Traveling With Anxiety

I have been traveling since I was born - literally. I had to go see my grandparents in Poland.
I visit Europe almost every year if not more.
When I was younger I lived for the smell of the airport and airplanes because it just felt right. It gave me a sense of peace and adventure.

Traveling was my routine, I was no stranger and I knew everything about it.

Last year when I came back from Ireland I suffered the worst panic attack I have ever had. It lasted for an hour and almost prevented me from flying back home. (Thank u delayed airplanes) Which you can read about HERE!

I had some panic attacks previously but they were short and NOTHING like the one I experienced in the Philadelphia airport. I was STUNNED.

Long story short, it altered my traveling experiences. I was confused because I wasn't scared of flying. The idea of floating in air did not scare me at all, I had been doing it for YEARS. (18 to be exact)

Determined to not let my anxiety stop me from traveling, I started coping. I realized the main reasons I start feeling anxious while flying and narrowed it down to one - feeling trapped.

If you feel trapped while flying this may mean that you could feel out of control or claustrophobic. There are SEVERAL factors into feeling this way, and it can stem out to a LOT of other side effects. But after spending months and months in therapy or by myself questioning and studying

Here are some tips and tricks I've learned -

1. DRIVE!!! (if you can) Alright, this may sound completely obvious to some people, but for my family driving places is almost unheard of. Obviously we fly when going to a different country, but for even domestic trips we flew. Because of my dad's job we are able to get airplane tickets easily and cheaply(..er) . BUT because of where we live, sometimes flying can take longer or just as long as driving! I've started driving places instead of flying and it has created SUCH a sense of peace. Sometimes my family doesn't understand, but it honestly just lets me feel so much more in control and I enjoy the trip so much more when I can take my time.

2. Tell the Crew. This one can be kind of hard at times if you are like me and don't like telling the entire world about your illness or like...talking to people in general, this one can be VERY hard. Because two of the worst panic attacks i've ever had were right before boarding a plane, the crew had to know. They have been very understanding - some more than others, but nonetheless, they will do what they will be there to help. (I usually fly american/british airways and their crew are always so nice). If you are like me and feel better once someone knows that you are not feeling well, this could be all you need to keep yourself at ease while flying.

3. Bring food on the plane! Airplane food is no me gusta! If you are flying for a long period of time that requires eating a major meal on the plane, you may want to take this tip very seriously whether or not you have anxiety. I mean, they mean well with the food - and honestly, they have come a long LONG way since I started flying 19 years ago. But its still gloried microwavable plastic that you're putting into your body. This can create some weird things in your organs and can just make your anxiety even worse. Before flying I try to buy one giant snack which is usually cheese its or pretzels, and then a sandwich or something. Just by eating this food over the airplane food I have felt better and more energized. So I strongly suggest this change no matter for all people!

4. Pack smart! Packing for a trip is the equivalent of location for real estate. Packing, packing, packing. If you want to know how I pack HERE is where you can go to read about it. When flying American cross-atlantic you are allowed one carry on item and one personal item. In your personal item you basically need to pack your entire life. I keep my stuff in my personal item (which is usually a purse or backpack) because its much easier to dig around than a suitcase. In my purse I keep anything I will need during flight, which is illustrated in the article linked above. It is important that you have anything you need during a panic attack close to you just in case.

5. Know your plane. For me I always feel more at rest when I know where the bathroom is. When buying my seat I try get an isle spot which helps me feel less trapped, and preferably one close to the bathroom - just in case.

6. Bring a buddy. This could mean taking a friend along but in this case I mean something that can calm you down. For me, something I find therapeutic is petting my cats. Weird? probably... but I feel so much comfort. I can't really bring my cat to Europe with me so I bring a substitute - a little stuffed animal. This is kind of strange, I understand, but just by having something that I find peaceful with me helps a lot. I always had my little blueberry (my teddy's name. he's blue...) with me during the flight. So if you find flying hard sometimes, try bringing something that can bring you peace!


Being anxious about flying isn't something that can be fixed over night, and honestly can't be fixed with these few tips. Learning to cope is necessary but also hard and stressful. I hope this article can bring some rest to those of you who are struggling!