Happy Trails
Recently, I saw a friend’s story asking for advice on combating travel anxiety, specifically with a chronic illness. This got me thinking of my own travel jitters, which continue to grow as my LGMD2B progresses. I stress about a multitude of things: Who is going with me? Do they know my condition? What if they want to do activities that I can’t do? How much are we driving? Flying? Sitting? Walking? Where am I sleeping? What’s the bed like? What if I forget my medication? What if I get sick?
If these sound like thoughts that swirl around your head too, read on. I’ve compiled a list of 21 things that have helped me combat my travel anxiety. Links included. 😊
Things to do:
Plan, plan, plan — I am the queen of procrastination. It’s not even funny how bad it is. And there’s a direct correlation between my travel anxiety and how long I put off packing. The more I wait, the more anxious I become. But I’m working to be better about this. I’ll typically start with packing the most important things like medicine, underwear, travel toiletries, etc. I’ve also found that being more orderly with my packing helps me become more excited about the trip.
Give yourself permission and time to rest while you’re traveling — Recovery is so important, so don’t feel guilty about taking the time you need to restore your energy. If this means a 2-hour nap in the middle of the day, don’t look at it as wasting your time. Look at it as using time wisely to recover so you can enjoy the rest of your trip.
Don’t feel guilty if you need to spend a little extra $$$ — When we were in Greece, we wanted to take the train to get from our hotel into the city of Athens. An Uber was going to cost $60 and the train was $10. We went to the train station, bought the tickets, hopped on, and it was so crowded that there was no place for me to sit. It was a 40-minute ride, and we quickly realized there was no way I could do it without absolutely destroying what little energy I had left to walk. So we hopped off, called the Uber, and paid that hefty price. And thank God we did. Because no price is as hefty as a flare-up on the last day of your romantic Greece vacation!
Keep your travel partners informed— Make sure your travel partners know your emergency contact(s), your condition(s), the medications you’re taking, and your health insurance information in case there is an emergency.
Box breathing — This technique was introduced to me by my therapist, and I’ll admit that I rolled my eyes until I tried it. It’s truly helpful.
Be open — Being open about how you’re feeling allows your support system to do exactly what they’re supposed to do—support you. I’ve learned to be very open with my travel partners before and during the trip so they know what to expect, and what I can and can’t do. This will also give them a chance to be thoughtful of situations that could bring me discomfort. I know this can be uncomfy, but the discomfort of being open on the front end will save the discomfort your body will feel on the back end from not speaking up.
Pack a travel health kit — Every. Single. Medication. You could possibly need. Pack it and pack it first. I cannot emphasize this enough! I don’t just pack my day-to-day medications. I’ll also pack things like Mucinex, Sudafed, Advil, Excedrin, Dulcolax, Zinc, electrolytes, and Zyrtec.
Set medicine alarms — I don’t typically do this at home, but I’ve found that when I am dislodged from my day-to-day routines, I have trouble remembering to take my medicine. Setting recurring alarms and reminders while on trips has been helpful to combat this.
Check for upgrades — I always check for available upgrades before my flight. I recognize what a privilege it is to say that, but I’m also 5’8” with atrophying hips and knees. I value and need the extra leg space. If this is something you value and/or need, check ahead of time and let your gate agent know as soon as you arrive.
Bring snacks — I’ll typically bring energy bars/snacks that can keep my protein levels up and hunger down. It’s also nice to bring something with me that tastes like home. Bonus points for saving money at the airport!
Make a travel playlist that calms you — This looks different for everyone. For me, it’s a single song that I listen to on repeat: “It’s Alright” by The Fractures. It has kept me sane on every plane ride since I was 13 years old. I know it’s crazy, but hey, different strokes for different folks! Figure out what works for you.
Things to buy:
Neck fan — This neck fan has saved me on multiple occasions. It was recommended to me by one of my favorite advocates, @chronic.kaleigh. Not only does it help relieve any nausea or motion sickness and keep me cool, but it has surprisingly helped me with general anxiety too. It makes the room feel bigger around me, and the soft white noise is quite calming. I’ve noticed that I get especially anxious when the plane lands and everyone jumps up and breathes all over each other for the next ten minutes (ew! 😷), so this neck fan makes that experience a bit less nauseating for me.
Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes — My immune system is a joke. I get sick like no one’s business, and because of this, I’m extremely conscious of germs. I wipe down everything I go near at the airport. This eases my mind so much, and allows me to relax in situations where I’d otherwise be super icked out! I love these Purell Hand Wipes and these Clorox Disinfectant Travel Wipes. And when I’m feeling super bougie, I’ll go for the Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer. Lastly, I’ve had luck perusing the travel toiletry section at Target for miniature sanitizers/wipes.
Seat cushions — I suffer from muscle atrophy in my hips, so this seat cushion has been helpful for me.
Extra meds — Aside from my prescription medication, I also make sure to pack meds in case I get sick on my trip. This includes Mucinex, Sudafed, Advil, Zyrtec, zinc, Dulcolax, etc. (See “health kit” section above!)
Liquid IV — What was once the cure for every college hangover is now my travel necessity! Liquid IV helps me preserve electrolytes and energy when flying, and can also help my recovery.
Compression socks — These compression socks were recommended by my physical therapist for my trip abroad. I know. They’re not the sexiest thing… but I do think they help!
Under-eye masks — You may be asking yourself, “Amanda, what do Grace & Stella Eye Masks have to do with chronic illness?” and the answer is kinda nothing and kinda everything. I feel like taking a little extra care of myself helps lower my stress levels. And lower stress = lower chance of flare-ups. So, while insurance may not cover them, I’ve essentially girl-mathed my way into this self-care purchase.
Heat pack — I typically bring my heat pack on trips and will use it to relieve back/hip pain. If you have the space to bring one along, do it.
Dramamine — Whether you get nausea or just need something to knock you out cold, this is my go-to and I always have it on hand when traveling. Dramamine has saved me more times than I can count.
Smart medical ID — I don’t have a MedicAlert accessory yet, but I’d like to get one. I currently just have my information on my phone, but this allows anyone who needs my medical information to access it quickly.
And that’s all I’ve got for ya! I hope that this comprehensive list helps to ease your travel worries.
Happy trails! ✈️ ☁️ 🧳 📍 🩵 🚕 🛳️
Be well,
Amanda
