Travel Anxiety: 4 Reasons You May Have It

There’s a level of stress that creeps up when I’m planning trips or getting ready for a new adventure. I find it comical, considering that I love exploration and going places, but this feeling won't shake. I recently discovered that I was not alone and that others experience the same thing. Travel anxiety is experiencing fears and stress related to planning or going on trips. With only 18% of the U.S. having travel anxiety, I wondered why I was having these worries. After researching this phenomenon, I came up with four main reasons travel anxiety is triggered, which directly correlates to key solutions to reduce anxiety.

1. Lack of Exposure 

Sometimes you may fear what you don't know. For many, including myself, travel was rare or limited growing up. Not having experience flying or riding a train can cause some to delay or avoid these modes of transportation altogether. Like all fears, exposure therapy is a standard treatment and remedy. For instance, frequent flyers experience less anxiety. Therefore, if you are more exposed to riding trains or getting into fights, your fear is likely to decrease.  

2. PTSD and Negative Correlations 

Past negative experiences can sometimes cause travel anxiety to develop. Getting lost in a new city, getting sick on a trip, or having your belongings stolen while out of the country can lead to negative correlations moving forward. When we go through something we don't like, we often try to avoid going through it again. However, sometimes this can lead to overcorrection or complete avoidance of anything similar to the past situation. 

3. Having General or Social Anxiety 

If you already have anxiety in your day-to-day life, a travel experience can exacerbate those feelings. General anxiety comes with feelings of worry, overthinking, and restlessness. Those emotions often increase when planning a trip, as you start to think about what can go wrong. This worry ruins the excitement of a new experience, causing little room for positive thoughts to stick around. For instance, someone with social anxiety may dread the crowds at the airport or avoid going to cafes or bars out of town. 

4. Cultural Differences and Perspectives 

Generalizations and stereotypes can shape how we view certain places, people, regions, and countries. Within the U.S., regions have their own reputations, leading to assumptions. You might expect New Yorkers to be loud and direct, and in contrast, you see Southerners as hospitable and sweet. When it comes to international adventures, you may think some countries are unsafe, based on horror stories or stereotypes. There will be cultural differences wherever you go; it's best to keep an open mind. 

How to Ease Travel Anxiety 

Travel anxiety is something that can be treated and reduced over time. By acknowledging your triggers, thought processing, mental health, personal experiences, and cultural differences, you will be better able to assess your needs and treatment plan. 

Ways to Ease Travel Anxiety:

• Plan and do the research

• Utilize Facebook or travel groups for support

• Have an open mind, look forward to new experiences 

• Check with a mental health professional before traveling

• Start exposing yourself to more travel opportunities

Get Out There And Travel

Check out my travel experience in Costa Rica for inspiration, and explore my linktree for more travel and wellness tips.