6 Tips That Will Actually Stop Travel Anxiety Ruining Your Trip

Steven Lewis on Unsplash" />The flights are booked, holiday wardrobe is sorted and, suddenly... the old familiar travel anxiety has set in. Of course, there is a lot to look forward to and plenty of brand new sights to see but... what if it all goes wrong? Will you get there safely? Have you remembered everything? Should you even go?If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. According to Mental Health UK, eight million adults in the UK lives with an anxiety disorder, equating to around 1 in 10 people.Thankfully, there are ways to cope and travel expert Justin Chapman at Go2Africa has some tips for tackling anxiety when jetting away.How to cope with travel anxiety Identify your triggersChapman explains that the first step is to work out what is causing your anxieties and fears.He says: “If it’s memories of a past disastrous trip that’s causing the issue, try and be more specific and pinpoint what went wrong and how it affected you. Was it the flight? Is it the thought of getting lost, or ill, in another country?“Losing your luggage? Running out of money? Knowing what your triggers are can make it much easier to overcome the anxiety as you can work on specific worries, rather than fearing the idea of travel entirely.”Make life easier for yourselfChapman advises that being prepared ahead of time can alleviate some of your biggest stressors.He says: “Simple things, like making sure you’ve put your liquids within easy reach for when you go through airport security so you don’t have to fumble for them while you’re at the front of the queue, can make the travelling experience a lot less stressful.“Don’t leave packing to the last minute – and make a detailed packing list that you can tick off as you go, so you can be sure you haven’t forgotten a thing. Pack essentials and a change of clothes in your hand luggage, so you’re not left with absolutely nothing if your suitcase is lost.”Get insurance Chapman says: “Make sure you have travel insurance in place so you’re covered if you fall ill, things are cancelled, or you lose anything – some of the biggest anxiety triggers can be calmed with just a few minutes spent on an insurance comparison site!”Avoid things that make you feel worseWhile an airport coffee may feel essential, Chapman warns that it could make you feel worse.He says: “If you know things like caffeine or alcohol make you feel anxious, avoid them for a few days leading up to your trip. Your early morning flight might seem tough without a coffee, but it’s worth being a bit tired if it means you’re not adding to your anxiety unnecessarily!”Have a plan B Have back up plans ready to go, in case of any issues that arise, Chapman advises.“No matter far in advance you book things and how prepared you are, things beyond your control can go wrong. Have contingency plans in place, like knowing when the next flight is, in case your flight is cancelled last minute.“Knowing exactly what plan B is, can help decrease the anxiety because if something does go wrong, you won’t need to panic – you already know exactly what to do.”Prepare for arrivalKnowing what’s ahead can make the journey far easier.Chapman says: “Make sure you know exactly how you’re getting to your accommodation and do a little research of the local area.“Find the phone number for local taxi companies in case your hotel transfer doesn’t turn up and work out how to use the public transport, so you don’t need to try and download and translate an app with confusing bus routes when you’ve just arrived.”You’ve got this!Help and support:Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.ukRethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.Related...Is 'JOMO' Travel The Secret To Your Best Holiday Yet?These 7 Packing Mistakes Are Why Travellers Miss FlightsI’m A Baggage Officer – I Strongly Recommend Doing This 1 Thing When You Travel

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