Is travelling a good idea?

[sasays]

Has anyone who has suffered from depression and/or anxiety been travelling? Can you tell me your experiences please? Tips, suggestions, thoughts, what not to do, how you felt, etc etc anything and everything that might help me please. Thanks so much! x

[Hidden]

Hi, I think anything you think you would like to do is a good idea. I really couldn't give you any tips because I find when I'm depressed that nothing works in that way anyway. I usually find that when I'm low and travel then I sort of go into myself and in doing so become very calm and quiet because there simply isn't anyone to turn to and in that situation things kind of go on hold until I get back. Although I don't enjoy the holidays as much as I might have I do feel rested when I return.

I'm feeling a lot better overall at the moment, mainly because I've expressed a lot of anger in writing to someone (a therapist) I trust and felt angry with. That's been really productive!

Next week I'm off to visit my daughter in Mexico and will be travelling on my own and I've decided just to go with it and let whatever happens happen. I will take my favourite book with me, also an i-pod so that I can shut out the world if I want to. I also make sure I deal with practicalities like making sure my money and credit cards are spread in different bags etc so that I won't have to deal with any trauma or stress on that front. I try to make sure that I've thought ahead about issues which may worry me and deal with them, anything to make things feel very easy then I can just relax and let myself be, whether happy or depressed. Because I will be staying with my daughter I will probably be happy a lot of the time but I am sure there will be very depressed times too and then I'll comfort myself with the book and my favourite music, home from home as it were. I think that's the main thing, to have with you wahtever comforts you at home or some version of it. I'll even take a couple of favourite dvds so that I know I can feel occupied happily at times when my daughter is busy studying.

Enjoy yourself wherever you go. Any ideas where?

Suexx

[Suzie40]

Do you man traveling travelling? As in a new country? I would imagine very exciting, but maybe very lonely If you're alone? X

[ghandi]

Hi Sasays. I Have Been Suffering Depression/Anxiety For 8 Yrs Now, And I Travel. It Gives Me Something To Look Forward To, My Son Sends Us To Turkey For Two Weeks In May And Then Two Weeks In September. We Go To Icmeler, It Is Not A Party Place, So You Can Just Chill, You Will Meet A Lot Of English People, You Will Never Be On Your Own, I Do Not Go Out At Home, But I Cannot Sit Down When I Am Away. Try And Make A Trip Away As Your Goal. Then Slowly Get Things Together, And Before You Know It You Will Be On Your Way.

The Excitment Is In The First Step. We Go 4 Weeks Today, Cant Wait. Take Care. Ghandi

[annie87]

Hey I suffer awful depression and panic attacks I'm just back from London had to travel there for a tv show

I took a diazapam which calmed me down so much also done my breathing

Also made the airline aware I was bad with anxiety so they let me carry my medication in hand luggage

Go and enjoy yourself

Keep us updated please xx

[Jeffju]

I love travelling although I get a little anxious before I go but once I am on my way everything is fine. It's so exciting seeing new places, trying different food, seeing different cultures. And all your anxieties will be left behind in your home town and not your holiday place. You go for it and enjoy. xx

[sasays]

Thanks for your responses everyone, i do mean travelling travelling so its pretty daunting. The person i wanted to be and the person i am are quite different, i would like to be as realistic as possible so i can be mentally prepared, as much as i can be.

Ive always wanted to travel but never alone, i dont see the attraction of having all these experiences and no one to have shared them with, i know its not like that and you meet a ton of people along the way, but i want someone heer that i can go 'remember when' with. I think i might be okay after a while but i definitely want company. I asked a random friend of a friend in passing if they had considered it and it seems we might both be genuinley interested! Can't believe after all this time that something might come of it! I do get let down 99% of the time so im trying to be realsitic about it all but it definitely a step in teh right direction.

A VERY rough plan is 2014, South America then Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam then Australia (perhaps) and New Zealand. I went to Ausy as child and don't want to miss out on NZ so if money becomes and issue i may miss Ausy, i don't like the cliche UK to Ausy route but thats a silly reason not to do it i know so will just depend on money. I would consider working in NZ too.

I think she thinks lets do it all, but i dont know if i have the enegry to be a globe trotter but i dont want to miss out. It won't come around again i assure you, i won't have 'plenty of other oppertunities' as ive been waiting for years and everyones been and gone without any invites extended.

Its just MASSIVE, all of it. Perhaps it just wasnt supposed to be. How does anyone find teh enegry to get up and go and travel the world? Literally. Especially with depression and anxiety. Is my anxiety holding me back or trying to prevent a disaster?

Has anyone here done anything backpacker-esque? Thank you x

[Golfer15]

Hi I have just come back from a few days away. We travelled by train to try and decrease the stress involved in travelling. Airports stress me out so we didnt go abroad ( I prefer this country anyway). Driving stresses me out and my wife and I usually end up arguing about directions so we decided to go by train which all went well except for one little moment in York this morning (I live in the south) where my teenage son suddenly said lets run for the earlier train. I had the times sorted out with plenty of time to spare to get the train we were planning. When we missed the earlier train I was blamed - or so I felt.

So it seems like staying at home is best as whatever I do gives me stress and anxiety!

Sorry if this isnt helpful sasays.