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Travel anxiety

11 replies

Ryeman · 19/07/2025 22:26

Looking for some general advice. Over the past few/several years I’ve developed anxious feelings about being away from home or long journeys. I don’t know what it stems from, but I have a general fear of being sick especially if I’m not at home and the anxiety makes me feel sick so it’s a never ending cycle. I think the lack of going anywhere during Covid probably made it worse but maybe also hormone changes - I’m 47 but not on hrt nor had any tests for menopause. I keep thinking I’m getting ‘better’ as I’ve had subbed nights away recently and been completely fine. But yesterday I had to travel into the city for an important meeting and I was the worst id been in ages. Bathed in sweat on the train (it was mega hot), nausea, feeling like I was going to have diarrhoea. I nearly turned round so many times, thinking I was actually ill instead of it being in my head, but once I got to the office and in work mode I was completely fine. I got my period later that day so maybe hormones were at play?
Next month we’re going on our first foreign holiday in several years and I’m worrying about worrying. I’m not actually scared of flying but I’m scared of these symptoms!
Is this normal? Would some kind of therapy help with only a few weeks to go, or medication? I’ve read on here about propranolol for these sorts of trips.

OP posts:
Midnightlove · 19/07/2025 23:12

Not normal, but I'm exactly the same! It all stems from my emetophobia.. if i have a panic attack it does give me an upset stomach which makes it worse! Propanalol does stop that though, you'll feel anxious but not have the physical symptoms of the adrenaline rush. I was fine for ages on antidepressants, but them wearing off after 15 years along with catching norovirus after a flight last year has made me 10x worse!

Ryeman · 20/07/2025 13:09

Thanks for your reply @Midnightlove . I also had noro once after a very delayed flight (many years ago) so maybe they is a psychological link. I think I might get some propranolol online to try.

OP posts:
maldivemoment · 20/07/2025 13:23

Didn’t want to read & run @Ryeman

My anxiety goes through the roof on the occasional times I/we travel. I would also definitely recommend Propanolol. When I feel a wave coming over me I remind myself not to ‘feed the beast’ and that my irrational mind is trying to shout over my rational mind. I say to myself (internally, obviously!) that I’m not listening to you (irrational thoughts) at the moment because I know you’re just shouting & making a fuss, looking for attention. So I tell that voice to be quiet, and then I allow myself to listen to my rational mind/thoughts. And even if my worst thoughts actually happened, in the rational world they’re not that bad. I was hugely reassured by a colleague once telling me, quite matter of fact, that she almost actually shit herself one day, so she just had to find a lay-by, jump out and relieve herself in the nearest over-growth/behind some bins, wherever. I remember thinking “ if that had been me I would have, without doubt, gone into a total panic” but she just thought f*ck it, I’ll need to quickly find a lay-by and allow nature to take its course. And she did. Zero drama. Then she told me about it! 😆 (She’s highly professional. You would never imagine her to have this type of story!)

But my point is this, everything g will be okay. And if it’s not, everything will STILL BE OKAY.

Get some Propanolol, don’t feed the beast, and enjoy your holiday! You’ll have a great time.

MarxistMags · 20/07/2025 13:30

I'm exactly the same and it's getting worse. I feel sick, dry mouth, hot and cold and upset tummy. I feel like a loser. My DD lives in Madrid and I can't even visit.
I had just been in Madrid before the virus 2019 and thought I was conquering it but then came the lockdown. And now it's worse. The odd thing for me was when flying as soon as I went through security it was as if a switch has been turned off and I was fine.
Even on holiday here or visiting friends to stay over is enough to set off the panic. I'm currently in bed with D and V and we're meant to be visiting friends on Thursday for the weekend.......

Ryeman · 21/07/2025 12:46

maldivemoment · 20/07/2025 13:23

Didn’t want to read & run @Ryeman

My anxiety goes through the roof on the occasional times I/we travel. I would also definitely recommend Propanolol. When I feel a wave coming over me I remind myself not to ‘feed the beast’ and that my irrational mind is trying to shout over my rational mind. I say to myself (internally, obviously!) that I’m not listening to you (irrational thoughts) at the moment because I know you’re just shouting & making a fuss, looking for attention. So I tell that voice to be quiet, and then I allow myself to listen to my rational mind/thoughts. And even if my worst thoughts actually happened, in the rational world they’re not that bad. I was hugely reassured by a colleague once telling me, quite matter of fact, that she almost actually shit herself one day, so she just had to find a lay-by, jump out and relieve herself in the nearest over-growth/behind some bins, wherever. I remember thinking “ if that had been me I would have, without doubt, gone into a total panic” but she just thought f*ck it, I’ll need to quickly find a lay-by and allow nature to take its course. And she did. Zero drama. Then she told me about it! 😆 (She’s highly professional. You would never imagine her to have this type of story!)

But my point is this, everything g will be okay. And if it’s not, everything will STILL BE OKAY.

Get some Propanolol, don’t feed the beast, and enjoy your holiday! You’ll have a great time.

Edited

Thanks so much for your comments. My mind knows all of this but my body obviously feels differently! I got a prescription for propranolol today via an online service - I had to answer more questions that I was expecting, plus it was expensive! £25 for 5 x 10mg. It it helps I might brave going to the GP next time.

OP posts:
maldivemoment · 21/07/2025 12:57

Pricey indeed @Ryeman but money well spent if they help, which I am very certain they will.
Hoping you have a wonderful holiday!

Midnightlove · 21/07/2025 22:16

Ryeman · 21/07/2025 12:46

Thanks so much for your comments. My mind knows all of this but my body obviously feels differently! I got a prescription for propranolol today via an online service - I had to answer more questions that I was expecting, plus it was expensive! £25 for 5 x 10mg. It it helps I might brave going to the GP next time.

Definitely go to your doctor for a prescription, I get a months worth of 40mg 3x a day from the doctor. I was taking that amount when I was changing meds and having constant panic attacks. Now I'll just take 1 40mg if I'm going somewhere I might freak out or start feeling anxious x

MarxistMags · 26/07/2025 13:11

@Ryeman Please tell me if it works if you don't mind. I'd love to go on holiday !

Itsasintokillamockingbird · 26/07/2025 15:37

@Ryeman- I take 10mg propranolol for travel anxiety too. I also take 2 or 3 Imodium a couple of hours before leaving as a preventative measure, which calms my stomach down.

I find more than 10mg of propranolol makes me wheezy, so I couldn't cope with a higher dose. But the combination of propranolol and Imodium is the difference between calm travel and anxious travel. So now I can do things I avoided before.

I hope this works for you.

Ryeman · 31/08/2025 01:01

Just reaching out again for some friendly support and to update you. I’m in Spain now. Travelling out here I was absolutely fine - didn’t take anything, just sailed through in the excitement I guess. We travel home tomorrow and I’m lying in bed unable to sleep and feeling awful. Mainly diarrhoea and nausea but also raised hr and sweaty feet. I took propranolol 10mg nearly an hour ago I think, and then 2 Imodium about 15 mins ago. I’m trying to distract myself so I calm down and sleep but nothing’s really working 😫

OP posts:
RoseGlass7 · 31/08/2025 20:28

Hi @Ryeman I hope that you are feeling better now!

I used to take Propranolol too, but now I have Candesartan for high blood pressure, does anyone know an alternative for Propranolol (GP said I can't have both!). Or techniques to reduce anxiety whilst travelling?

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