New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
North Island
South Island

How travel can help cure your anxiety

Hannah Sayer
July 6, 2017

We go to the gym, we focus on eating right and looking after our skin but how often do you stop and take care of the part of our body that allows us to be ourselves?! For me, it took years even to consider that I might have anxiety,  it felt like admitting it was to fail or that people would think less of me (spoiler alert - they don't!). Anxiety will appear differently, at different stages of your life, and when I stepped back and realised it affected me, I realised just how far back it began. As far back as being a little girl and the feelings of dread I used to get before going to a friends birthday party!

"Everyone has anxiety, it just varies and some of us handle it better than others."

desert travel

I am an introvert, but I am very good at putting on this confident persona to get me through social situations. Most of my friends are loud and proud extroverts, and I need that in my life- it always takes me a little while to warm up, every possible scenario will have run through my head before arriving, but once I'm comfortable I can be right up there with them. I have social anxiety and get ridiculously anxious before I see anybody or go out. Every time. I freak out before answering the phone or when a new message pops up.

"But I have people in my life who, when I see them don’t make me feel anxious and that includes my boyfriend, my parents and my best friend."

friends travel
From panic attacks on a plane in Dubai to a Shinkansen train in Japan, I have had them in some less than desirable places. Sometimes they are quick, other times they take over my whole afternoon. Sometimes if I’m extra stressed the manifest in the form of a migraine and wipe me out for days, major UGH. Although I feel completely helpless when one happens, they are NOT for the faint hearted. Trust me. What does it feel like? Well, it’s remarkably hard to put all of this into words...

But imagine the ocean; even on the calmest of days, underneath the surface currents swirl and swell. Waves of emotion crash on the shore; some small and playful, others grow so big they make you feel small and inadequate, to deal with anxiety is to learn how to navigate your ocean and harness the power of the storms to use to your advantage.

anxiety ocean

"So how on earth do I manage to cope with all this and still travel?"

Travel puts you in a billion different social encounters surrounded by strangers and plonks you right in the middle of social situations you can't control. Itineraries you have made may not go as expected and many parts of your trip may not go as planned. On paper, it sounds like anxiety hell but the reality can be quite the opposite!

travel skydive Well as it turns out I’m also a big ol’ walking contradiction. I love the unknown! When I’m travelling that is. It’s almost like I’m a new person, I feel free! Especially if I’m travelling with others, I really enjoy being the rock in tough situations! I love exploring hidden gems and meeting new people and most of all I love adrenaline. It’s that love for blood pumping adrenaline that gets me on that plane, out of bed in the morning and through everyday life.

"Travel is the chance to be selfish, in the best way possible. When you travel, you can be completely and truly yourself."

surf

Travel has taught me the most valuable tool is coping with all of this; how to be alone! I have come into my own over the past two years, all because I have finally embraced myself for the awkward person I am. Finding comfort in myself has been the key. I surprised myself, it turns out I am incredibly strong! I put myself out there because I know that the stress and the nerves that come with it are worth it especially when I’m on the road.

"Travel has brought a great perspective to my life."

new perspective

It gives me a chance to put all my super duper organisational skills into action, I will do tonnes of research into where I’m going, and because of that, I feel confident. I choose to surround myself with people who build me up, and I am making a conscious effort to exclude negativity from my life where I can.

Travel is the closest thing to a cure for anxiety. You'll cope better when life throws a couple of curve-balls at you and travel will make the journey will be more enjoyable! While you're here, take a read of our blog on 7 ways to beat loneliness on your travels.

AUTHOR PROFILE
Hannah Sayer

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

11 photos that prove Fiji is the most beautiful place on Earth

Looking for summer inspiration? Well feast your eyes on the crystal waters, pristine beaches and palm-lined shores of Fiji. You'll be packing your bags quicker than you can finish reading this blog! 1. Gorgeous locals Start each day with a grateful heart! Sending love to all of our extended family on a day that encourages […]

5 motivii per NON visitare la Nuova Zelanda

Tradotto da: Elisa Paganoni 1. Correrete il rischio di diventare un Hobbit. via GIPHY Potete visitare il set della famosissima saga del Signore degli Anelli e della trilogia del film Lo Hobbit per davvero. E, credetemi, non c’è nulla di più bello! Così bello che vorrete trasferirvici direttamente e vivere in una delle piccole abitazioni […]

5 AMAZING Australian Beaches

Fancy a holiday? It’s that time of year to start planning where you’re heading for your summer escape. Sure, an overseas ski trip would be nice but who wants to be shivering indoors when there are a million Aussie beaches just waiting to be discovered? Here are 5 of the most beautiful beaches around the […]

Is New Zealand expensive for backpackers?

Earlier this year, it cost $7.49 to buy a single avocado in New Zealand. Yes, ONE. That's the equivalent of £4 or €4.50. For the same price you could buy yourself 12 pints of beer in Panama, 24 Kit Kats in India, or even 4kg of Spaghetti in Italy. Personally, the idea of eating and […]

5 Farm Regions To Get Your 2nd Year Visa in Australia | Backpacker Deals

5 Amazing Farm Regions to Get Your 2nd Year Visa in Australia

Australia is a BIG country. There are countless regions to find farm work/ fruit picking to extend your 2nd Year Visa, from the sunny tropics of North Queensland down to the wine regions of South Australia and Western Australia. Here are 5 regions recommended by iBackpacker to check out on your travels: 1. Margaret River, Western Australia […]

5 Reasons NOT to visit New Zealand

1. You're at risk of turning into a Hobbit. You can actually go and visit the Hobbiton movie set from the famous Lord of the Rings trilogy and Hobbit films. And OMG, is it just the cutest thing you've ever seen! So cute in fact, that you'll want to move in and live in one […]

Social Media

Accepted Payments

Members of

chevron-down