A Travel Survival Guide For People With Anxiety
(Written by someone who definitely checked her boarding pass seventeen times.)
Let’s get one thing out of the way.
If you’re the type of person who triple-checks your passport, Googles the airport layout a week in advance, and somehow convinces yourself you’ve forgotten everything before you’ve even left the driveway…
Hi. Welcome. You’re among friends.
Traveling is one of my favorite things in the world… but my anxiety likes to tag along as an unpaid travel companion. Over the years I’ve learned a few tricks that make traveling a whole lot easier, and if your brain works anything like mine, hopefully they’ll help you too.
1. Arrive Early. Like… Embarrassingly Early.
Could you arrive two hours before your flight?
Probably.
Will your anxiety let you?
Absolutely not.
I’d rather sip an overpriced airport coffee while people-watching than sprint through the terminal questioning every life decision that brought me here.
2. Screenshot Everything.
Boarding pass.
Hotel confirmation.
Cruise documents.
Parking location.
Reservation numbers.
The confirmation email.
The confirmation for the confirmation email.
Because the moment airport Wi-Fi decides to quit is exactly when you’ll need it.
3. If You Think You Forgot Something…
You’re probably going to think it at least twelve more times.
Before you leave, do one final walk-through of your house.
Then make a deal with yourself:
No more checking.
Trust Yourself.
4. Google Maps Is My Emotional Support App.
I Street View hotels.
I look up airport terminals.
I check parking lots.
I figure out exactly where I’m walking before I ever get there.
Could I still walk the wrong direction?
Absolutely.
But at least I’ll do it confidently.
5. Download Everything Before You Leave.
Music.
Podcasts.
Movies.
Maps.
Books.
Airport Wi-Fi has two personalities:
Surprisingly amazing.
Completely useless.
Prepare for the second one.
6. If You Have Social Anxiety…
Here’s something I have to remind myself all the time:
Nobody is paying nearly as much attention to you as you think they are.
The cashier isn’t judging your coffee order.
The gate agent isn’t annoyed by your question.
The flight attendant isn’t secretly keeping a list of awkward passengers.
Everyone is just trying to get where they’re going.
7. Comfort Wins Every Time.
I don’t care how cute the airport outfit is.
If my jeans are squeezing me halfway through a three-hour flight…
The outfit has betrayed me.
Comfortable clothes make everything easier.
8. Sometimes It’s Not Anxiety…
Sometimes…
You’re just hungry.
Or thirsty.
Or running entirely on caffeine and determination.
Carry snacks.
Future You will think you’re a genius.
9. Ask the Question.
I know this one is scary! If you have a person, designate them as the question asker! (This is what my husband is for)
Airport employees.
Hotel staff.
Cruise crew.
Travel advisors.
They answer these questions every single day.
You’re not bothering them.
Trust me… they’d much rather answer your question than have you wandering Terminal B looking for Gate C42.
10. Your Brain Is Lying to You.
Anxiety loves to whisper…
“What if something goes wrong?”
Reality usually replies…
“Everything was fine. Again.”
Take one deep breath.
One step at a time.
One gate.
One flight.
One adventure.
You’ve got this.
One Last Thing…
If you’re standing in the airport convinced everyone knows this is your first time…
I promise…
Half the people around you are secretly Googling:
“Can I bring deodorant through TSA?”
We’re all just trying our best.
So be kind to yourself, enjoy the journey, and remember…
The best stories usually start with a little bit of chaos.
— Jessica (Your fellow anxiety traveler)
