How to Travel if You Have Panic Attacks

The first time I had a panic attack while traveling, I was sitting with my husband in a restaurant at Heathrow Airport, almost 5,000 miles from home. It began with a quick hot flash that spread from my head to my feet, followed by a racing heart and trembling, and left me feeling drained and fatigued.

Panic attacks can cause a range of symptoms and may happen without warning, but they don’t have to stop you from exploring. Short trips close to home can act like exposure therapy. Simon Rego, a professor and the chief of psychology at Montefiore Medical Center, suggested treating these outings like a scientist: imagine what you think could happen, then check how accurate those predictions were.

A guided museum tour or a busy outdoor market can mimic travel in shorter bursts, helping you learn how your body reacts and plan how to handle an attack. Expecting some anxiety before a trip can be useful.

United Kingdom, Heathrow Airport

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