Too Anxious to Go on Holiday? The Three Principles That Can Change How You See Travel

Is It Really Unsafe, or Is It Just Unfamiliar?

When we worry about going on holiday, it’s not actually about the destination. It’s about control. We feel uneasy because we’re stepping into the unknown, outside of what we consider home. But what if home isn’t just a place?

I used to panic on long car journeys too. If I was driving for four hours, by the halfway mark, I’d start thinking, “I’m getting further and further from home,” and that familiar feeling of panic would start to rise.

But home isn’t four walls. It’s not a location on a map.

It’s something we carry within us.

You Are Home, Wherever You Go

My daughter used to feel the same way about traveling. She would say, “I just want to stay home, I like being at home.” And I understood that because I used to feel the same way - even as an adult!

I would remind her: “Home is within us wherever we go.” That sense of peace, safety, and comfort that we associate with being at home - it’s inside us. We don’t have to leave it behind when we travel.

Think about the home you live in now. Did you always live there? Will you always live there? Maybe one day, where you are now will be a distant memory, and you’ll have settled into a new space that feels just as safe. That feeling of home is something we create, not something we lose when we leave a certain place.

Adjusting to Change: Let Yourself Settle In

Even now, when we go away, my daughter will often spend the first day a bit unsettled. Sometimes, she even has a good cry when we arrive. It’s just part of the process - adjusting to new surroundings. And that’s okay! If this is you, allow it. Let it pass. You’ll soon realise that the peace and comfort you associate with home is within you, and it goes wherever you go.

The Stories We Tell Ourselves About Travel Anxiety

We all have stories about what we can and can’t do. When we tell ourselves, “I’m anxious about traveling away from home,” it’s never the destination that’s the problem. It’s our thoughts about travel and the unknown. The stories we tell ourselves about how capable (or not!) we are create those feelings of anxiety.

But just like my own fear of foreign travel disappeared when I saw it for what it really was - a thought - I know that you can see through your own anxious thinking, too.

If you find yourself feeling too scared to go on holiday, take a step back and notice what’s really happening:

• You’re trying to control the unknown.

• You’re listening to thoughts that aren’t facts.

• You’re telling yourself a story about your own limitations.

But the truth? You are home, no matter where you go.

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