Whether you are hitting the road or getting on a plane, traveling can be a recipe for anxiety. Oftentimes, the journey to your final destination may involve unexpected changes that can take a toll on your mental health, like delayed flights, road closures and lost luggage. Understand that it is completely normal to experience stress or anxiety while traveling; even therapists, who may seem like they have it all figured out, are experiencing these feelings too.HuffPost asked therapists for insight on how they de-stress while in transit to their destination. Here’s what they had to say:Advertisement1. They plan ahead.While travel may evoke feelings of uncertainty, focus on what you can control, said Erica Basso, a marriage and family therapist based in Los Angeles, California. That includes your schedule.“When I know I have travel days coming up, I plan ahead to make sure I stick to my same schedule as much as possible. This includes steps like having my favorite snacks on hand and maintaining my regular meal times,” she told HuffPost. 2. They use a grounding exercise.Sage Grazer, a psychotherapist based in Los Angeles, California, said she engages in a grounding exercise when she feels anxious: “One of my favorite grounding techniques is called 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding, where you engage your senses by naming five things that you can see, four things that you can feel through touch, three things that you can hear, two things that you can smell, and one thing that you can taste.”This practice can help you feel more centered, present and in touch with yourself. It also comes in handy if your anxiety is skyrocketing as you sit on the tarmac.Advertisement3. They allow their anxiety to happen.As you observe your anxious thoughts building, tell yourself that your feelings are valid and it’s OK to feel this way. “When things get really stressful, like a delayed flight or lost luggage, I sit on my own for a few minutes and cry if I need to,” said Israa Nasir, a therapist who founded the mental wellness brand Well.Guide. “This helps reset my nervous system and helps red …
8 Things Therapists Do When They’re Stressed While Traveling
