can actually help decrease the cortisol that runs through your formula when you’re anxious. I do this before I get on a plane, a car, a motorcycle or a camel, to start with the most intimidating parts of the journey, you know, absolutely oxygenated.
Another way to relieve anxiety? Splurge a little. Sometimes you just have to get rid of a little scrilla to stay in a more comfortable hotel or pay for a less terrible way to move from one end to the other. Don’t drive in a foreign country, if it’s anything that scares you or, you know, weighs a donkey. Instead, pay someone to take you to get to know the area. Bonus: you finance the local tourism economy.
And stay in a at least pleasant position. I love swimming, so whenever I can, I look for a position with a pool, and I’m willing to pay for the privilege, because I know that even though I have a day, I can finish it in the water.
Finally, I bring with me a small token, anything physical that I can put in my pocket and take me with me whenever I need not to forget the house or not forget to breathe. , a cross, a rosary, a star of David, a crescent moon or a laughing Buddha can be just what you need. For me, I’ve got a little toy animal. Sometimes a tiger, rarely a pangolin, rarely a small whale. Of course, I don’t think my plastic animal has any power, but it reminds me why I’m doing this here, despite the panic and malaria. I’ve been using animals in my pocket for over a decade and it’s strangely useful.
None of this will save you absolutely from moments of concern. Sometimes, despite my maximum productive efforts and preparations, anxiety takes hold of me. I spent several really terrible days traveling, but I remember, several times, even in the middle of this also going to happen, that when I get home (I’m not dead yet, despite the other tactics I’ve noticed spreading in my head), the shitty moments of adventure will feel less horrible and more ridiculous, and they will move back into the background as the beautiful moments spread. Even with meticulous preparations to the fullest, never expect it to be simply “easy” or “perfect. “, however, panic when things go wrong.
For most of us, unlike “frequent” travelers whose books we read, traveling is a complicated and agonizing experience. But it’s still worth it. All my most difficult trips, from Peru’s cathedral-like jungles to Suriname’s turtle-filled coastline, have also been my ultimate revelation.
Despite the difficulty of traveling on my own, I can’t wait to do it again, but when I do, I’ll do it as wisely as possible, breathe and have a smart trip.
Jeremy Hance is a national environmental journalist and the new ebook Baggage: Confessions of a Globe-Trotting Hypocondriaac. He is also a columnist for Mongabay, one of the world’s most reputable environmental news sites. He was interviewed on NPR’s Living on Earth and Sea Change radio stations, among others.