Can travel be an addiction?

In rare instances, yes, there is, says Dr Michael Brein, a social psychologist who specialises in travel and intercultural communication. I know and have met many people, some of whom seemed to live to travel in such a manner that they could conceivably get themselves in trouble, for, say, running out of money.



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We all love to travel, but some people have taken it way too far. They have what specialists call 'an abnormal impulse to travel' also known as Dromomania.

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A strong desire to travel is called wanderlust. If you dream of backpacking through Europe and then taking a quick spin through southeast Asia, you have wanderlust. The Germans call the strong urge for travel wanderlust, literally a desire for wandering.

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Ask LP: How do I resist the urge to travel right now?
  1. Plan your next vacation.
  2. Go on a virtual walk with a friend in another country.
  3. Explore the world one bite at a time.
  4. Support a shop, cafe or establishment online.
  5. Learn a language.
  6. The light at the end of the tunnel.
  7. You might also like:


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Dromomania was a historical psychiatric diagnosis whose primary symptom was uncontrollable urge to walk or wander. Dromomania has also been referred to as traveling fugue. Non-clinically, the term has come to be used to describe a desire for frequent traveling or wanderlust.

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According to Iwasaki and Schneider (2003), taking a vacation is believed to be a means of coping that can moderate or reduce stress. However, other evidence suggests that vacations may cause stress instead of buffering the effects of stress on well-being.

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Tourists on religious or historical trips can also suddenly exhibit symptoms of psychosis. In this case, travellers become 'intoxicated' and overwhelmed by their surroundings. This can cause travellers to become detached from reality and can lead to delusional thoughts and behaviours.

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And while some travel can be a healthy pursuit, jet-setting regularly can also take a toll on your health. In fact, frequent business travelers tend to suffer from health problems ranging from obesity to insomnia.

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Regular travels to new places helps us to feel happier and keeps the brain active, as we connect with new people and ideas. Exploring feeds your creativity and awareness of the world around you; it's good for the mind and the soul.

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Travel anxiety — aka vacation anxiety — is a feeling of worry or fear that occurs in relation to traveling. Having travel anxiety can make planning and going on trips difficult. Just the idea of going to a new place may bring on feelings of fear, uncertainty, and extreme nervousness.

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Bipolar disorder responds positively to a set sleep routine. The same bed with the same getting to sleep ritual may be boring, but our brains love it. Travel disrupts our sleep habits and this alone can cause mood swings.

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“When travel is motivated by a desire to escape reality,” she adds, “to embrace a nearly fictional experience that is free of the burdens of life…the experience becomes escapist in quality.”

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Travel can be a relaxing escape, but it can also be stressful and affect your mental health. Travel-related stress can spark mood changes, depression, and anxiety. Travel can worsen symptoms in people with existing mental illness.

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Travel Therapy Basics. Many psychology professionals recommend travel as a form of therapy. New sights, smells, sounds, and conversations can stimulate your senses in a refreshing way and possibly even trigger your inner muse.

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It may become harder to get to sleep, especially if you're lying in bed worrying about your upcoming travel. Other physical symptoms may include stomach upset, muscle tension or headaches. Some people who are anxious will lose their appetite, whereas others will stress eat.

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Know that it's normal. Being in a new place and missing your home, family, friends, and pets, is completely normal. It means that you have a healthy attachment to your loved ones. It will take a while to adjust to your new surroundings.

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These expert-backed tips for coping with travel anxiety may help:
  1. identify your triggers.
  2. research and plan.
  3. prepare as much as possible.
  4. try grounding techniques.
  5. distract yourself.
  6. practice self-care.
  7. talk with loved ones or a therapist.


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Extended travel can actually affect your personality.
These traits include neuroticism, openness, extraversion, conscientiousness and agreeableness. The more travelers interact with new people and immerse themselves in a new culture, the more their goals are aligned with the openness personality trait.

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