Scribd
Upload
83 views4 pages

International Travel & Bipolar Disorder

1) Travelling internationally can present challenges for those with bipolar disorder due to changes in sleep patterns and time zones. 2) It is important to plan ahead by speaking to your medical support team, ensuring you have enough medication, and considering ways to reduce stress during travel such as having a travel companion. 3) Taking a "tool box" of calming items like music, scents, snacks and activities can help make stressful travel situations more manageable.

Uploaded by

Mohammed Yaqoob
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
83 views4 pages

International Travel & Bipolar Disorder

1) Travelling internationally can present challenges for those with bipolar disorder due to changes in sleep patterns and time zones. 2) It is important to plan ahead by speaking to your medical support team, ensuring you have enough medication, and considering ways to reduce stress during travel such as having a travel companion. 3) Taking a "tool box" of calming items like music, scents, snacks and activities can help make stressful travel situations more manageable.

Uploaded by

Mohammed Yaqoob
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

International Travel & Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar sufferers also tend to be heavily affected by changes in sleeping


patterns and time zones. Travelling internationally presents some challenges
when you have Bipolar but if you plan ahead of time and take some
precautions it is possible to achieve an episode free trip.

Travelling is stressful for everyone. We are in unfamiliar surrounds, our


bodyclocks are out, the days are often long and event filled, it’s exhausting,
exhilarating, stressful,

Here are some points to consider:

 Speak with your medical support team (i.e your psychologist,


psychiatrist, GP) about your travel plans beforehand. Tell them about
any issues you think you might have, like claustrophobia or anxiety that
could present as a trigger for an attack from stress induced mania.
Perhaps ask about getting a short prescription to help you cope with
the travel element of your holiday, such as diazepam (valium). It could
just calm your nerves enough to remain rational. Keep in close
contact with your doctor and/or therapist leading up to your date
of departure to make sure you’re healthy before leaving. If you
have recently changed medications or have recently had an
unstable period, it can sometimes be best to avoid travel.
 Always ensure you take with you enough of your normal medications. If
at all possible, take a few days extra in case you lose some or require
more for whatever reason. It can be helpful to get your prescription in
small tablet doses so that if you are more stressed/depressed/manic
for a few days you can change dosages in 25ml increments (this will
change markedly according to what medications you take). Talk to
your psychiatrist about this idea and be sure to understand the safety
parameters of such.

 Travel with 2 sets of medications. Depending on the duration of your


trip take enough in your hand luggage for at least a few days and the
remainder in your suitcase. All medications are allowed through the
security checkpoint once they have been screened, so put them in your
hand luggage. This way if your suitcase does happen to go missing
you have enough on you in person to survive for a few days until it is
recovered.

 Be sure to carry a letter of prescription from your psychiatrist which


details your diagnosis, home address and full details of all medications
that you take. If possible take your meds in their original boxes with the
prescription stickers so you do not have problems with customs. This
can assist with ease through customs and also help if you do have a
hospitilisation or require more medication whilst overseas.

 It’s not always possible, but If it is do try to travel with someone you
trust. They will be able help you remember your medications, share the
stress of travelling and help you remain calm. If that’s not possible
there are organizations that, for a fee, provide professional companion
travellers, such as Acccessible Journeys . Having a trustworthy
travel companion who’s capable of identifying any early warning
signs of mania or depression and who knows what to do in case
of a mood episode would be great. If that’s not an option, maybe
you can enlist the assistance of someone at each of your
destination points.
 Don’t rush about doing things at the last minute – take your time and
plan. Pack in advance. Get to the airport as early as is allowed for
early book in. Sit down somewhere with a tea or coffee and a good
book, or whatever else you find restful and comforting. Perhaps you
prefer a shop, food, your iPod? Ensure you have had adequate rest the
night before.

 You might feel safer or more comfortable telling a steward about any
issues. Flight crews are aware of any air marshals among the
passengers, and will be able to tell them of your condition. Particularly
if you do start to feel unwell.

 Do you have a way of contacting your medical team should a need


arise? (I,e buy a cheap phone card, or have a mobile that has
international roaming). Have your doctors numbers on person.

 Make sure you have flight insurance so you can cancel the flights
if need be without suffering any financial hardship.
 Look for ways to make your trip less stressful. You may want to
schedule fewer activities, for example, and make sure your
schedule includes sufficient down time.
 Have you taken precautions so that you can not access
excessive money should an episode occur? It is never a good
idea to carry a bunch of credit cards when experiencing the stress
of traveling.

 Do you have a clearly mapped out route so that you do not


experience the frustration of becoming lost and confused. This
alone can be enough to throw you into an episode.

 Get enough sleep! Ensure that no matter where you are or what
you are doing day to day you ensure that you plan to get your
regular hours of sleep. This is imperative!

IN SUMMARYThe three biggies are these:


1) Take your meds as prescribed. 2) Get enough sleep! 3) Avoid stress
where possible.
YOUR TRAVELLING TOOL BOX

Last but certainly not least is a Tool Box/Bag. When travelling it is easy to get
triggered and you can often find yourself stuck in places or environments that
must be endured or can be triggering (like airplane cabins, airport lounges,
bus and transit centres, noisy hotel rooms etc). Having some handy
comforting items can help you endure these easier and prevent prolonged
stress.

Here it is – You can change things in your tool box which are more personal
to you – but when selecting thing, think of how they affect your senses.

Prepare a toolbox to take to get you through the difficult moments of


travel

Something to listen to. For example a guided meditation track or CD’s or


playlist on your iPod. Use the recording two or three times before you fly, or
when in anything which is usually very crowded or stressful – like the London
Underground. Or switch it on when boarding and getting seated on the plane,
or entering the underground. You can get many forms of relaxation tracks
very cheaply on the internet and iTunes. Even your favourite relaxing music
or classical music can help. If you don’t have such music devices listen to the
on-plane relaxation station – most airlines have a “chillout” or “relaxation”
station on their plane entertainment systems.

Something to smell. Comforting smells can be very powerful and even


induce relation. Lavender, ginger and bergamot can be very relaxing. You
can purchase a roll on oil which has lavender and bergamot in it. Or you can
travel with a bottle of essential oil and add to your hotel pillow or rub on your
pulse points.

Something to taste. Fruit flavoured boiled sweets or jelly beans are a good
idea to have on you. Sometimes if you feel sick or nauseous if stressed a hit
of sugar helps. Also, you have to suck the sweet, which give you something to
focus on – like its taste, how small it is getting, and the texture of it on your
tongue. It can be a great distraction tool.

Something to drink. Water – Everyone should travel with a bottle of water


anyway. Plane travel especially is very dehydrating, and if you’re prone to
anxiety or you take large doses of medications (esp Lithium) you need to
hydrate often and stay away from caffeine (in coffee/tea/softdrink) and alcohol
of course.

Something to cool you down. Hand held fans are a great idea, or mineral
water sprays in aerosol cans, or wet wipes with a scent are also effective.
Heat is a stressor. When travelling you can often be exposed against your
control to high temperatures.

Something to warm you up. Conversely being cold on an airplane can


interfere with your ability to get to sleep or stay comfortable. Take a warm
pair of socks and a cardigan or light jumper. Some airlines offer blankets,
which is nice too.

Something to calm you down. Whatever it may be. Sometimes a small


dosage of valium or your prescribed sleeper/sedative can help in stressful
situations. Or a natural alternative like Valerian. Be sure to always (no matter
where you are or what your travel itinerary is) get your normal hours of sleep.

Something to read/do. Kindles or ipads are a great distraction tool.


Otherwise a good book or a diary to write in can be just as good. It’s a great
idea to start reading a great book BEFORE you board, because then you can
usually get right back into it on the plane. Soduko or crosswords are also a
great idea. Magazines, comics, a sketch pad, a laptop. Whatever engages
you.

SAFE TRAVELS!!!
BE MINDFUL OF YOUR EMOTIONAL STATE
AND ENJOY!

You might also like