Does Traveling Make You More Stressed?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Many people travel as a way to relieve stress, but

for some people travel can also induce travel stress

. Travel stress is a feeling of mental strain and pressure related to traveling. Although travel has a number of positive aspects and benefits, travel stress can lead to people having a negative vacation experience.

Does Travelling help with stress?

Traveling for Your Well-Being

Having new experiences is beneficial for improving brain function and boosting your mental health.

Travel has been linked to stress reduction

and can alleviate symptoms of and depression.

Can traveling affect your mood?


Travel can spark mood changes, depression, anxiety, and uncharacteristic behaviors such as violence, suicidal thoughts, and excessive drug and alcohol use

, or it can worsen symptoms in people with existing mental illness.

Can you get anxiety from traveling?


Some 18% of people in the U.S. have an anxiety disorder

. Travel anxiety is the fear of visiting an unfamiliar place. It can also involve the stress that comes with planning your travels. Even if you have no history of anxiety, the idea of being outside familiar territory can throw you into panic mode.

Why do I feel stressed on vacation?

In this post we present a number of common reasons that you might be finding travel to be stressful. These include

feeling overwhelmed with travel planning, air travel experiences, concerns about the safety of a destination, difficulty handling unexpected events, financial strain, and having unrealistic expectations

.

Can traveling make you depressed?



All the problems of traveling will bother people with depression more than usual

: the annoyances, the inconveniences, the lack of sleep, the loss of familiar surroundings, the interruption of routines, the happy faces, and the forced socialization,” says Dr. Seeman.

Is vacation good for anxiety?

A study released last year by the American Psychological Association concluded that

vacations work to reduce stress by removing people from the activities and environments that they associate with stress and anxiety

. Vacations Can Cut Your Risk for Heart Attack.

What are the 7 benefits of traveling?

  1. Travel Makes You Happier. …
  2. Travel Lets You Disconnect & Recharge. …
  3. Traveling Relieves Stress and Anxiety. …
  4. Travel Exposes You to New Things. …
  5. Travel Exposes Others to New Things. …
  6. Travel Makes You Physically Healthier. …
  7. Traveling Can Boost Your Creativity.

How does traveling affect your body?

Air pressure is lower at higher altitudes, which means

your body takes in less oxygen

. Airlines “pressurize” the air in the cabin, but not to sea-level pressures, so there's still less oxygen getting to your body when you fly, which can make you feel drained or even short of breath.

How does vacation affect mental health?

Mental Health Benefits.

Vacations can

improve mood and reduce stress by removing people from the activities and environments that they associate with stress and anxiety

. A Canadian study of over 800 lawyers found vacations reduced depression and buffered against job stress

4

. Even a short vacation can reduce stress.

What are the disadvantages of Travelling?

  • Table of Contents. …
  • Traveling abroad can be very expensive. …
  • Unexpected costs and emergencies. …
  • Related Articles. …
  • Language Barrier. …
  • Cultural Shock and Adaptation to foreign customs. …
  • You are on your own in a foreign remote country. …
  • Having Long Flights.

Why you should travel more?


Travel takes us out of our comfort zones and inspires us to see, taste and try new things

. It constantly challenges us, not only to adapt to and explore new surroundings, but also to engage with different people, to embrace adventures as they come and to share new and meaningful experiences with friends and loved ones.

What is agoraphobia?

Overview. Agoraphobia (ag-uh-ruh-FOE-be-uh) is

a type of anxiety disorder in which you fear and avoid places or situations that might cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed

.

Why do I get anxious in the car?

Experiences: Traumatic experiences can also play a part in the development of a phobia such as amaxophobia. Research suggests that

traffic accidents are the most common causes of amaxophobia

.

What is pre travel anxiety?

“Pre-trip anxiety is

a form of anticipatory anxiety

,” explains Marie Casey Olseth, a psychiatrist based in Minneapolis. “It's not a specific phobia, such as a fear of flying or fear of driving, although these phobias can contribute to the anxiety felt by someone with pre-trip anxiety.”

How do I travel less stressful?

  1. Plan Your Journey. Try to find a comfortable routine. …
  2. Enjoy Your Downtime. Airports are some of the most stressful places in the world. …
  3. Give Yourself Extra Time Before and After the Flight. …
  4. Don't Assume Something Will Go Wrong. …
  5. Have Something to Look Forward to When You Get Home.

How do I stop travel anxiety?

  1. Build in extra time. …
  2. Set reasonable expectations. …
  3. Try to stay positive — or at least neutral. …
  4. Breathe. …
  5. “Fact check” your anxiety. …
  6. Act your way into feeling calm. …
  7. Accept the situation. …
  8. If flying makes you anxious, distract yourself during the flight.

Are people that travel happier?

Going to new places helps you improve your mental well-being by experiencing new places, people and cultures and breaking your routine. A recent Washington State University study found out that

people who traveled several times a year-even for just 75 miles from home- were 7% happier than those who did not travel.

Why does travelling have two l's?

The word ‘travel' ends in one vowel + one consonant, but the last one is not stressed, so, we don't double the ‘L'. British English: Travelling. In British English we spell travelling, with double ‘L'

because words ending in one vowel + ‘L', to add some suffixes

, we double the ‘L'.

What are the pros and cons of traveling?

Traveling Pros Traveling Cons You get to know new cultures You might get yourself into trouble You can make new friends You might get lost while traveling Forces you out of your comfort zone Travel bug Memories for a lifetime You may feel lonely

Why is travel not good?


Travel destroys local cultures

– The globalization of food, travel, hotels, and language diminishes the very culture we traveled so far to see. Instead of going out to seek the unknown, most people stay in resorts and hotels, never experiencing the country they are in.

How traveling affects your personality and life?

When you travel,

you meet new people, cultures, experience new things, embark on all sorts of adventures (good and bad), and perhaps even redefine your meaning of life

. Because you are learning and gaining information from new places and people, travel can also shape you into a better, more well rounded person.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.