General Holiday Anxiety

Date

Feb 18, 2025

Why do I get anxious about going away on holiday?

For many people, plans to go on holiday are exciting and trips away are eagerly anticipated with hope and optimism for all the adventures that might take place, or the chance for a laid back, relaxing, trouble-free time away from home and work.

However, you might find the prospect of going on holiday overwhelming and filled with dread, worry, anxiety and panic. And then when you are away, you are desperate to go home.

Maybe you let others know this or keep these thoughts and feelings to yourself.

You are certainly not alone:

We often sit in our therapy rooms with clients daring to say out loud that they don’t want to go on holiday because of…

  1. High expectations from others.
    They feel that they ought to be grateful, excited and skip off to the departure lounge, station or rush to pack their suitcase.

  2. Past experiences.
    The fantasy of the TV adverts and glossy brochures don’t match that last trip away or if they have never flown or travelled abroad, they doubt the promises of perfect destination experiences.

  3. Unknowns.
    There can be a long list of worries that fuel the belief that they have no control over their environment, happenings and upsetting surprises: Often these worries link to fears about looking silly or foolish, feeling exposed and embarrassed, nervous and vulnerable, feeling powerless and without agency to change or get out of a situation.These fears maybe informed by bad experiences that might not be anything to do with going on holiday.
    • General anxiety- Will I cope when things don’t go as planned?
    • The weather- will it rain, be too hot, too cold or spoil my holiday?
    • Unfamiliar food- What will I eat I, will I like it, will it make me ill?
    • Behavior of Travel companions & strangers- I won’t be able to be myself. Will others annoy or upset me?
    • I know that I don’t want to go away with my family/spouse/friend, and can’t work out how to back out of plans.
    • Personal safety and threat of crime- What if I’m mugged, lose my phone/money/passport? Will someone help me?
    • Language- fear of not understanding or not being understood when I need help or guidance.
    • Toilets- Finding one, what if they are dirty?
    • Safe drinking water- Will I be ill if I drink the tap water?
  4. Illness:
    • Upset tummy
    • Bites, stings and rashes
    • Germs
    • Is there a Dr/pharmacy/hospital nearby?
  5. Transport:
    • Navigating stations, airports, taxi ranks, car hire.
    • Fear of travelling on…
    • Planes,
    • Trains,
    • Ferries,
    • Cars & driving abroad.
  6. General Fear:
    • Just being away from home.
    • Will I like it?
    • Can I cope?
    • Who will help me?
    • I won’t be able to leave and get home.
    • I might run out of money
    • What if I lose my passport/phone/wallet/tickets
    • …and then be suck/feel alone and frightened.

 

Help is at hand

  • Most anxiety can be reduced by noticing what the ingredients are that make up your worries and fears.
  • Notice and think about each one.
  • Check if your fear is based on a fact or something that you’ve assumed/imagined to be true.
  • Can you find out factual information, that can reassure or fill in gaps in your knowledge.
  • What would help you to feel calmer and more in control if things don’t go precisely to plan.
  • Can you identify back up information or put other options in place.
  • So that, for many of the worry ‘hot spots’ listed above, you know the answer to “what if?”

For example:

  • Being prepared can make a huge difference.
  • Pre-booked tickets, transfers, meet & greet arrangements.
  • Maps and tourist info.
  • Structure and plans
  • A well-stocked first aid kit.
  • Be brave about your wishes and needs with others (family, companions, fellow travellers)

If it’s not too late and you feel very strongly, then say “no!” to a trip, food, companions, accommodation or even the entire holiday.

Seek therapeutic help for:
Extreme anxiety & phobias eg; flying
Relationship concerns

Don’t forget that plans, journeys and adventures are more likely to go well or better than you think. They may not be perfect or exactly as you imagine but probably won’t be a disaster or failure.

 

If you need help please contact us:

enquiries@head-agenda.com
www.head-agenda.com
0113 418 0212

 

Photo: Jonas Allert via Unsplash

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