The news comes in the run up to the holiday season, one of the busiest times of the year for travelling. Almost one in ten people will travel to at least two different countries to see family over the Christmas period. UK citizens alone will travel 5.6 billion miles in total.
The poll of 2,000 people was conducted by Stena Line, one of the world’s largest ferry operators. They wanted to find out what made travellers anxious about their journeys — and what can be done to help.
18 to 24-year-olds were the group most likely to experience anxiety about travelling, with nearly half saying they’ve experienced it overall.
One of the main causes of travel anxiety was a lack of control. One in three sufferers cited it as their main worry when travelling long distances.
Is travel anxiety on the rise?
As awareness about mental health issues like anxiety is on the rise, health professionals are learning that travel anxiety isn’t simply a ‘fear of’ transportation.
According to Anxiety UK, a fear of flying — one of the most common forms of travel anxiety — affects about one in ten people in the UK. But the new research from Stena Line suggests this accounts for only a quarter of people who experience some form of anxiety about travel.
In fact, travel anxiety is a complex mix of emotional and physiological symptoms that appear when preparing for or embarking upon a trip. Some of the symptoms include:
– Rapid heart rate or difficulty breathing
– Nausea
– Restlessness and agitation
– Finding it difficult to focusing
– Trouble sleeping
Are younger travellers more at risk?
One dominant trend is the prevalence of anxiety issues in young people. Previous research conducted by Stena Line found that 18 to 24-year-olds were worse at keeping in touch with their friends than any other age group, contradicting the narrative that the ‘social media generation’ were more connected with each other than anyone else.
Now, this new study has revealed that young people are more prone to experience travel anxiety than their older peers. 48% of 18 to 24-year-olds said they had anxiety about travelling, compared with just 29% of those aged 65 and over.
It’s possible that travel anxiety could play a key role in Gen Z’s struggle to see their friends face-to-face.
Nicky Cade, founder of popular travel blog That Anxious Traveller, says the research reflects a reality she’s seen for a number of years.
“I’ve been running my blog for a couple of years,” she says, “and [these] findings match the feedback I’ve had from my readers almost exactly — especially the lack of control.”
With so many people suffering from travel anxiety in silence, Stena Line asked Nicky for her top tips to conquer those fears and enjoy the journey.
Conquering travel anxiety: Nicky’s top tips
- Prepare properly
“I always found that my own travel anxiety was triggered by the fear of the unknown,” says Nicky. “These days, I look at the time before a journey as one of the most important phases of the whole trip, by doing research to make the unknown known.”
“Conquering travel anxiety is definitely easier in the age of the internet! It allows you to make potentially tricky parts of your journey a lot easier.
“Will you be taking a train journey at some point during your stay? Go online and book the tickets in advance. Not only will you save yourself a stressful step, but you may get a cheaper online rate!”
“Another important part of your preparation is to stop yourself from visualising worst-case scenarios. The trick is to remember that these mental images are nothing but your imagination – and nothing can make them come true.
“Don’t focus on harmful images of things going wrong; shift your imagination to see yourself having a great time abroad, with zero stress or worry.”
- Find tranquillity while you travel
“The best way to combat anxiety during your trip is to remember that you are in control, even though you may not feel like it,” Nicky says.
“A lot of people feel a loss of control thanks to the environment being so unfamiliar – it’s easy to feel like you’re at the mercy of a place’s whims.
“Luckily, it’s easy to take back control! One of my favourite ways to feel more in control is to turn my phone into a personal information centre.
“I have apps which tell me the best way to get from A to B by public transport, and I’ll download local transport apps for in-detail departure times (as I recently did for the Munich S-Bahn). Turning your smartphone into your travel adviser is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to travel like a pro!”
Nicky also recommends always bringing a backup. “Worried about your smartphone running out of battery, especially with those awesome apps you’re using? Have a power bank in your bag so you can keep it charged up on the go.”
- Bring a buddy
“Picking a travel buddy is something that should make you feel much more relaxed about going away, but it’s a decision that can actually lead to a lot of anxiety! Do you have the right person? Are you going to get along? It can be extremely stressful if you’re not sure.
“The best person to pick is someone that you’re entirely comfortable with. Can you be completely open with them about how you feel? Do you feel like you have to keep a “brave face” on around them? Would you feel embarrassed if they saw you in a vulnerable state? If you’re not sure, then you may want to pick someone else.
“Another good thing to consider is how they react under pressure. Are they level-headed, or prone to panic? If you know that you’re vulnerable to anxiety, it’s better to have someone who can keep cool in a situation, and be helpful in resolving any problems you may encounter.”
“The good news is that you can test these ideas before you even leave! Go on a day trip together – preferably somewhere that neither of you has visited before. Plan to see some sights, and extra points if you can do it all on the local public transport. It’s an ideal way to see if both of you are suitable for travelling with each other!”
The sky’s the limit
Though travel anxiety is an issue that spans a vast swathe of the population, it needn’t limit your options. With Nicky’s tips — gathered from what she’s experienced first-hand — there’s hope yet for those who want to conquer the world and see the sights just beyond their reach.
