Coming into the Christmas season many people with mental illnesses still need to travel. This is a very difficult thing to do if not prepared from the pressure of being in a new place to stress of not being prepared to the airplane ride.
If your going to visit some one during your holiday, prepare yourself by letting the person your staying with know your needs. It may be that you need more time alone to wind down or regular diet and sleep.
Some of the new laws in airport security may be difficult and stressful especially if you are taken for a random search. It's OK if you need to talk to a Dr and get a note explaining your illness and to let them know so they will be more sensitive in this area. The worst thing is to get in a situation that may make you uncomfortable and are not able to communicate why you are reacting in a certain way.
I find that if I'm early for my plane then I can make sure I get the seat I want and am able to have time to do things that calm me like reading before I get on the plane.
Writing lists before I pack has been a great help to me. I think of all the things I need to pack as well as anticipate problems I may have, discovering solutions for them before they may arise. Talking about what stresses me to people in my support network helps me in two ways. One is that they can help talk me through my worries and the other is that if I need to phone and talk to them during a trip, they'll be there for me.
Please write to let me know of your holiday travel stresses whether you have a mental illness or not. How have you come to alleviate them and what still is worry some to you?
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