The world is a scary place. Or at least that’s what we often digest from an all-you-can-consume news buffet. Terrorist attacks. Fires. Shootings. Earthquakes and landslides. Tragedy is always around the corner. No place out there is safe.
For some people, fear is an excuse not to travel, to stay inside the perceived safety of a localized bubble. For anyone reading this column—those of us who live to experience and engage more deeply in the world—fear and anxiety may make us more cautious but will never keep us from exploring.
Phil Sylvester, head of PR & Media and travel safety expert for World Nomads says the insurance company sees this attitude echoed in industry surveys. A small percentage of people may change plans or cancel travel altogether based on anxiety, particularly related to terrorism, but the majority of travelers report being cautiously unconcerned and undeterred.
“Travel is up across the board (because it’s never been cheaper to fly than it is now), but the growth to some destinations is lower than others,” he says. “People are not shrinking from travel, they’re just being more careful about where they go.”
Bottom line: We all have fears. Finding healthy ways to deal with anxiety and balance educated-caution with open-hearted exploration is key to keep us traveling and moving forward.
Keep Fear in Perspective
If you are concerned about terrorism, according to American Psychological Association (APA) Stress in America Survey 2017 you are not alone, says licensed psychologist Heather Austin, Ph.D. “The most commonly reported factors adding stress to our lives in the past 10 years include the economy (44%), mass shootings/gun violence (31%), and terrorism (34%),” Austin says.
She adds that constant exposure to terrorism-related discussions can lead to feeling more at risk than we actually are. When World Nomads asked customers the probability of being a victim of terror attack, nearly 70% said it was unlikely, yet further questioning revealed a gap between perception and reality. “Interestingly the survey respondents listed terrorism ahead of lightning strike as events that are most likely to kill them,” says Sylvester. “In fact, you are four times MORE likely to be killed by lightning than a terrorist.”
To gut-check fear, examine statistics and be honest with yourself about probabilities. “A key component of managing anxiety is self-education or teaching your brain and emotions to be more truthful,” says Austin. “Being a victim of terrorism is a rare event, convincing your brain and emotions that this is true will definitely help you cope better.”
Manage Triggers
Ask yourself what’s driving the anxiety. In most cases, we fear what we don’t know or what we can’t control. Xavier Mufraggi, Club Med CEO North America, recommends becoming empowered through knowledge. “You feel more in control when you are educated,” says Mufraggi. If flight turbulence sends you into panic mode, understand how the plane and pilot are designed to respond and what safety measures are in place, he says.
Austin agrees, saying the more we understand dynamics at play, the greater the comfort level. For example, she suggests focusing on what professionals are doing to keep you safe. “Think about all those annoying, long lines at airport security and some of the personal items you have had to part ways with to try to increase our overall safety,” she says.
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