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Mental Health and Travel

Travelling can open up a world of adventure. Meeting new people, experiencing new cultures, and seeing new places can be exhilarating. But if you’re an inexperienced traveller, even the thought of the airport might raise your heartbeat. And if you live with mental health issues this could be enough to put you off completely.

At Kaya, we are passionate about spreading our love of global travel and want to help all of our participants navigate their travels no matter the barriers. If you live with a mental illness and are worried about travelling here are a few things that could make your trip a little easier.

 

Remember What Works

All the coping techniques you use at home will definitely help you when you travel.  Knowing what works definitely makes any obstacles more manageable. Even if they are second nature to you now, it might be worth writing reminders to yourself to keep you on track while you’re away. 

 

Plan for Disruptions

As Kaya projects take place in developing countries, chances are there will be a couple of bumps in the road to navigate. Even if it all runs relatively smoothly, travelling can still disrupt your routine. One of the best ways to navigate the upheaval and keep your mental health in tip-top shape is to be prepared.

Making sure you get enough sleep and having snacks and drinks close at hand are a great starting place. If you like to listen to a particular playlist to keep you calm make sure you’re fully charged. Or perhaps you like the quiet? Put your earplugs right at the top of your hand luggage bag for quick and easy access.

If you are crossing time zones, alarms are your friend. Setting alarms for the time to leave for the airport, the time to eat, time to take medication, and the time to sleep, not only help keep you on track with the routine you have planned but take the anxiety out of having to remember everything.

 

Here to Help

It can sometimes be difficult to talk about something so personal but at Kaya, we want to help in any way we can. If you need some extra support in organising your trip or whether volunteering or studying abroad is for you, have a chat with one of our advisors today.

 

What are your top tips?

What are your tried and tested methods for keeping healthy while travelling? Let us know in the comments!