“Sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight!” — the phrase that greets us at the start of a trip might seem like a no-brainer assurance for most. But for some, it’s a call to step out of their comfort zone; a call to shut down the clamours of “What if my flight is delayed? Will the hotel be good enough? What if I misplace my documents or have my belongings stolen?” Welcome to the world of anxious travellers.“Hodophobia is the clinical term used to describe anxiety associated with travelling. Travel anxiety can include fear around the act of travelling, unfamiliar location visit, uncertain situations, challenges associated with travelling, mode of travelling, etc.” explains psychotherapist Urvashi Bisht. The ebb and flow of Covid-19 cases in different parts of the world has only added to it.
“The uncertainty is definitely an added factor for someone like me, who faces travel anxiety. I had planned a solo trip to Ladakh as my first vacation since the pandemic. The trip was planned for April, but after my flight got rescheduled, I ended up putting the entire trip on hold. It was only in June that I mustered the courage to finally go for it,” says Karan Sharma, a 26-year-old IT professional from Delhi.