Travel anxiety help

[Anonymous]

I have to travel at least a couple times a year, long flights, to see family, for tourism with my immediate family (they all love to travel). I absolutely dread it since the day tickets get booked onto the time I land at destination, which can be a month, two months... I am a little better once I land, but during that whole time before travel, I get this overwhelming feeling I will die, anticipate every trouble that could occur, miss my home and pets in advance...Does anyone else feel that way? How do I get out of feeling like this? It's like a mental prison. I have to travel over Christmas and I am already so nervous about it.

[Anonymous]

You'd benefit from professional counseling for your anxiety, which sounds pathological rather than normal.

[Anonymous]

Seek treatment from a mental health professional who specializes in anxiety.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Honestly? Xanax. I take it once or twice a year, solely during long haul travel. It makes a big difference and I am not addicted, as some people here advise will happen!

[Anonymous]

Definitely therapy to help with this and give you some coping mechanisms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly? Xanax. I take it once or twice a year, solely during long haul travel. It makes a big difference and I am not addicted, as some people here advise will happen!

same

[Anonymous]

Traveling should be fun. If it isn’t, why can’t you decline?

[Anonymous]

Agree with the Xanax posters. I had terrible fear of flying for years, and at one point in my career I had to fly between DC and California frequently for work. I started to take a Xanax (usually half) before I boarded. It made me a little sleepy, but more importantly it helped me associate flying with being calm, as opposed to my former white-knuckling! I don't need to take the Xanax anymore. Now I get a little anxious when there's a lot of turblance, but I tell myself it's like driving on a bumpy road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with the Xanax posters. I had terrible fear of flying for years, and at one point in my career I had to fly between DC and California frequently for work. I started to take a Xanax (usually half) before I boarded. It made me a little sleepy, but more importantly it helped me associate flying with being calm, as opposed to my former white-knuckling! I don't need to take the Xanax anymore. Now I get a little anxious when there's a lot of turblance, but I tell myself it's like driving on a bumpy road.

I'm actually ok on the flight. It's really the time prior to flying, from booking on so a long time, that is hard for me. Once on the plane I feel much better somehow.

[Anonymous]

Counseling. It's a very bad idea to try to acquire and consume prescription psychotropic medications on your own initiative, encouraged by strangers on the Internet. A professional might prescribe medication, or that might not be necessary - anxiety can be treated through a variety of mechanisms, including psychotherapy and lifestyle changes. There are different types/classes of medications which are sometimes prescribed for anxiety, one size does not fit all, e.g. antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and beta-blockers.

See a professional, don't rely on AI or anonymous forums for advice when it comes to mental (or any other kind of, for that matter) health.

[Anonymous]

What about trying to figure out what you don't like and fix it? I used to hate airports and lines but having the lounges helps, so I pay for that.

Are you stressed about not getting stuff done before you leave? Make a list?

Carry photos of your pets?

What are some concrete things you can do to fix the things that don't work?

[Anonymous]

Are you doing fun things when you travel? I'm not a huge fan of holiday travel (the crowds ) but I just bought tickets at our destination to see Wicked and now I'm excited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Counseling. It's a very bad idea to try to acquire and consume prescription psychotropic medications on your own initiative, encouraged by strangers on the Internet. A professional might prescribe medication, or that might not be necessary - anxiety can be treated through a variety of mechanisms, including psychotherapy and lifestyle changes. There are different types/classes of medications which are sometimes prescribed for anxiety, one size does not fit all, e.g. antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and beta-blockers.

See a professional, don't rely on AI or anonymous forums for advice when it comes to mental (or any other kind of, for that matter) health.

That's not what I was looking for. I would never take meds for this. It would not work as this is long term worry and not getting on the plane jitters, and also very specific to travel and I don't need anxiety help otherwise. More curious about coping strategies and methods people have, mantras they tell themselves...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about trying to figure out what you don't like and fix it? I used to hate airports and lines but having the lounges helps, so I pay for that.

Are you stressed about not getting stuff done before you leave? Make a list?

Carry photos of your pets?

What are some concrete things you can do to fix the things that don't work?

I make sure we don't make complicated plans if it can be helped though that's not aways possible: a direct flight and then rental car is my preferred way and I am less anxious when that's what we do. I'm "ok" about airports. I'm just stressed about leaving my home which feels really safe and being "in the world", the entire journey, potential plane delays and aggravations, other passengers... I realize it's not rational because I do leave my house most days, but I just don't like being out of my comfort zone anymore or being in a crowd. Public transportation feels hard and I dread it (not trains so much but subways, buses rarely come up), I can't stand Ubers or cabs. When possible I'd rather walk for many miles than do any of this. I feel like I've sort of banked decades of negative experiences of all kinds in my head and they've created a knot of worry and anticipation.

[Anonymous]

OP I haven't had specific anxiety around the actual traveling, but I do have general anxiety. I don't know if will help you, but it helps me to just accept it instead of fight it. Like if I think "I might die," then I kind of shrug and say "I could very well die and it's okay" in acknowledgment. So, I accept that I could die and it would have to be okay because that's what happened.

I once felt a panic attack in a a boarding area when I was leaving after not seeing my dad because of Covid and I was upset. I looked around and told myself when I had a panic attack that that woman would help me, then he would run over and help. Like I play the scenario out instead of fighting it. I didn't end up having one. I also was on a flight when a woman had a panic attack and we landed mid-flight. Things happen and it's not the end of the world.

If this doesn't resonate, leave it.