Travelling with Anxiety

Hey guys, 

Another long time no see, I recently did my Interrail tips and I've actually gone twice now so I thought I would write a post about how I manage my anxiety while travelling. There are a few things I always need to have in place before I've even set off and when I'm away. 

Organisation: 

Personally for me I feel a lot calmer when everything is organised and I know the details about flight times, train times, map, hotel details and a bit about the country. I keep all of these in a word document before travelling and then usually print out the information to make an on the go folder. You can see some examples of my tables with my information on in my interrail post. By doing this you can make sure you are in control of your surroundings even in an unfamiliar place because you've done your research.

Medication: 

I am on anti-anxiety medication that I take everyday but when I know I am flying, because I have a huge fear of it, I go to the doctor and ask for stronger, one time use drugs. I use Diazepam and they work brilliantly for me but I know people have done well on Beta Blockers as well it just depends what works on you. 

Flying: 

When knowing I'm getting on a plane, in the months leading up to the flight I will do some positive thinking. This may sound like the simplest and silliest thing to say but it has a huge amount of power. The anxiety is already your perception of the situation so there is no reason that you can actively change that. I do have to say you need to be in the right place to do this, because of my on-going medication I am able to work on this. You have to change the language you use around the flight so I tried to always say I was excited not worried, and I would try and turn those negative feelings into my stomach into thinking they were excitement. 

Another thing to do on a flight is bring an activity. Usually something that you've not opened so it's new and fresh and you can't wait to open it. This could be a new book, colouring, or some new skincare products. I know people bring a full skin care routine to do on a plane which is a great idea because it can be drying on the skin. Just make sure you'll have that distraction with you, I like trying to film to turn it into to art rather fear. 

New culture:

If you're nervous about entering a new country with a new culture and language, just do some research. Learn a few bits about what's respectful in that country, for example you may need to cover up in certain places and you'll feel more comfortable knowing that going in. You can also learn a few bits of the language, just greetings and please and thank you's are good to show you are trying and giving respect to them. 

Comforts:

Don't be afraid to bring the things that comfort you. I am 21 and I bring my toy rabbit with me everywhere I travel because she is a source of comfort and when you have anxiety you need those things you know will help calm you. This could also be a music playlist that you need to listen to, or a certain type of food. Don't ever be afraid to do what you need to do in order to make yourself comfortable. 

It's okay not being okay (yes I know):

It is true, on holiday or travelling there is pressure to always have the best time and always happy but that's not always the case especially when dealing with mental health. Give yourself those days off, allow yourself to feel things just as hard as at home. If you need to stay in bed all day that's okay, you still made it there which is huge and you're in a new place it can be very overwhelming. 

I hope that was useful, let me know if you have any more tips for everyone!

Ruby xx

INTERRAILING TIPS AND TRICKS

Hey guys!

Sorry it's been a while, but I've been asked by several people to write down my interrailing tips and tricks, I will be going for the second time this Summer and after lots of hours of planning I can share with you how I do it and what I've learnt.

Planning:

The first thing you want to do is make sure everything is safe and sorted before you go, one way to do this is to photocopy important information in case everything gets stolen or goes missing, it is always good to have a second copy to help you get home.

This means you will book the right about of nights in one place as days and nights can sometimes get confused if you can visually see it.

Passes: 

When booking your pass, make sure you are getting the right one for the amount of time travelling. For example if you are only actually travelling on 7 or 11 days, there is no need to buy the whole months worth pass unless you haven't planned your locations and just want to jump on a train when you want. This is the more expensive option but gives you the most freedom.

Accommodation: 

Hostels are a great way to go if you are travelling alone, however now places have overtaken the price of a hostel. Airbnb is now the cheapest option, especially in a group as you can pay less than you would be a bed in a hostel for a whole apartment in a city centre. Being further out of the city is not as bad as you think and could be a cheaper option, it's nice to use a countries public transport and you get to see more of the city but check the prices as it could work out to pay more to be closer in if the transport is expensive.

Airbnb:

When booking always make sure you have checked the reviews, although everyone has to have a first guest I would only book places with multiple positive reviews to just feel more secure. You can always select super host if you want to be extra secure as they are approved by airbnb. They will take the money out of your account when you book, but they only give it to the hosts after you have stayed, so that if you cancel or the hosts need to cancel airbnb can just give the money back with no need to go through hosts.

Budgeting:

Your pass includes one journey in and out of your starting country, so have a look at what option is best, that includes ferry's and trains but not flights.

Food budgeting will depend on where you are staying, if you are in a hostel or Airbnb there will be a kitchen and you can buy food and cook it there which will obviously be cheaper. I budget about £5-7 a day which doesn't sound a lot but will be more than what you spend on a normal day in England. For travelling, buying a bread roll and fillings is cheaper than buying multiple sandwiches so I would suggest doing that for trains.

Train Reservations:

Certain trains need reservations, this is a cost on top of your pass that reserves you a seat and you won't be able to travel without it. If you go onto the interrail app or online they can tell you which trains require reservations and you can book them in advance on the site. If you do this you have the security but they do charge 8 euros per train booking on top of the reservation cost, so you could risk it and get the reservation on the day you are travelling but may not have a space on the train. If you are taking a night train the cost will depend on what room you have chosen, I have never done this as I would only feel secure if you could lock the doors as I know people have got there belongings stolen from sleeping on trains.

Insurance: 

When travelling it is always best to have insurance, however you will only get money back if your claim is over £100 and its a huge process to go through if you have a claim. They don't want you give you the money back so they make it difficult, so I would suggest only insuring items such as phones or cameras as you will still be able to use your EHIC for medical emergencies out of England.

Packing: 

There are a few items I took away the first time which I don't think I could have done without. The first being sandwich pages, they became so useful for left over food, shampoo leaking, dirty underwear or mini bins. They don't take up much room but are defiantly needed. The second is a pillow case, they pack up very small and are nice to have if you are staying somewhere which doesn't look the cleanest. If you don't use it, they can always be used for a laundry bag. Wet wipes are also such a good thing to bring as you might want to freshen up after a long train, or need to wipe your hands clean if eating on the go.

Language/customs:

When going to many countries you are not expected to know every single language, but it's good to learn a few words from each so you show you are trying and not just expecting everyone to know english. Good words to know are hello, please, thank you and sorry. Remember what is respectful in different countries, if you are going into a church or abbey, you will usually have to have your shoulders and knees covered as a sign of respect. If going to a mainly muslim country it is nice to bring a scarf in case it is respectful to cover your hair, it is always better to have it packed just in case.

I hope that was useful! Leave a comment if you have any questions.

Ruby xx