9 Helpful Tips When Travelling with PTSD
Travelling with PTSD may not always be easy, but there are resourceful ways to manage the unpredictable.
I’d been slightly dreading our recent family trip away.
And that’s not something I could admit to anyone, because no one else really understands this kind of life as a PTSD partner. As a PTSD family.
Because of my husband’s complex PTSD symptoms, we haven’t taken many family trips since his diagnosis. Each one has always felt just a little worse than the last.
A jumble of triggers and PTSD symptoms in a confined space.
His heightened anxiety. All the extra hours in the car. Kids getting overtired (and extra cranky) from the long days. Everyone feeling the pull of being outside their comfort zone. And with no safe place for anyone to retreat to when things get too much.
So I think my apprehension leading up to our trip was, at least somewhat, justified.
I don’t know if it was my decision to not schedule a single day in advance… Or my lowest-of-low expectations for the trip… Or my husband’s hard work and dedication to staying sober and balanced on his meds in recent months… Or perhaps a combination of everything.
But, this time around, something worked.
What started out as just a break away from home turned into quality time spent as a family.
The kids relaxed and kept busy being, well, kids. I slept better than I ever expected to. And my husband surprised us all by joining in, day after day.
It wasn’t until we got home that I realised how much I had needed the break. A proper break. And not just from the daily grind at home, but from the PTSD merry-go-round that has seemed to turn every positive note in our lives sour in the past.
I made myself step back. I forced myself to let go of the reigns and unplug for longer than I’ve done in ages.
And what did it teach me?
It taught me that I need to remember that the past doesn’t always predict the future.
And that PTSD doesn’t always have to be the heaviest bag we carry with us.
9 HELPFUL TIPS WHEN TRAVELLING WITH PTSD
>> Begin with shorter trips, such as day trips or weekend stays.
>> Travel during the off-season if crowds are an issue for PTSD symptoms.
>> Depending on the destination, you may wish to consider taking out medical travel insurance.
>> Choosing accommodation that offers you private cooking facilities may be easier than needing to eat out in restaurants every day.
>> Check that all necessary medications, therapy plans and contact details for doctors/therapists are packed (and then double-check before you leave).
>> Pack one or two familiar items from home that can be used to help with grounding during any episodes of anxiety.
>> Plan, plan, plan! But be careful not to over-schedule.
>> Use online tools to familiarise yourself with the destination before arriving.
>> Be mindful of factoring “down time” into each and every day to help keep overwhelm at bay for everyone.
Create the best foundation for family trips with a positive PTSD relationship. Learn more here: https://thislifethismoment.com/ptsd-relationships
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Travelling with PTSD, especially as a family, can be daunting for many of us. Do you have any comments or tips about managing travel with PTSD? Please share them in the box below!
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