What can I take for anxiety while traveling?

Travel anxiety, ugh, it's a real beast, isn't it? I totally get it. That feeling in your stomach, like you're spiraling out of control mid-flight… just awful. The thought of a full-blown panic attack thousands of feet in the air? Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

For me, honestly? Knowing I have a lorazepam (prescribed, obviously – please talk to your doctor, not me!) tucked away in my bag is a huge help. It's not something I use regularly, definitely not. But it's like…a little safety net. A security blanket, you know? Just knowing it's there offers that short-term relief if – and it's a big if – things get really rough.

But, and this is important, I always, always try other things first. Like, once I was flying to visit my sister, and I started to feel that familiar tightness in my chest. I had downloaded a meditation app beforehand (Headspace, I think it was?), and I just popped in my earbuds and focused on my breathing. It really helped! Another time, I was getting super anxious waiting to board, so I started chatting with the woman next to me about… I don't even remember, probably her dog or something. Distraction can be a lifesaver, seriously. And sometimes, just accepting the anxiety and reminding myself that it will pass is enough. It's tough, I know, but it does. It really, really does.