Go discover other places? Very little for you. The word travels alone, or the simple fact of making a suitcase gives you palpitations. Perhaps you are simply touched by hodophobia. The phobia… to go on a trip.
What is hodophobia and why fear travel?
“Hodophobia is an irrational and often paralyzing fear of traveling”explains Dr. Neha Pathak on the website. This phobia can take different forms: fear of transport (train phobia, plane phobia …), fear of being far from home, or simple apprehension linked to loss of bearings. It is often accompanied by physical symptoms (tremors, nausea, chest pain) and significant emotional distress.
Some people live this fear in isolation. Others see it intertwine with other anxious disorders: claustrophobia, social phobia or even separation anxiety. Psychologist Johanna Rozenblum specifies: “Like all phobias, its origins are multifactorial. There are unconscious elements, significant life experiences, biological factors … and often, an underlying anxiety disorder. ” In any case, the Hodophobe does not pretend. The prospect of a trip can arouse a state of panic.
An origin often anchored in childhood or education
Hodophobia can result from a traumatic event experienced during a trip – discomfort, an accident, an assault – or even simply a story heard, as an air crash relayed to information. Johanna Rozenblum underlines the importance of this emotional memory: “A negative event in connection with the trip, may be enough to anchor a lasting association between distance and insecurity “.
“I think we can also evoke separation anxiety” continues our psychologist. “”To think that being far generates a feeling of insecurity, while in a familiar environment nothing can happen to me. This is also the symptom of an underlying anxiety disorder “.
The family environment also plays a role. An alarmist educational climate, anxious parents vis-à-vis the outside world, dramatic stories associated with travel can condition a lasting mistrust. “”We can grow with the idea that traveling is to expose yourself to a danger “adds the psychologist.
Progressive and personalized solutions
At the heart of this phobia: a loss of control is also played out. Do not master what could occur far from home generates constant concern. Anticipation then becomes a defense strategy. “”It may be useful to plan each stage of the trip, Details Dr. Pathak. From the journey to the airport to the luggage carpet, including the choice of the seat on the plane “. This hyper-preparation aims to limit the unexpected, but it is not always enough to silence anxiety. To act more in depth, other levers can be considered:
- Being gradually exposed to the trip (starting close to home) can be part of the plan;
- Viewing what a successful journey might look like some people to take control of their experience and thus mitigate their fear;
- As with the treatment and management of other phobias, speak with a therapist or work with a mental health professional can help understand and unlock this situation;
- Finally, thanks to cognitive therapy, a person can start to recognize their irrational or phobic thoughts that influence their behavior.