3 Natural Anxiety Treatments For When You Travel

Planning and going on a trip can cause severe anxiety. Whether you are traveling by plane, train or boat, it’s natural to be anxious about your travel plans. In fact, many people have travel anxiety and don’t even know it!

While many people turn to prescription medications to ease their travel anxiety, there are many natural treatments available as well. Then next time you travel, try these three natural anxiety treatments to calm both your mind and body.

• Meditation. Whether you already have a meditation practice or are new to meditation, it is a fantastic way to ease your travel anxiety. While you are waiting for the plane to board or at the train station, take a moment to sit comfortably with an upright spine, close your eyes and focus on your breath coming in and out. For tech lovers or those who enjoy guided meditation, there’s an app for that! In fact, there are many meditation apps available for your smartphone. Before your trip, find one that works best for you. Calm.com is a wonderful resource, and H*nest Meditation injects a health dose of humor into your meditation.
• Exercise. Keeping your body active is not only good your physical health, but also helps your mental health. The day of your trip, make the time to exercise for at least 30-45 minutes. Even a brisk walk around the airport will help to calm your mind and ease travel anxiety. If you are staying at a hotel, check to see if there is an onsite gym. Many hotels offer a room with a treadmill and an elliptical machine.
• Distractions. Equip your travel bag with distractions for all the senses. For your eyes, bring a copy of a favorite book or magazine or consider downloading a season of your favorite television show or movie. For your nose, bring a handkerchief or scarf that has been sprayed with a soothing smell, such as peppermint, lavender, or a favorite perfume or cologne. For your mouth, bring lozenges or herbal tea. For your ears, download classical music or your favorite podcast. And for your fingers, bring a smooth stone or velvet scarf.

We hope you find these natural anxiety treatments helpful!

East West Therapy offers anxiety therapy and anxiety treatment. Contact Dr. William Conti, PhD before your next trip by calling (213) 880 8262. East West Therapy services the Waikiki, Honolulu, and Oahu areas in Hawaii.