The Anxious Traveler's Guide to Seeing the World

There are many reasons to get nervous when we travel, from culture shock to the terror of missing planes, trains or buses to the pressure put on us by officious bureaucrats in airports and embassies. An extra challenge for me – and perhaps for others – has been the anxiety that’s triggered not directly by things that happen on a trip but that stem from unresolved issues around grief and stress.

While these might date back before a given trip, they can surface in a nasty way when you’re far from home.

I’m now at a point in my life where I want to solve the puzzle of my travel anxiety. While I’ve learned that no two anxiety sufferers have exactly the same stories or symptoms, maybe you’ve dealt with some of these same issues, too.

Here is what I’ve learned, and I hope it’s helpful to you.