Traveling When You Live with Bipolar Disorder

Traveling can be nerve-wracking when you live with bipolar disorder. I have always enjoyed spontaneous adventures to far away places ever since I was a kid. However, after my diagnosis of bipolar 2 disorder, it was important I stay at home for an extended period. Some nine years later, I realize how important it is to challenge ourselves and get outside our comfort zone regularly. So I thought I would share some of the benefits of traveling when you live with bipolar disorder.

When I would go through severe depressive or hypomanic episodes, I relied on my home as a form of stability. It caused me to isolate, and this past year, for the first time in my life, traveling gave me anxiety. However, I told myself that I was going to challenge myself, and start traveling again. I took the leap, bought a plane ticket and although I was extremely nervous, even debating my decision until the last minute, I went anyway.

The Benefits of Traveling When You Live with Bipolar

Confronting this challenge and overcoming it made me feel secure and confident. It reminded me of the positive impact that traveling has on my mental health. I realized that traveling is an excellent way for those of us living with bipolar disorder to build confidence.

When I travel, I bring a journal with me. I write about my various adventures and the people I meet. I utilize the part of bipolar disorder that allows me to express my emotions and look at things with a different perspective. It doesn't matter if it's down the street or very far away. I believe when you live with bipolar disorder, you have to escape from your environment from time-to-time, otherwise you feel caged. For me, traveling is a form of therapy. Before, I used to leave home to ignore my problems. Now I use traveling as a way to confront my issues. It helps declutter the noise that can consume me at times.

In this video, I share the way in which traveling has benefited my mental health as someone living with bipolar 2 disorder. How do you feel about having bipolar disorder and travelling?