Finding Serenity on the Road: How CBD Supports Travelers in Overcoming Anxiety

Traveling is a fun and exciting way to get to know other parts of the world other than what you grew up in. For most people, this adventure can be a thrilling experience, but for some, it can be dreadful because of travel anxiety.

Travel anxiety happens when an individual experiences feelings of anxiety when traveling. It is much more than normal feelings of nervousness because of being in an unfamiliar place. Travel anxiety is a harrowing mixture of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It is a psychological phenomenon, but it can manifest as physical symptoms such as sweating cold sweats, feeling restless, muscles tensing up, feeling dizzy and nauseous, and having a rapid, erratic heartbeat. Someone with travel anxiety feels anxious when they travel, so they may avoid travelling entirely. This may be because they fear interacting with other people, think they lack support, fear for their safety, or are nervous about buying tickets, wayfinding, and possibly venturing into an unfamiliar place. Fortunately, there is a natural solution: CBD for anxiety.

Do You Have Travel Anxiety?

If you are not sure whether you have travel anxiety, it might be helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

During the last six months:

• Have you avoided travelling due to anxiety?
• Have you experienced a marked, persistent and excessive fear of travelling?
• Do you worry excessively about travelling?
• If you have anxiety, has traveling made your current anxiety symptoms worse?
• Has your travel anxiety caused significant distress that impeded your daily functioning?

If you answered yes to at least three of these questions, it may be because you have travel anxiety, and it may be a good idea to consult a mental health professional to seek guidance and an official diagnosis. While this self-assessment should not be taken as a diagnosis, it is helpful as it can help you know whether you need professional help.

How to Overcome Travel Anxiety

According to studies, 65% of people with travel anxiety developed it because they had been in a major car accident in the past. Hearing about negative travel experiences like plane crashes and catching endemic illnesses can also stir up anxiety in some people.

If travel anxiety is negatively affecting your life by preventing you from traveling the world out there, these tips may help you cope:

Try Out CBD Oils for Anxiety

Cannabidiol is touted for its potent calming and anti-anxiety effects that act on the endogenous cannabinoid system in our bodies. CBD reduces anxiety by binding to dopamine and 5-HT1a receptors that modulate dopamine and serotonin production, respectively. These happy hormones induce feelings of elatedness and calmness that will keep you tranquil while traveling so you can enjoy a worry-free flight or road trip. On top of that, it also relieves stress, motion sickness, and muscle pains—which are among the common complaints of long-haul travelers. CBD has natural mood-enhancing properties that can ease your stress and fatigue in no time so you can unwind and enjoy your travel adventure to the fullest.

How Do I Use CBD to Relieve Travel Anxiety?

There is a wide variety of ways by which you can dose CBD to relieve your travel anxiety, such as the sublingual route where you put drops of CBD oil under your tongue, which allows it to bypass the first-pass metabolism of the liver, thereby allowing for faster absorption. When consumed through this route, you will feel the effects of CBD washing over you after 10 to 15 minutes. This wave of calmness will last anywhere between 2 to 4 hours. 

Alternatively, you can also use CBD patches, topical creams, gel, nasal spray, gummy bears, CBD pills, or even drink tea infused with CBD oil. However, the transdermal and oral route will have a longer onset, so you will have to wait about 45 to 60 minutes to feel its effects, which will then last for 4 to 6 hours. 

Dosing Guidelines and Adverse Drug Effects

Unlike THC, CBD does not cause prominent adverse effects, even at high doses. It does not exert any psychoactive effects, so you don’t have to worry about getting high while medicating with CBD. Nonetheless, experts suggest starting off with a small CBD dose–about 25 to 75 mg—then slowly working your way up if you think the dose is inadequate. 

There are very few adverse effects attributed to CBD, including drowsiness at high doses, upset stomach, change in appetite, and/or oral dryness. 

Plan for Anxiety-inducing Scenarios

Most people with pre-travel anxiety fear the “what if” aspect of traveling. While there is no fool-proof plan for every possible worst-case scenario, it is—at the very least—possible to have a game plan for most common anxiety-inducing scenarios, such as follows:

What if I run out of money? 

Plan #1: List down the contact of a relative or friend that you can contact in times of financial emergency. 

Plan #2: Bring a credit card or two for emergencies.

What if I get lost? 

Plan #1: Download an offline version of the place you’ll be exploring on Google Maps.

Plan #2: Keep a paper map or guidebook in your luggage.

Plan #3: Ask locals for directions.

What if I get sick while on the trip?

Plan #1: Purchase travel health insurance before leaving the country, and be sure that your insurance will cover any health-related costs. Most insurance policies include a list of healthcare providers in different areas of the country or the world.

By preparing for anxiety-inducing scenarios like these ahead of time, you will be more consciously aware that most of the problems you dread have solutions and that may put your mind at ease.

Practice Meditation, Relaxation, and Breathing Techniques

Learning relaxation and breathing techniques that you can use in a pinch to calm yourself down quickly is useful for preparing for your trip if you have travel anxiety. Science has proven that that mindful meditation and breathing techniques can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms, especially the rapid, erratic heart rate.

Just breathe slow and deep while relaxing your muscles and grounding your attention solely on the pace of your breathing. Practice this as often as you can so it will become second nature to you once your anxiety is in full swing.