Whether for winter, spring, or summer break, or “just because”, you have a vacation on the near horizon. While you’re eager with anticipation, you’re feeling a little anxious. You have been working on your mental health of late and are wondering if an upcoming furlough may sidetrack any progress you’ve made thus far. You’re also concerned that anger, anxiety, stress, depression, and/or anything else you have been navigating through may compromise your experiences and those of loved ones who will be joining you. Or, perhaps the vacation itself will deliver the literal peace of mind you’ve been pursuing. This all leaves you wondering; should you do therapy while traveling, or wait until you return? As America’s principal provider of online and telehealth counseling services we can say with confidence that starting and/or maintaining virtual therapy during your time away from home is more important than most realize. In fact, it may be critical to mental health preservation and will very likely lead to growth and empowerment. Read ahead to find our more.
3 Reasons Why Doing Therapy While Traveling and on Vacation is Important to Maintaining Mental Health
Mental Health Concerns Commonly Associated with Travel
“Travel can be a relaxing escape, but it can also be stressful and affect your mental health. Travel-related stress can spark mood changes, depression, and anxiety. Travel can worsen symptoms in people with existing mental illness.” (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that more than 11% of travelers experience some symptoms of mental illness during travel beyond what they may normally experience on a day-to-day basis. Symptoms of anxiety are among the most common due to a sense of lack of control and innate unpredictability presented by travel. The ever-present potential for missed flight connections, lost baggage, weather related delays and dangers, criminality of certain regions, risk of illness, and more may cause vulnerable individuals to develop anxiety symptoms or worsen an existing anxiety disorder.
Chronic anger and irritability are also known to cooccur in people who experience travel related anxiety. The very same unpredictability concerns addressed above in addition to potentially frustrating interactions with airline and TSA personnel, border-crossing customs agents, automobile rental staff, and hoards of others one may bump conflicting personalities against can cause individuals to develop or worsen an antecedent problem with anger.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a qualified person to talk to about negative feelings as they occur, so that you can be free to enjoy your travels?
Vacation Destinations May Increase Exposure to Triggers
As addressed above, unpredictable events or the threat of unpredictable events commonly presented by travel can trigger anxiety, stress, anger, and other issues. That being said, for millions of Americans there are other potentially more dangerous behaviors that are more likely to be trigged while on vacation.
A wide number of popular vacation destinations present visitors with inflated access to activities that are related to compulsive behaviors for vulnerable individuals. For instance, if someone such as yourself has a complicated relationship with gambling, a trip to any resort community, city, state, or region (Las Vegas, Reno, Atlantic City, etc.) where casino gaming and sports betting is not just permitted but heavily promoted can be problematic. A similar concern exists for those who are vulnerable to hypersexuality disorders (i.e. compulsive porn use and sex addiction) who may venture into vacation destinations where higher-risk sexual exploits are more accessible if not encouraged. While these (gambling and hypersexuality issues) are more extreme examples of compulsive behaviors, vacation travel is also associated with increased triggers to other activities from which compulsions may be formed. A vacation destination may trigger someone to shop beyond their means, eat excessively, or consume harmful substances which can be precarious for anyone who struggles to control either. If you suspect that you have any of the following, therapy while traveling will be an important part of your itinerary:
- Problem gambling
- Problematic sexual behavior
- Compulsive shopping behavior
- Compulsive eating
- Substance abuse
Travel and Therapy Can Complement Each Other
We certainly don’t want to vilify vacations in this discussion about therapy while traveling. Numerous bodies of research show that travel can also be great for one’s mental health. In our article on gambling alternatives (for problem gamblers) we made a case for travel as being a healthy substitute due to its capacity to promote healthy dopamine release. Further, studies have also found that certain types of travel destinations can help manage feelings of anxiety and depression, both of which are co-occurring conditions with the behavioral health issues that we addressed above.
We know that this may all seem a bit confusing, given that we began by laying out potential mental health consequences of travel before concluding with a counterpoint on how it can be beneficial. But that’s the point. We absolutely recommend a life of wanderlust as means allow, but be sure to invite your online counselor along for the plane, train, and automobile ride. Not only will doing so help protect against the aforementioned threats, it can free your mind to better enjoy travel experiences when flying solo or globetrotting with friends and loved ones.
Kindbridge makes therapy while traveling within the United States easy. Our online and telehealth services ensure that you have access to a therapist or coach who is licensed to provide counseling in the state you are visiting, at anytime. Further, we offer direct billing through the following insurance providers who may also cover this important travel wellness need:
Book an assessment with a care coordinator before your upcoming trip!
Add Mental Health Support to Your Travel Itinerary
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