I studied abroad my third year in college. And everything was grand and amazing until sometime mid-second semester, when I stopped going out for anything but class. I was barely eating and cried myself to sleep most nights.
After a trip to Edinburgh, I did some deep reflection on my recent emotions and my actions. I finally admitted to myself that was a bigger problem that I had been ignoring. So I made an appointment with my GP (general practitioner, essentially,your doctor’s office) and we talked about what I was feeling, how long I was feeling this, and his suggested treatment was therapy and medication.
Since that day I have been more in tune with my mental health and found that my depression comes and goes. It hits some days like a ton of bricks and at other times it is like it is not even there. However, that does not mean I pretend nothing is wrong with me. Asking for help, for space, and most important of all setting boundaries is what has been helping me have fewer and fewer “low days.” This was something I knew I would have to stay on top of during my semester at Stirling.
I talked to my therapist and we found a way to keep myself on a positive mental health track during the transition and until I could establish my support system abroad. The University of Stirling has been super helpful in just that. The study abroad office and the university itself have made the resources for students with disabilities readily available and easy to access. I am quite impressed how easy it has been to set up my support system and how I have been able to flourish in this new environment.
The travel part:
Now, I travel alone most of time either for my education, pleasure, or work. Thus, i am alone on my own for long periods of time. I have to find things that keep my mental health at the forefront. Since my first time abroad I have had to learn how to keep myself composed, calm, and resilient in the face of the stresses that travel brings.
This changes with every voyage. Sometimes just finding a quiet place to sit and people watch is enough. Other times a certain comfort is what I need to make everything better. Every now and again I will have a beer at the airport, depending on how bad the airport experience was. This last time going through LAX was so rough, I was stressed out beyond belief and I found my solace in the Goose Island (restaurant and pub?) in O’Hare. I had two IPAs while reading I’ll be Gone in the Dark By Michelle McNamara.
Reading true crime/ listening to true crime podcasts, such as My Favorite Murder, have become my go to while travelling. They give me something to listen to and escape what I am doing for an hour at a time. I get so enthralled by the details, that hours of research went into. It also makes me feel so supported in my belief of “fuck politeness” and the sense of community that comes with being a “Murderino.”
While travelling as a woman alone is hard enough, I suggest that you let your body tell you what is right for you. Sleep when you feel safe (such as the 8 hour flight to Edinburgh and not some random airport bench), make lists to ease packing and sightseeing (this one is huge if you have limited time in one city), eat what you want when your body asks for it (it’s totally ok to indulge when your travelling), but what I find most importantly is being aware of your surroundings. I cannot stress this enough, so many small issues (like losing a wallet or missing a train/flight) can be avoided if you remain aware of time, location, and your belongings.
Travelling Part 2: Electric Boogaloo
Travelling with friends brings another type of stress. For me, personally, it is not trying to be too “bossy,” but what are you to do when you have a few days or hours in a new city and want to see, do, and taste as much as possible?
My best advice is don’t plan a trip until you can make it a few days with the same people. This can be your flatmates, classmates, new friends, etc. Everyone handles travelling differently and can bring out nasty parts of personalities that can lead to a bad trip. So my best advice is do a wee bit of exploring in your new city and find who you think you could spend long periods of uninterrupted time with.
Secondly, I advise of getting together having a cuppa and writing down all the things you want to do. This can be when your booking tickets and doing research. This allows you to take everyone’s interests into account and from this make another list (hey this gal loves a good list) and that will save you from standing outside thinking of the next thing to do and will maximize your time. You can do this one of two ways: setting a strict itinerary or leaving your list open to unplanned adventures.
I hope this advice helps you in travelling alone or with a group. I have learned these tips from trial and error and I pass them on to you. Best of luck and safe travels. x
Isaias Dassum 