Anxiety on vacation: solutions for hyperactive women

PStart for holidays should be synonymous with freedom, evasion and relaxation. Yet, for many women, especially those with a mind always in motion, the perspective of the journey can turn into a source of anxiety, frustration and inner loss. THE’vacation anxiety it is an increasingly widespread phenomenon, often underestimated, that It manifests itself just when you expect maximum well -being. We talked about it with the Dr. Beatrice Casoni, Specialist in Psychiatry at the Errese dental medical clinic of Ferrara, and with the Dr. Elisa StefanatiEMDR psychotherapist at the Aesthe Medical Medical Poliambulatorio in Ferrara,

When the holiday becomes a source of stress

Far from the daily routine, we find ourselves exposed to new and unpredictable situations: logistical details to manage, the knowledge of unknown places, the need to plan every move. For those who have one hyperactive personality or live with the mind always engaged between a thousand thoughts, Detaching the thorn can be more difficult of how much you imagine. Travel anxiety occurs with the fear of forgetting something of important, the tension linked to unexpected, there Difficulty in disconnecting from work or from digital devices. The need for controltypical of many women with a strong sense of duty, can generate sense of guilt And the risk of not being able to really leave responsibilities behind.

It is not uncommon, in fact, that the hyperactive mind tries to fill the emptiness of the absence of commitments by organizing dense itineraries of activity, often changing accommodation and accumulating stressful paths. The result is a holiday that risks resembling more to a marathon than to a moment of regeneration.

The void and the silence: because they are scary

Really disconnecting also means dealing with an empty mental space, in which often hidden thoughts, questions and concerns emerge suddenly. Silence and lack of commitments force to confront emotions that the frenzy of daily life tends to mask: pain, dissatisfactions, frustrations. This can make even more difficult to find serenity during the trip, especially for those who live on mental hyperactivation.

Techniques to manage anxiety and slow down on vacation

According to Dr. Beatrice Casoni, specialist in Psychiatry at the Errese dental doctor’s Polyclass of Ferrara, there are some simple strategies that help to calmly calm anxiety and to find a new rhythm.

1. First of all, conscious breathing: stop, inhale deeply and exhale slowly, perhaps associating some stretching exercise, It helps to find emotional stability.
2. Another effective method is the technique 5-4-3-2-1: Look around and identify five things that can be seen, four that can be touched, three sounds that are perceived, two smells that are felt and a flavor present in the mouth. This exercise helps Restabilize a connection with the environment and with the present.
3. Keep a travel diaryby writing down thoughts and emotions, it can be useful for ordering the mind and slowing down the inner rhythm.

Grounding and the strength of nature

Dr. Elisa Stefanati, an EMDR psychotherapist at the Aesthe Medical Medical Polyclinic of Ferrara, suggests the Grounding techniques, that is, practices that help root themselves in the here and now and to regulate emotional activation.

1. Walk barefoot on the grass, embrace a tree, listen to the sounds of nature or dwell on the feeling offresh grass under the feet They are ways to involve the senses and turn off the “automatic pilot” of anxiety. Grounding, combined with conscious breathing, It promotes the recovery of inner balance and helps to calmly calmly and mind.
2. It can also be the very usefulexercise of the “safe place”, A guided display of a real or imaginary place that transmits serenity and protects from negative emotions.

Slow Travel: the new way of traveling against stress

In recent years, the philosophy of the “Slow Travel”, the slow journey, as a true antidote to holiday anxiety, has been affirming more and more. Choose nearby destinations, stay in the same place for a long time, live without haste and give space to the unwanted breaks: All this helps to reduce logistical stress, to let yourself be surprised by the positive unprepared and live an authentic experience, full of meetings and relationships. The slow journey is not a race against time, but it becomes the opportunity to really regenerate themselves, even for those with a hyperactive and restless mind.

11

5 signs that holiday anxiety is taking over (and how to answer)

1. Struggles to sleep before departure. If in the days preceding the journey, you struggle to fall asleep or wake up several times thinking about the preparations, the body is reacting to stress as a leave. Give you relaxing evening routine and predere deep breathing techniques before sleeping.

2. Obsessive detail control. The need to continuously check times, itineraries, luggage or reservations can report a need for control linked to anxiety. Try to delegate some tasks or accepts that the unexpected is part of the experience.

3. Difficulty enjoying the moment. If you realize you already think about the next stop without savoring what you are experiencing, stop and dedicate a few minutes to sensory awareness (for example, concentrating on colors, smells, sounds around you).

4. Tendency to fill the days too much. The dense agenda may seem like a solution against boredom, but risks transforming the holiday into a source of further effort. Give yourself days without program or “slow breaks”.

5. Sense of guilt in disconnecting from work. If even on vacation I often check emails and work messages, remember that true well -being is born from the right to stop. I dedicate a precise time of the day (preferably short) to manage any emergencies and then really detaches.