A trauma therapist unpacks the benefits and pitfalls of embracing traveling as a tool of therapy
By Faye Beard
Merely the thought of traveling can be anxiety-inducing. Turbulent flights, lost luggage, foodborne illnesses, and catfished accommodations are horror stories just waiting to be told.
Those fears, however, rarely get in the way of getaways. In fact, relaxing and reducing stress topped the list of motivations for Americans to take vacations, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
“Trips can spark joy, healing and perspective,” said Ashley McGirt-Adair, LICSW, a trauma therapist and globetrotter.
A survey conducted by Talker Research revealed that those who travel more consistently and frequently were far more likely to have better mental health than those who don’t. Lee Health, a community-based nonprofit, highlighted four reasons why travel improves your mental health: It may improve sleep, lift one’s mood, reduce job burnout, and lower the risk of depression.
While traveling may be therapeutic, it is not a replacement for therapy, warned McGirt-Adair, who has a private practice in Greater Seattle. In her book “I Tried to Travel It Away: Mental Health Tips for Travelers,” she helps readers get their mental health in check prior to boarding. The guide features a goal worksheet, mindfulness practices, and lessons to avoid taking a vacation from your life.
Here are McGirt-Adair’s three travel tips to recharge one’s mental health.
Unload your baggage before the airport does. Do a quick emotional inventory before your trip. What’s creeping around in your mental carry-on? Emotional baggage loves to sneak into your suitcase like a stowaway. Acknowledge it. Name the shame, the guilt, the “I’m fine” lies that we cram into those inner pockets. Journal for 10 minutes. Talk it out with a therapist or a trusted friend.
Address the pain, don’t ignore it. Feeling is not a flaw. Vulnerability is where healing begins. We may often swallow our emotions and call it strength. We should understand that letting our tears fall and letting our hearts soften are acts of liberation. Allowing ourselves to feel does not diminish our strength; it restores it.
Remember travel is a teacher, not a therapist. Trips can magnify what you’ve been ignoring. Instead of using travel like an escape hatch, use it like a classroom. What did that delayed flight teach you about patience? What did dining solo teach you about your own company? Your experiences abroad can fuel growth back home, so you can build a life that doesn’t require constant fleeing.
There are limits on the positive impact that frequent travel can have on your mood, WebMD noted. The leading digital health publisher reported that the increased feelings of happiness post-vacation typically last less than a month, and there are no guarantees. The site also disclaimed that traveling was a substitute for therapy and recommended that travelers consult a mental health professional.
“As a millennial therapist, I see too often people trying to vacation their problems away, hustling through burnout, flying out of heartbreak, using trips like emotional band-aids,” said McGirt-Adair.
That described the life she has lived. She thought that if she kept moving, she could outrun those feelings, she explained. “Eventually, I learned the passport stamp doesn’t erase the pain you packed in your luggage. My hope is to help people truly enjoy the world while also caring for their inner world.”
Faye Beard is a freelance writer living in New York City.
