Page 47 - Port Douglas Magazine 38

THE ANXIOUS
PHOTO CREDIT: Jared Rice, Unsplash
TRAVELLER
A PERSONAL ESSAY
WORDS by Amie McKay
ecently my friends suggested a girl’s trip Up until this point I had been unconsciously putting
to Bali, and I knew that I must jump at the different coping mechanisms into practice to allay my
chance. At the age of forty I had never le fears, and without the support and the calm talking down
RAustralian shores, and it had been a long- from my friends, my symptoms could have become
held dream to immerse myself in another culture. uncontrollable. What I learned from this experience
While there were many contributing factors that had was the importance of choosing your travelling tribe
kept me home, there was one overwhelming reason well. If you suffer from anxiety, it’s vital to travel with
why I had never taken the plunge – my anxiety. friends or family you trust, people who understand
Reportedly, one in six Australians will suffer from anxiety your personality, and are able to manage your anxiety
in their lifetime, affecting their ability to participate in symptoms without judgement.
new experiences and events. Travelling is a significant Secondly, do your research. You can never ask enough
trigger for sufferers, as real or imagined threats assault questions or have enough knowledge about your
our thinking. Even those who don’t suffer anxiety on destination – as long as it’s coming from reliable sources.
a day-to-day basis will experience apprehension when That doesn’t mean going down the Google rabbit hole
travelling to a different country. There is the standard and reading horror stories. Instead, visit reputable travel
pre-nerve jitters and sleepless nights beforehand. and government sites. Pester your friends and family
Arriving at the airport ridiculously early, you know who have travelled to the same place before – yes, you
– “just in case,” so in the end you just have more time will feel annoying, but who cares, they’re your friends
to think and worry about all the things that could go and will be happy they could help.
wrong. Most of us have felt this way, right? But, what I, Lastly, remember to take time out and reset. Travelling
and many others, will experience is that next level of fear with anxiety means that for every tour and new
and panic. It operates on its own agenda. It will take experience you do, it’s likely you will feel mentally and
control over the most rational of people and can push physically exhausted. It’s okay to opt out from a tour
you into a deep pit of fear and confusion, with varying day, or a night out, if you are feeling overwhelmed.
physiological and psychological consequences. After the mental effort it took to walk through Ubud
The full force of my anxiety surprisingly came at the Sacred Monkey Forest with tiny, furry hands grabbing
end of the trip on the way to the airport, as our cab was my ankles, I needed to recharge. A quite day spent by
held hostage to Bali traffic. Feelings of dread and fear the pool not only helped improve my anxiety symptoms,
hijacked my mind and body. I struggled to breathe and but it turned out to be one of the most rewarding days
felt like I was drowning in never-ending waves of panic; of my trip.
paralysed by the irrational terror that we were going to Travelling to new places, whether at home or overseas, is
miss our flight back home. Dramatic, I know. But I now too valuable of an experience to allow anxiety to control
understand that sufferers have very little control over the you. Travelling can open your eyes to new ideas, cultures
emotions and feelings that anxiety causes. and scenery, while fostering feelings of empathy and
Unsurprisingly, we didn’t miss our flight. However, gratitude towards others and yourself. The world is an
when I later reflected on this experience, I began to amazing place and we are only here for a short time.
understand that my anxiety was a real and difficult With the right tools and support, travel anxiety can be
condition, and that If I wanted to continue to explore managed. Just go out there and do it, you will not regret it.
this magical world, I had to learn to manage it.