Is flying good for Mental Health?

Key Takeaways. Air travel can cause or exacerbate already-existing mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Some triggers are small spaces, lack of control, and fear of flying.



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While many love the experience of travelling by flight, it can be a nightmare for others who often complain of experiencing jet lag, nausea, memory loss, or brain fog post their journey. Some studies show that even relatively mild levels of hypoxia (deficiency in oxygen) can alter our ability to think clearly.

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Traveling is not generally bad if you have depression. It is considered the healthiest form of addiction and can actually be beneficial for most people. Traveling is good for your mental health because it reduces stress and anxiety. Traveling only becomes a problem if it is viewed as the only cure to your problems.

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It's a great stress buster.
And what better way to do so than to pack your bags and cross wanderlust-worthy destinations off your bucket list? Traveling promotes happiness and helps you take your mind off stressful situations. This leads to lower cortisol levels, making you feel more calm and content.

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According to neuroscientists, when we travel, we rewire our brains. This is because new experiences are the key to building new neural pathways in the brain. By rewiring your brain, you become more creative and accepting of new ideas. This is why travel makes you happy.

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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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Traveling alone with anxiety can be a challenge, but it's important to remember that it's still possible. Like I said earlier, I felt really empowered by the experience of pushing through my anxiety and doing something by myself.

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Sitting down in a tight seat for 13+ hours can sometimes lead to circulation issues, including swelling in the feet. According to The Healthy, the chance of your body forming blood clots increases when blood isn't moving correctly, such as when onboard a long-haul flight.

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Air pressure is lower at higher altitudes, which means your body takes in less oxygen. Airlines “pressurize” the air in the cabin, but not to sea-level pressures, so there's still less oxygen getting to your body when you fly, which can make you feel drained or even short of breath.

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Specifically, the high altitude and cabin pressure reduces oxygen in the cabin, which causes dehydration. Dehydration is associated with a flurry of symptoms, including mood disturbances and fatigue, both of which can make a person more likely to feel sad or become tearful.

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It increases serotonin production and provides a dose of Vitamin D. Travel is often outdoors and so offering plenty of daylight. Rather than dragging oneself off the couch for fresh air, we find we're raring to go.

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According to neuroscientists, when we travel, we rewire our brains. This is because new experiences are the key to building new neural pathways in the brain. By rewiring your brain, you become more creative and accepting of new ideas.

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Therefore, cabins are still pressurized, more so than the air outside of airplanes, but they are less pressurized than the air on the ground. Experts believe that exposure to this low-pressure cabin air makes passengers feel sleepy.

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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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Traveling promotes happiness and helps you take your mind off stressful situations. This leads to lower cortisol levels, making you feel more calm and content. “It also helps us reflect on our personal goals and interests,” adds Greenberg.

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If you're able to travel, even if it's for a few days and nearer to your home than you wish, just the act of planning and getting away—traveling—can lift your spirits, improve your sleep, reduce your stress, and, in short, improve you.

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