Most people don’t realize how difficult it is to travel with social anxiety. To them, it’s just a matter of feeling a little nervous before a trip. But anxiety is more than simply being nervous. While it’s normal to feel uneasy in new situations, social anxiety goes beyond that; social anxiety triggers an overwhelming, often incapacitating response.
Some people with social anxiety may experience a rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, or even fainting spells when interacting with strangers or navigating social situations. I am one of those people. For me, something as simple as asking for directions, ordering food, or going through airport security can feel like an insurmountable challenge.
The unpredictability of travel only adds to my stress. Crowded airports, unfamiliar customs, and the pressure to interact with strangers at hotels or restaurants exhaust me. Even something as minor as making eye contact with a flight attendant or figuring out where to stand in a boarding line can set my nerves on edge. The constant worry of saying or doing the wrong thing creates a cycle of anxiety that frequently overshadows the enthusiasm I might have for traveling to a new place.
How does anxiety affect you when traveling?
