I used to travel frequently, but I try to limit my travel as much as possible these days because I understand how much more challenging it is for me to travel now. Before my brain injury, airports were crowded & busy, and airplanes were fine as long as I had a window seat. These days, the sheer chaos levels that comprise the travel experience can be completely overwhelming.
Preparing for Travel
The first step for successful travel is, of course, preparing well. My Travel Preparations and TBI post offers my perspectives and some ideas to help make sure that when your travel date comes, you are prepared. Another important consideration, if you are flying commercially, is preparing your immune system. There are a number of wellness shots out there that boost the immune system with ingredients like ginger, cayenne, echinacea and elderberry extracts. My go-to choice is the elderberry “Wellness Syrup” from Brighton Botanicals – it’s a great tasting, small batch elderberry syrup blend that naturally strengthens the immune system. With the big concerns over the corona virus this year, I started prepping my system a couple of weeks early.
The Dreaded Security Checkpoint
What a nightmare this can be. Back when it was first offered, I signed up for TSA Pre-Check. My advice is that if you fly once or more per year… do this. I’m a guy so I travel, with few exceptions, with only carry on baggage. My computer and any liquids stay in my bag, and I don’t have to remove my shoes, belt or coat – just put my bags on the scanner and walk through the metal detector. The other great benefit is the speed at which the TSA Pre-Check line moves as compared to the regular security line. It’s $85 for five years, and worth every penny in my book.
If you aren’t TSA Pre-Check yet, you can still take steps to make the whole security line a little less painful. Consider slip-on shoes and if possible, forego a belt. Ensure that the things that you’ll need to pull out are in an easy to access location in your bags.
The Lines
Since my brain injury, for some reason, I have a very keen sense of “my own space.” In long lines we find that some people have narrower boundaries than others. I can manage the space in front of me by simply allowing more space, but sometimes who ever is behind me snuggles up a little too close for my comfort. To keep this space clear, I like to trail my roller bag behind me to allow a buffer zone and this helps me to avoid being overcrowded while standing in lines.
The Noise
The noise in an airport makes me think of the ocean. There’s a basic level of noise that underpins everything, then there are the swells that happen – like when a plane unloads, or you walk past a restaurant, or the intercom announcements come blasting through the airport.
My go-to solution for all noisy and chaotic environments is my high-fidelity ear plugs. Instead of just blocking all sound like foam earplugs or those made for shop environments, these use filtering to bring the sound down to a manageable level but preserving the quality of the sound so I can still participate in conversation, just not at full volume. These earplugs actually came with a keychain case, so I never forget them. When traveling, I always bring my full-on earplugs as well in case I need to drop noise levels even more.
Technology Assaults
From large screens mounted on walls to small screens you hold in your hand, technology is constantly fighting for our attention. When I sat down to have lunch in a restaurant at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport today, I found a particularly annoying source of visual chaos. All of the tables had the same format, whether it was a four-person table or an eight-person table, every spot has a tablet mounted dead center with about 16” in front of the tablet for your food when it arrives.
The tablets are how we order our food, and when we’re not busy ordering the display is flashing ads one after the other… right in front of your food so you can’t miss it. Ok, this is just obnoxious. But I struggled through it and got my food ordered eventually. I also discovered I could turn my tablet around so the flashy side wasn’t aimed at my face… whew.
As I was waiting for my food to arrive, I saw an older couple near me who weren’t having much luck at all with the tablet, and I learned from them how I can make things so much easier in the future. They flagged down a server and asked for help, upon which the server asked them what they wanted, got it ordered for them, ran their credit card and smiled as he left. That’s what I’m doing next time.
General Chaos
Another source of overstimulation is crowds of people doing what crowds of people do… milling about, hurrying to get to their gate, wrangling up unruly children, laughing, talking, moving this way and that, trying to squeeze past you, etc. Brain injuries often incapacitate filters that we once took for granted. Through time, I’ve developed a couple of remediation approaches when crowds start to feel overwhelming.
I’ve found that reducing visual input can make a huge difference. If I’m not trying to get somewhere, I’ll find a place to sit near to my intended destination because when sitting I’m free to close my eyes. Simple elimination of visual input is a big benefit, and with my earplugs the overall sensory reduction makes all the difference. If I’m struggling, I’ll use the time for a short meditation session. If you don’t currently meditate, calming music through a headset while you sit with eyes closed can also help you find some peace and help to reduce your stress levels.
A Couple More Key Points
Large airports can be very intimidating when you are feeling overwhelmed. If you don’t have an app and you need to find your gate, my advice is: ask someone. Searching through all the flights listed across multiple kiosk screens is difficult even if you do read well. Since my brain injury, reading is its own special challenge. But any gate agent or helpdesk team member can instantly look up your next gate and even give you easy directions to get there. Additionally, large airports usually have carts driving through that you can flag down for a free ride directly to your gate.
In Closing
Managing your travel stress well can make all the difference in whether you enjoy your trip or it becoming a complete nightmare. Always plan ahead, start early, and make your life easier by resourcing people whenever possible. Make time for sensory breaks – earplugs or headphones, eyes closed, and a few minutes all to yourself can lower stress and even energize you again. And finally, any time you think of something you wish you’d done differently, make a note to yourself where you’ll be able to find it the next time you travel. Bon voyage.
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