Can going on vacation cause anxiety?

Regardless of the method of travel, people can be anxious when embarking on a trip. Some individuals are fine with air travel, but the idea of a long car trip is terrifying. Others fear being stuck in the middle of an ocean if they're going on a cruise.



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People with travel anxiety may experience unease, a rapid heart rate, or sweating while traveling. They may feel anxious while taking certain forms of transportation, being in an unfamiliar place, or experiencing the unknown.

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Hodophobia is the medical term for an extreme fear of traveling. Some people call it “trip-a-phobia.” It's often a heightened fear of a particular mode of transportation, such as airplanes.

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The University of Pittsburgh's Mind-Body Center found that taking vacation increases positive emotions and reduces depression. And spending time in nature has been shown to reduce negative rumination and improves overall psychological wellbeing.

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People often come to us requesting the doctor or nurse to prescribe diazepam for fear of flying or assist with sleep during flights. Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you sleepy and more relaxed.

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The key symptoms of travel phobia are excessive fear and avoidance of travel situations. These symptoms overlap with those of PTSD. In particular, persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and fear and other negative emotions in response to trauma reminders are common PTSD symptoms.

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Some people may experience travel anxiety because of negative past travel experiences or because they have an anxiety disorder. Travel anxiety may relate to specific activities, such as driving or flying. It can also involve a general fear of crowds, being unable to leave a space, or the unknown.

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A travel hangover, also known as the post-vacation blues, is basically that bummed-out feeling you experience after returning from a trip, likely accompanied by difficulty re-adjusting to regular, everyday life — and research says it's a real thing (and not just you being a baby).

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This phenomenon is called the post-vacation blues, and it's a common experience. You might feel down in the dumps for the first few days back at home for a few reasons: Over-full days of activities and sightseeing. Not enough sleep.

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Sometimes a quick vacation is better than nothing, but if you can swing it, try for at least eight days. Research suggests you need at least that much time to truly unwind and feel refreshed.

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