October 3, 2025 • 34 mins
Nervous about flying? You’re not alone. In this episode, we break down simple, proven rituals that calm your nerves so you can board with confidence instead of chaos.
Airports aren’t built for calm, but your travel routine can be. We’re opening Season Three with a practical, field-tested anxiety toolkit—pulled from years of flying, parenting through layovers, and one candid bartender’s view of what really happens in terminals. From the moment you park to the second you buckle in, we break travel into manageable steps and share the exact rituals that lower the noise in your head: breathing patterns you can do in line, scent and sound that ground you fast, and small comforts that change how your body reads stress.
We get real about safety and judgment, too. Mixing anxiety meds with alcohol can backfire quickly, and we talk through what bartenders are trained to watch for—and how they can help when you ask. You’ll learn the human trafficking hand signals posted in restrooms, why naming your needs gets faster support, and how to set smart boundaries whether you fly solo or as a group. If planning overwhelm is your kryptonite, we’ll show you how to shrink the day into bite-size moves, choose what truly matters, and build buffer time so delays don’t wreck your mood.
Tools you can use today: the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding reset to stop spirals mid-flight, box breathing to regulate your nervous system, color walks that turn terminals into a calming focus game, and TSA-friendly scent hacks (think roll-ons and lotion blends) that soothe without hassle. Add noise-canceling headphones, comfort shows, and a simple micro-itinerary, and you’ve got a carry-on for your mind that travels anywhere. Hit play, pack lighter emotionally, and tell us—what’s the one ritual that helps you board with a steadier heart?
If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend who hates flying, and leave a quick review so others can find these tools.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:16):
Hi guys, so welcome to Suitcase Divas.
We are now officially in seasonthree.
So welcome, welcome, welcome, mybeautiful co-host Jackie G.
And I am Denise D.
So today we are gonna talk abouta travel anxiety toolkit.
So what let's do let's just do alittle check-in.
(00:36):
How are you feeling?
Like if you had to travel today,Jackie G, how are you feeling?
SPEAKER_02 (00:41):
It would it would still give me some anxiety if I
had to travel today.
And I can't I can't even saythis just because of the
particular day.
I think travel always gives me aslight level of anxiety.
So yes, if I was travelingtoday, I might feel a little
anxious.
So what about you?
What if you had to travel today?
SPEAKER_01 (01:00):
Well, those of you that know me know that I am
anxious every day, especiallywhen traveling.
Yeah, I am definitely one ofthose people that struggles to
travel.
Not so much a car, but there'sdifferent ways we travel, right?
So let's let's kind of let'smaybe kind of get into that a
(01:22):
little bit later.
But we've all been there, we'veall been a little stressed, but
you have a little bit moreinsight because you worked in an
airport, right?
SPEAKER_02 (01:31):
Yeah, so we'll talk about one of the main ways to
travel by air, right?
We definitely fly a lot ofplaces for sure.
So yes, I have worked in theairport.
Um, I used to work in the DallasLovefield Airport, which is one
of the smaller ones, right?
That is the Southwest Hub.
So not a huge, huge one, butdefinitely gave me just a
different look, right?
I've been a traveler, I've beenon the other side of it and had
(01:53):
kind of those anxieties, butworking in the airport and
seeing people come through,being able to watch how everyone
handles it has just been really,really interesting.
So one of the things I do wantto touch on, just because I've
seen this in so many differentforms, is people who are
anxious, right?
And again, I was a bartender, somaybe they come in for a drink
(02:15):
or two.
Okay.
So nothing wrong with that.
Like so, nothing wrong withthat.
I'm all about a travel drink.
That's definitely, you know,something that you can treat
yourself with at the airport andeverything.
So first and foremost, makefriends with your bartenders,
okay?
If anything's gonna go wrong,they are always there, they're
always circling, and they aretrained to look out for it.
(02:37):
Okay.
We do take specific training towatch for people, to have
conversations with people, tokind of see how you're feeling
and everything.
So, no, they're not being nosy.
They're just trying to help youout.
Okay.
So let's say you're someone whodoes get anxious.
Maybe you took a little bit ofmedication before you came to
the airport.
Okay.
And with that, you decided to goand have a drink.
(02:58):
Okay.
So just one of the cautions thatI like to tell people is please
be careful with mixing alcoholand medication.
Okay.
Those are very, very seriousthings.
And Denise, I don't know ifyou've ever experienced that or
I don't have anxiety medicine.
SPEAKER_01 (03:14):
Not that I think that there's anything wrong with
that.
I'm definitely an advocate forif you take medication, you
absolutely take medication.
But I'm kind of one of the oldself-coping methods, which is
the only method.
I'm probably getting a mimosa.
Right.
That definitely calms me.
But I don't, I would never mixmy medicine with alcohol.
SPEAKER_02 (03:37):
Right, right.
So for some people, it can bekind of like that extra level of
anxiety, like, oh, themedications are kicking in, let
me have a drink.
So I'll just tell you guys alittle story.
Okay.
This is sometimes what canhappen.
So I was bartending one evening.
This is something that it's oneof those stories, like, I really
wish I'd seen the end of itbecause I'm so curious.
So I was bartending one night.
(03:58):
Towards the end, we're in likethe last hour-ish of bar time,
right?
This lady comes in, she just hasa little purse on her, like a
little makeup box.
That's it.
Okay.
She sits at the bar, she ordersan old fashioned.
I make her an old fashioned oneof that.
It's okay, an old fashioned is abourbon-based drink.
So it's about, you know, a shotand a half-ish of bourbon, some
(04:20):
bitters, and it's the pretty onewith the cherry and the orange
and everything.
So very classy drink, you know,not overly strong.
And she spent about half an houror so sipping on the first one.
Okay, half an hour or so sippingon the first one.
SPEAKER_01 (04:34):
What time of night is this at this point?
SPEAKER_02 (04:36):
So this is probably about like nine, about nine
o'clock.
We closed around 10.
So about nine o'clock at night.
Had a conversation with her,because I say hi to everybody,
make sure they're not drunk whenthey first come in.
And she was fine.
Just sipped on her one drinkafter she finished it, about 10
minutes later, asked for asecond one.
So she's in there about 40minutes now.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (04:57):
And you're like, one more.
What can it hurt?
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (05:00):
Like it's fine at the airport.
I totally get it.
And just for those of you whomaybe aren't bartenders or maybe
don't know alcohol content,right?
One drink over the course ofhalf an hour, 40 minutes is
absolutely fine.
I would not expect anybody to beacting out after that.
Okay.
So I served her her second drinkin a plastic cup.
We're closing, right?
She had to go.
(05:20):
And she didn't even touch it,but she just started not being
able to speak comprehensively.
I was trying to explain to her,like, hey, it's time to sign out
and cash your check.
And her eyes got real droopy andshe just sat there, uh-huh.
Okay.
Mm-hmm.
Thank you.
And that's all she said for fiveminutes.
I talked with her.
I had a manager come over andtalked with her.
(05:43):
We ended up having to call twopolice officers up to come and
speak with her.
And they're like, ma'am, youknow, you need to pay, you need
to close your check.
And she just kept smiling andnodding and say, uh-huh.
Thank you.
As they're handcuffing her.
She's thanking the cops andeverything.
And the craziest thing was theysearched her, no wallet, no ID,
no credit card, no debit card,nothing on her.
(06:05):
I don't know how she got on theplane.
No idea.
But it was one of those things,you know, that I have to, as a
bartender, have to explain thisis what I served her, this is
the conversation we had.
They did find some medication inher bag.
So, like maybe she took somemedication and then came and
drank.
And now she's completelydisoriented.
Okay.
So she and as far as I know, shedid end up missing her flight.
(06:26):
Because you know, once thathappens, they take you down to
the drunk tank, etc.
And I'm so curious.
SPEAKER_01 (06:31):
I don't know how this lady got to the airport
with no ID, but maybe she leftit somewhere in the bathroom or
some shit.
SPEAKER_02 (06:38):
I don't know.
I don't know.
But see, and with that airport,she was coming from a plane and
connecting to another plane.
So uh anyway, we were all very,very confused.
But all that to say, guys, bevery, very careful in the
airport.
Definitely watch yourself, takeyour medication, let them know
you're on medication.
There's no embarrassment aboutit.
(06:59):
We don't judge you, but we justwant to be able to help you.
Okay.
And you know, we're happy toserve the alcohol.
No problem.
I totally get a travel, mimosa.
Just let us know, you know.
So, you know, if you pass out orsomething.
SPEAKER_01 (07:11):
One thing I will say, and then you said she was a
solo traveler.
One thing I will say when whenwe traveled with the kids, when
my when my kids were younger, Iwas like the mom, like I was in
charge.
I mean, I needed to make sureeverybody had their stuff, all
my kids were taken care of.
So I didn't really do the mimosaor whatever.
I was just more like rigid,like, okay, let's get the kids
(07:32):
from point A to point B andwe're here.
Right.
Now that I'm an empty nester,I'm like, I cannot wait to show
up at the airport and have amimosa.
Yes.
So a highlight of traveling.
There's different angs for me,different anxiety times.
The other thing is, I don't evenremember the last time I
traveled solo.
So I typically travel with otherpeople.
(07:54):
So there's always people aroundme that are could be like, hey,
Denise, maybe three mimosas toomuch.
I do never say that.
So quite funny.
Yeah, know your limits anddefinitely don't mix medication
with alcohol because thisabsolutely can be ramifications
to that as you witnessed.
Absolutely.
(08:15):
Yeah.
So so we're talking about theairport, but there are
definitely other travel anxietycategories.
So flying fears was our firstone.
Um another one I'm seeing isplanning overwhelm.
Too many choices, fear ofmissing out.
SPEAKER_02 (08:32):
Oh, yeah.
I feel like that's a big one.
That's a big one for me.
SPEAKER_01 (08:34):
You do have that?
Okay.
So so what are you saying?
Like if you want everythingstructured and if something goes
wrong and you don't have abackup plan, you kind of spiral,
or how does that work for you?
SPEAKER_02 (08:48):
I don't know if it's that I spiral.
I think sometimes I'm trying tofit so much into a time, or I
want to make sure that I seeeverything.
And I mean, like, even, youknow, for myself and even in
business, I've heard peoplelike, okay, we're traveling to
this destination.
We have 10 days, we're probablynever coming here again.
I want to do it all.
I want to see it all.
(09:08):
And you know, and if somethingdoesn't go wrong or doesn't go
right, you know, it's like, do Ihave a backup plan?
Can I go see something else?
Did I miss this?
Did I miss out on that?
So it's I get it.
I can kind of get those planningoverwhelmed.
So I wouldn't say I'd spiral oranything.
I'd be concerned and worriedthat I was wasting time, maybe.
SPEAKER_01 (09:29):
Right.
Now I get that too.
So for me, paranoid Patty.
I'm more like mine are more likesafety concerns, like if I'm
traveling to another country.
And my biggest concern, as y'allknow, is I feel like some at
some point somebody's gonna tryto human traffic me.
It's been a concern.
I know it's probably notrealistic.
SPEAKER_02 (09:48):
You're just so pretty.
I mean, you know.
SPEAKER_01 (09:54):
Mine is just like, I don't know.
Like, what if I don't know theprotocols or and this is why I
don't travel alone?
Because I am afraid, like, whatdo I I would not know how to
react if I was absconded bypeople in the airport and
they're like, we're coming withus outside of kicking and
screaming, I really and and thehand the hand gesture.
(10:14):
Listen, you and I, when we weredoing this, the hand gesture is
important for everybody to know.
So if you are in a situationwhere you have been taken by
somebody and they're forcefullytaking you and you can't scream
or you feel like you'rethreatened and you're not in a
position, the whole open, closedpalm and letting people know,
(10:35):
and then you can even do itbehind your back, and so that
your attacker's holding thisarm, you can still do that on
your back.
So it I would advise, andthere's one that's specifically
for human trafficking, and itgoes with the ASL.
SPEAKER_02 (10:48):
Yeah, that was gonna be the H and the T.
So if you don't know signlanguage, this is the letter H
and this is the letter T.
Okay, with your thumb right inbetween.
So and it stands for literallyhuman trafficking, okay.
And if you're ever confused, I Iknow there might be different
signs in each airport.
Ladies, if you're in thebathroom, they're pretty much on
every single bathroom stall.
Every single bathroom stall willtell you if you need help.
(11:10):
This is the hand signal.
Here's how you let people know.
So, you know, if you're walkingby someone, tap their shoulder
so that they turn around, do itbehind your back.
Or, you know, I'm not gonna lie,I would be the worst kidnap
victim because I'm just gonnasit there and start screaming
bloody murder, and I'm justgonna start screaming fire.
I'm gonna learn the word fire inany language I need to learn
(11:30):
because that's something thatgets everyone's attention for
sure.
I'd be the worst person tokidnap.
They would absolutely return me.
Absolutely return me.
SPEAKER_01 (11:40):
Well, I do think I do think it's good to know the
hand gestures though.
Um, and so anywhere and be onthe lookout because typically it
is younger, like not people thatprobably maybe can't be like
Jackie and like I'm gonna beatyou down.
You're not gonna get me.
Um, so I I think that that isabsolutely something to be aware
(12:04):
of.
There could be other issuesthough, too, not just like
you've been abducted or oranything like that.
It could even just be socialanxiety, like what if you're
going to a wedding?
Or what if you're like what ifyou're going to meet your
in-laws or your future in-laws?
Like, there's all kinds ofanxiety.
You can and if you're liketraveling abroad, or if you're
(12:27):
going, you know, being homesickor away from away from your
family or loved ones.
I know that I I know it's kindof lame, but I look at Riley
when I'm away.
I I'm looking, my kids are like,you care more about the dog than
us.
I'm looking at pictures of Rileywhen I'm away, and I'm just that
puppy.
He loves me so much.
(12:47):
Oh, that's funny.
SPEAKER_02 (12:49):
Your kids know you love them too.
It's okay.
SPEAKER_01 (12:51):
I do, and I'm gonna give a shout out to Mr.
Alex, who turns 18 today.
Happy birthday, Alex! Alex,you're officially an adult.
SPEAKER_02 (13:00):
Three more years so we can go get wasted.
unknown (13:02):
I'm just kidding.
SPEAKER_02 (13:03):
Just kidding.
Just kidding, mom.
He's not he's not a drinker atall.
He's not interested in any ofthat.
Thank you.
That's probably for the best.
Well, good, then he'll do greattraveling.
Excellent.
But again, guys, I mean, youknow, grab that drink.
Absolutely nothing against that.
You know, I know it helps.
It definitely, you know, canhelp.
SPEAKER_01 (13:22):
It takes the edge off for me.
SPEAKER_02 (13:24):
It does, absolutely.
And I've seen it.
The only thing I tell people,you know, I've I definitely had
this guy come in one time early,early morning, right?
Most places start servingusually around 7 a.m.
So it was like maybe 7.15.
He was taking a morning flight.
Came in, stood at the bar,ordered a double shot of
tequila.
I was like, okay, good morning.
(13:44):
You know, let's get the daystarted.
So gave him this double shot,slammed it down, said, okay, I
need another one.
Now, typically the rule is ifthey're having a double, it
needs to be at least, you know,like 20 minutes.
Let them have some food, have aconversation.
So, you know, immediately I'mlike, hey, where are we flying
to?
Where are we going?
SPEAKER_01 (14:02):
So you're trying to engage him in a conversation.
SPEAKER_02 (14:05):
I kind of want to know a little bit.
Well, he's about to hop on thisplane for this really big
meeting with all these bosses,and he was super, super nervous
about it.
I made him talk to me for like,you know, about five, six
minutes or so.
He seemed okay.
I did serve him.
You know, it's one of thosethings, bartender's judgment.
I stand behind everything Ipour.
I served him and he put down thesecond double.
(14:26):
He's like, Can I have anotherone?
And I said, We're gonna have totalk for about 15, 20 minutes
before I give you anything.
And I'm only gonna give you asingle at that.
So sat for a little bit, he atesome toast.
After a little while, I gave himone more shot, very briefly
after some food, and he was onhis way.
Perfectly fine.
And at that point, you know,being in the airport, I
definitely have that minute of,am I gonna see the cops walking
(14:48):
back with this guy who's wastedor anything?
SPEAKER_01 (14:51):
But everyone has a different type of alcohol to
drinking, you know.
SPEAKER_02 (14:56):
Everyone also has a different tolerance.
I I have a very, very hightolerance.
SPEAKER_01 (15:00):
I I would be on the floor if he heard me that.
I I wouldn't even have been ableto finish the first double shot.
SPEAKER_02 (15:07):
That's just no, see, and like that's how I drink.
Like you mean is double shot, noice, no mixer, no whatever.
I'll take it, no problem.
We're moving on.
Like, that's fine.
So I get it, but that's alsowhy, you know, if you're at the
bar and you're just like, I justwant to sit here quietly.
Why are these bartendersbothering me?
SPEAKER_01 (15:24):
It's kind of our job.
SPEAKER_02 (15:26):
Yeah, we do, we do.
I mean, we we should be beingnice as well.
SPEAKER_01 (15:30):
Well, so those are things that you're talking about
pre-travel, but then okay, sonow we're like, let's just go
back to the airport because thatto me, I think that's the
biggest fear of anybody isflying and getting up and
flying.
So there's things that you canabsolutely pack that are kind of
like your little securityblankets, your creature
(15:52):
comforts, right?
If you will.
So standard ones that are justoff the top of my head, I know a
lot of people do the beats orthe noise canceling headphones.
I think that could bebeneficial.
Some people do eye masks,although I'm so afraid of being
pickpocketed.
I mean, but that is some peoplejust like to block out the
light, and the the then I cannotget over how many people can
(16:16):
fall asleep on a plane.
Like, literally, I've seensomebody get into the seat and
sit next to me, and they weresnoring within five minutes.
And I'm just like, Oh, yeah,that's a superpower that I do
not possess, by the way.
I cannot do daytime napping, andI especially cannot do it on a
plane.
But some of the other things arelike, you know, the pillows, the
the whole pillows, the neckpillows, yeah.
(16:38):
So that or the weighted blanketsso that you feel like you're in
this little cushy nest.
I know some of the apps, some ofthe apps, I don't have the apps,
but I've heard some of the appsare really good to just listen
to, and then they just help youget into your zen spot.
Do you have apps on your phone?
SPEAKER_02 (16:57):
I do.
I have one that's called theWhite Noise app, which I highly
recommend.
It has a whole library of alldifferent types of sounds that
are relaxing, a good mix ofsounds.
So if you're someone who likesjust that background noise, it's
an excellent app and it's freeas far as I know.
The only other one that I'veheard of, and I think we've
talked about this, was that Calmapp, which I'm not a huge
(17:18):
advocate of.
I know that there's a cost toit.
SPEAKER_01 (17:21):
But nothing spicy.
I think it's like$7.99 a monthif you want to, if you want to
get access to all of themeditations, right?
SPEAKER_02 (17:29):
So maybe like just for the trip, you want to look
at something like that, or evencomfort movies and TV shows, you
know, make sure that you justdownload them.
I'm all I'm always that personwho forgets, and I'm like inline
boarding, like, oh crap, I'msupposed to download my episode.
So maybe just set a reminder anddownload it in the airport.
But yeah, those are definitelysome really good comforts for
(17:50):
you guys.
SPEAKER_01 (17:51):
Yeah, I like all about comfort and familiarity,
definitely.
Another thing I heard about isearseeds.
Have you heard of this?
SPEAKER_02 (17:59):
I haven't heard of those.
What exactly are those?
SPEAKER_01 (18:02):
So, earseeds, it's a small little adhesive pellets
that you put on your ear anddifferent, like so, like one
would go different pressurepoints.
It all comes down to like aChinese medicine of acupuncture.
I've not used them, but I heardthey are pretty good to help
calm people.
(18:23):
And you know, if you doacupuncture or you do any of
that, same with the tapping.
I've heard like tapping can besomething.
Breathing techniques, that'sdefinitely another one.
So I don't really have any.
We were talking about thisearlier.
I don't have any specificbreathing techniques, but for
(18:43):
me, I typically breathe inthrough my nose, like four
upbeats and out through mymouth.
But that's just like mypersonal, that does tend to calm
me.
Do you have any breathingtechniques or anything that you
know of that is your go-to?
SPEAKER_02 (19:00):
I don't know that I personally use them.
So the one you were talkingabout, you know, just kind of
counting in, counting out.
Slow breathing is definitelyhelpful.
There are some, I mean, theyhave names, so there's what they
call the box technique, which isbreathing in for four counts,
holding it for four counts,breathe out for four counts, and
no breath for four counts,right?
So it's like a box (19:20):
four, four, four, and four.
Okay, so you're just kind ofvery slowly breathing in
controlled.
And then there's also one that'scalled the triangle, which is
just three in, three, hold,breathe in for three, hold for
three, breathe out for three.
So really it's just calming andcontrolling yourself.
So whether you're counting tofour, five, six.
I mean, maybe try not countingto like 15 or 20, but you know,
(19:44):
pick a number, a few in, maybehold it for a few seconds.
SPEAKER_01 (19:48):
Don't don't don't even go for 15.
Like your goal should be likethree or four.
Let's just start simple people.
Don't we're not trying to holdour breath in the pool, we're
not going for Olympic medals.
SPEAKER_02 (20:00):
You said I had to hold my breath.
Everyone passing on the airport.
SPEAKER_01 (20:04):
No, that's not what we said.
SPEAKER_02 (20:07):
Like, I promise that's not what we said.
So please, please, pleasebreathe, guys.
Okay, breathe.
Few seconds in, few seconds out,okay?
SPEAKER_01 (20:13):
Breathe.
Be like Drew Barrymore inCinderella.
So, yes, breathing techniquescan be fabulous.
Now, if you are literally in apanic state, this is a new
technique to reset that I hadn'theard before before now.
It's the five four three twoone.
(20:36):
Have you heard of this method?
SPEAKER_02 (20:41):
I hadn't before we discussed it.
So yeah, let's talk about it.
SPEAKER_01 (20:46):
Yeah, so do you know what the five is?
Five things you can see.
So if you're like if you're solet's just say I'm kind of
hyperventilating.
I'm like I'm in a state whereI'm I'm not okay.
I'm definitely on the verge of apanic attack.
So these are things that I'mgonna try to do.
SPEAKER_02 (21:06):
Hold on, I'm gonna pause you because our whole
video just stopped for a minute.
Hold on.
SPEAKER_01 (21:11):
Oh, it didn't stop on my end.
SPEAKER_02 (21:14):
It stopped on my end, so just in case, uh we're
just gonna back up to thebeginning of you talking about
the 54321.
Okay.
Give it a second.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (21:29):
Okay.
So the other thing is we talkedabout like so the breathing is
good, the breathing is good, butif you actually are in a state
of or on the verge of an actualpanic attack or anxiety attack,
there is a method called the54321 that is supposed to ground
you, um, emergency grounding.
Have you heard of this?
SPEAKER_02 (21:50):
I haven't before we talked about it, so tell me
more.
SPEAKER_01 (21:54):
I think it's definitely beneficial.
So I I I hope to not have toimplement this, but at least I
know and I can help somebodyelse if need be.
So five, the first is five.
So five things that you can seeimmediately.
You just need to be looking forfive things that you can see
outside your window.
Whether I hope you're not atlike 3,000 feet because it's
(22:16):
mostly going to be clouds in theskies.
Then it's like outside yourwindow, and then it's gonna be
let's look for somebody with ahat, let's look with somebody
for glasses.
Like you're just resetting yourbutton to see five things that I
can see.
Let's move on to number four.
Number four is four things thatyou can feel.
(22:36):
So now we're looking we'relooking for tactile sensory,
we're moving through thesensory, so now we're paying
attention to the cloth thetexture of your clothing.
If I have if I have my bling,which I always will have, then
maybe I'm tech talking aboutfeeling my necklace or feeling
my bling or something like that.
So you're gonna touch fourdifferent things.
(22:57):
You can touch your boobs if youwant to, yeah, and maybe not
other people.
SPEAKER_02 (23:01):
I will just say that.
Please don't go around touchingeverybody in the airport.
SPEAKER_01 (23:05):
Touch your own boobs.
SPEAKER_02 (23:06):
They said I had to touch stuff.
SPEAKER_01 (23:09):
Miss D said that I could go for the double D's.
No, only touch stuff andwhatever, and let's just move on
from there.
SPEAKER_02 (23:19):
Okay, yes, just to clarify.
SPEAKER_01 (23:24):
Yes.
So now we're listening forsounds of you know, children
crying, or like, or a cock, abeverage pouring, or this is now
three things you can hear.
Okay.
We've already done the fivethings we can see, the four
things that we can feel, thethree things that we can hear.
(23:44):
So now we're listening, we're sowe're getting lower and lower,
and we're trying to containourselves.
Then we're looking for twothings that we can smell.
Because smells do take you someplaces, you know what I mean?
Hopefully, in a good way, ifyou're in this situation, I
would maybe, I mean, if you havelike I actually have in my
purse, I have a little, I havelike a little, it looks like a
(24:07):
big vapor rub, but it smellslike bergam bergamot and
something calming, like vanilla.
And and I bust it out, and itreally is like it really does
give me a reset.
Some people like peppermint.
Some people think peppermint islike if you're feeling uh
headache when people put ontheir temples.
(24:29):
Right, right, right.
So then you think of two thingsthat you can smell, and then it
comes down to one thing you cantaste.
So that might be trickier on aplane if you have a stick of
gum, if you have, you know,something like that, it or or
you know, if you really like thelittle biscottis, whatever tums,
(24:50):
an altoid.
Again, that mint.
I think alttoid, some peoplereally go for that mint flavor.
Yeah.
It kind of is like a just makesyou feel more relaxed or you've
gotten so the 54321 method.
I really have not had to use it,but it's supposed to be quite
effective.
(25:11):
And I think it's worth havingeverybody know that that is
something that you could try.
SPEAKER_02 (25:17):
Absolutely.
Yeah, no, I really like that.
And you're right, it is kind ofa definitely a grounding thing.
If you're starting to payattention to your surroundings,
you're kind of getting more andmore into yourself with it.
And I love that.
The only other thing that Iwould love to add is when we
talk about the smell, and youwere talking about, you know,
you do carry essential oilssometimes with you.
That was something that Ithought about when we were
(25:38):
talking about the neck pillow.
I know sometimes they have thosecalming sprays or like the
aerosol ones.
I've seen people spray theirpillow.
So when they're sleeping, youknow, they're smelling it, it's
a little more natural.
I've definitely seen, you know,when you're talking about the
roll-on, rolling it on yourwrists, rolling it on your neck.
They weren't talking aboutpeople putting peppermint on and
stuff.
So if you're into oils or youcarry anything like that, they
(26:00):
always have little travel sizesthat you guys are.
SPEAKER_01 (26:06):
Like if you have the small, small quantities, you
absolutely can take that withyou on your and in your bags, in
your purse.
SPEAKER_02 (26:12):
Or a little travel hack or a little travel tip.
I've seen ladies take like thoseempty little circle containers,
they'll put a little bit ofunscented lotion in it, and then
they'll squeeze either theirperfume, their essential oil
over it or whatever, and itbecomes a little container of
lotion.
If you're worried about takingthe actual liquid, mix with some
(26:33):
unscented lotion, then you canrub it anywhere and you still
get that smell without havingthe actual spray.
So it's all that on Facebook.
I was like, that's genius.
I the hack was mostly used forlike taking your favorite
perfumes.
You know, if you have a bigbottle of perfume, expensive,
right?
Yes, and they'll just throw itaway through TSA.
So unscented lotion ladies cantake you very, very far.
(26:57):
So yeah, just wanted to add.
SPEAKER_01 (27:00):
So even when we're so just going back through the
so we've talked a lot about likedifferent travel anxiety hacks
for um today, but just also Iwill say another one if you're
walking through the airport, orit's not like if you're not in a
panic, but you just feelanxiety, we're not at the 54321,
(27:21):
but you're just feeling a littlelike okay.
I feel the nerves.
Yeah, I'm feeling a little likeI feel like okay.
Another thing that I recentlylearned about is a color walk.
Do you know what a color walkis?
SPEAKER_02 (27:34):
I didn't know.
I'd never heard of a color walkbefore.
SPEAKER_01 (27:37):
This has become popular, and I think I think
that what happened when 2020,when COVID shut everything down,
people started going out moreand they started walking more
and they started looking intonature more, just doing things
that so I will say a color walkis designed to just help your
body focus on things that arenot anxiety.
(28:00):
So if I uh if my color walk, ifI was to pick yellow, like say
my color, so I would lookthrough the airport and I would
look for anybody wearing ayellow jacket or a yellow hat or
buggage that has yellow on it.
Same thing with if you're out innature too, a simple walk can
reset you and you're justlooking for a color that means
(28:20):
something to you.
My mom's favorite color ispurple.
I love purple, so I might choosepurple and I might just go out
and look for everything purplethat I could find in the
airport, in nature, wherever Iam, just to kind of be more
grounded and refocus my shift tofinding something rather than
worrying about something.
So I think that could be a verycolor walks, it are become
(28:44):
really popular in the last fewyears.
And I I've been doing it alittle more, and I really enjoy
color walks.
I do think that it they'redefinitely something to get your
mind focused on something else,other than worrying about what
your current worry is, whateverthat means.
SPEAKER_02 (29:00):
Right, right, right.
No, I absolutely love that, andeven with that, something using
a technique like that isobviously really great for you
and yourself.
If part of your anxiety isbecause you're traveling with
little ones or traveling withkids, and maybe you're concerned
about how they're going to behandling it all, you know, maybe
that's the anxiety.
Something like a color walkcould be a fun game.
(29:21):
Um, you can modify it, right?
How many yellow shoes can wefind?
Any type of suitcases, right?
It can be any object, anythinglike that.
So whether you're playing agame, you know, to distract your
mind or distract your kids'minds or something, it's just a
great little thing to play,right?
SPEAKER_01 (29:38):
So I love that.
Any type, any type ofanti-anxiety method that we can
throw out there and help yougoing forward, we absolutely
would love to do that.
So we'd also like to hear likeif you've had like a horrible or
a really good experience andwhat you did to overcome that
anxiety and that worked for you.
(30:00):
That maybe we have notmentioned.
We're always up to hear morefrom our listeners as to what we
could do to improve.
And absolutely, we'd love tohear from our listeners about
that.
If you have suggestions.
SPEAKER_02 (30:13):
Absolutely.
Yeah.
And always, guys, you know, withtravel, I know we mentioned this
earlier when they asked about,you know, how I feel about
travel planning or if I'msomeone who kind of gets
anxious.
And I am.
So I'm definitely someone who'slike, you know, I know we know
park and what I know, right?
I know.
It's just it's a thing.
But you know, I know where topark.
I know if I walk throughsecurity, I gotta figure out
(30:35):
where the gate is and find whereI'm at and just take it one step
at a time.
Okay.
You don't have to think fromeverything, right?
Right now, drive to the airport,find a parking spot, get inside,
find security, right?
Take it step by step.
Go get your drink.
Because that's a very importantpart of the list that we do
before we get on a flight.
(30:55):
Okay.
Very important.
If you drink, right?
Um don't go around saying Jackiemade me drink.
I promise.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (31:02):
That's not what we're advocating.
But you know, however, you doyou in whatever way that you
keep it.
But I would say also giveyourself extra time.
If you're an anxious person, youdon't know if you find the
parking right away.
Maybe you have to circle backaround and that takes an extra
five minutes.
And now you're already like, ohshit, I'm behind.
(31:24):
I'm gonna miss my flight.
I'm gonna miss my flight.
So always give yourself extratime.
I would say that is definitely ahack for if you're an anxious
traveler, whether it's whetherit's going to an airport, which
can be also because those planeswill not wait for you, people.
You might think you'reimportant, but you're not.
You're not when they take off,they take off, and you're gonna
(31:46):
be fine if you did not haveadequate timing.
SPEAKER_02 (31:49):
Not care.
SPEAKER_01 (31:50):
You can be a CEO, you can be whoever.
You can they will leave withouttrends.
So I'm just saying, giveyourself extra time and and and
same with driving.
If you know you've got a longday, wake up a little earlier,
get you a cup of coffee, getthat little bit of food, and
whether you need to do ameditation or a little bit of
(32:10):
breathing, just make sure you'regiving yourself the time and
you're not setting yourself upfor a disaster.
Because once you're in thatanxious moment, it's definitely
harder to bring yourself backthan if you don't let yourself
spiral in the first place.
So today we're trying to set youup with these just really
helpful tips on how to traveland be less anxious.
(32:33):
So I mean, I think I think forme, my next anxious thing is
gonna be solo traveling.
I'm not ready to do that, but Ithink that would probably be my
most anxious is to do a solotrip.
But I'm to not have to do a solotrip.
But what would you what do youthink yours is?
SPEAKER_02 (32:54):
I'm a little on the opposite of that for you, and
probably because I've done a lotof traveling by myself,
honestly.
I think I get I get a little bitmore anxious when I'm traveling
with people because you know,for me, when I'm by myself, I
can just do things my way, youknow, I can do whatever I want,
pack however I want.
Right.
It's all kind of like on my owntiming and everything.
(33:15):
When I travel with other people,I'm a very empathetic person
too.
So I'm like, what are theydoing?
Are they on schedule?
Do they have what they need?
Is everyone good?
Are they happy?
Do I need to move this?
And it makes me a little bitmore anxious, especially if I'm
you know sharing a room withthem or something, you know,
like was that weird?
Should I move that out of theirway?
Like it it actually raises thebar a little bit for me.
SPEAKER_01 (33:36):
Yeah, so that's so interesting.
SPEAKER_02 (33:38):
Yeah, that's very which is also why you can't
travel with everybody.
I do feel like traveling is abig determination on
relationships, friendship,whatever it is.
If you can travel with them,that's a good thing.
SPEAKER_01 (33:51):
That is a those are facts.
Those are facts.
SPEAKER_02 (33:54):
Absolutely.
But I definitely hope thishelped everybody.
I definitely hope there are sometechniques that we were able to
talk about.
And coming from two somewhatanxious travelers, you know, we
might know a thing or two.
So please, please let us knowyour anxieties too, because I
know we're not the only ones,right?
It can't just be us two.
Not just us.
SPEAKER_01 (34:14):
More people than we think.
But yeah, right.
I think that'll wrap up today.
So thanks for hanging with us,and we'll see you next episode.
Safe travels as always.
Bye guys.
Hi guys, so welcome to Suitcase Divas.
We are now officially in seasonthree.
So welcome, welcome, welcome, mybeautiful co-host Jackie G.
And I am Denise D.
So today we are gonna talk abouta travel anxiety toolkit.
So what let's do let's just do alittle check-in.
(00:36):
How are you feeling?
Like if you had to travel today,Jackie G, how are you feeling?
SPEAKER_02 (00:41):
It would it would still give me some anxiety if I
had to travel today.
And I can't I can't even saythis just because of the
particular day.
I think travel always gives me aslight level of anxiety.
So yes, if I was travelingtoday, I might feel a little
anxious.
So what about you?
What if you had to travel today?
SPEAKER_01 (01:00):
Well, those of you that know me know that I am
anxious every day, especiallywhen traveling.
Yeah, I am definitely one ofthose people that struggles to
travel.
Not so much a car, but there'sdifferent ways we travel, right?
So let's let's kind of let'smaybe kind of get into that a
(01:22):
little bit later.
But we've all been there, we'veall been a little stressed, but
you have a little bit moreinsight because you worked in an
airport, right?
SPEAKER_02 (01:31):
Yeah, so we'll talk about one of the main ways to
travel by air, right?
We definitely fly a lot ofplaces for sure.
So yes, I have worked in theairport.
Um, I used to work in the DallasLovefield Airport, which is one
of the smaller ones, right?
That is the Southwest Hub.
So not a huge, huge one, butdefinitely gave me just a
different look, right?
I've been a traveler, I've beenon the other side of it and had
(01:53):
kind of those anxieties, butworking in the airport and
seeing people come through,being able to watch how everyone
handles it has just been really,really interesting.
So one of the things I do wantto touch on, just because I've
seen this in so many differentforms, is people who are
anxious, right?
And again, I was a bartender, somaybe they come in for a drink
(02:15):
or two.
Okay.
So nothing wrong with that.
Like so, nothing wrong withthat.
I'm all about a travel drink.
That's definitely, you know,something that you can treat
yourself with at the airport andeverything.
So first and foremost, makefriends with your bartenders,
okay?
If anything's gonna go wrong,they are always there, they're
always circling, and they aretrained to look out for it.
(02:37):
Okay.
We do take specific training towatch for people, to have
conversations with people, tokind of see how you're feeling
and everything.
So, no, they're not being nosy.
They're just trying to help youout.
Okay.
So let's say you're someone whodoes get anxious.
Maybe you took a little bit ofmedication before you came to
the airport.
Okay.
And with that, you decided to goand have a drink.
(02:58):
Okay.
So just one of the cautions thatI like to tell people is please
be careful with mixing alcoholand medication.
Okay.
Those are very, very seriousthings.
And Denise, I don't know ifyou've ever experienced that or
I don't have anxiety medicine.
SPEAKER_01 (03:14):
Not that I think that there's anything wrong with
that.
I'm definitely an advocate forif you take medication, you
absolutely take medication.
But I'm kind of one of the oldself-coping methods, which is
the only method.
I'm probably getting a mimosa.
Right.
That definitely calms me.
But I don't, I would never mixmy medicine with alcohol.
SPEAKER_02 (03:37):
Right, right.
So for some people, it can bekind of like that extra level of
anxiety, like, oh, themedications are kicking in, let
me have a drink.
So I'll just tell you guys alittle story.
Okay.
This is sometimes what canhappen.
So I was bartending one evening.
This is something that it's oneof those stories, like, I really
wish I'd seen the end of itbecause I'm so curious.
So I was bartending one night.
(03:58):
Towards the end, we're in likethe last hour-ish of bar time,
right?
This lady comes in, she just hasa little purse on her, like a
little makeup box.
That's it.
Okay.
She sits at the bar, she ordersan old fashioned.
I make her an old fashioned oneof that.
It's okay, an old fashioned is abourbon-based drink.
So it's about, you know, a shotand a half-ish of bourbon, some
(04:20):
bitters, and it's the pretty onewith the cherry and the orange
and everything.
So very classy drink, you know,not overly strong.
And she spent about half an houror so sipping on the first one.
Okay, half an hour or so sippingon the first one.
SPEAKER_01 (04:34):
What time of night is this at this point?
SPEAKER_02 (04:36):
So this is probably about like nine, about nine
o'clock.
We closed around 10.
So about nine o'clock at night.
Had a conversation with her,because I say hi to everybody,
make sure they're not drunk whenthey first come in.
And she was fine.
Just sipped on her one drinkafter she finished it, about 10
minutes later, asked for asecond one.
So she's in there about 40minutes now.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (04:57):
And you're like, one more.
What can it hurt?
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (05:00):
Like it's fine at the airport.
I totally get it.
And just for those of you whomaybe aren't bartenders or maybe
don't know alcohol content,right?
One drink over the course ofhalf an hour, 40 minutes is
absolutely fine.
I would not expect anybody to beacting out after that.
Okay.
So I served her her second drinkin a plastic cup.
We're closing, right?
She had to go.
(05:20):
And she didn't even touch it,but she just started not being
able to speak comprehensively.
I was trying to explain to her,like, hey, it's time to sign out
and cash your check.
And her eyes got real droopy andshe just sat there, uh-huh.
Okay.
Mm-hmm.
Thank you.
And that's all she said for fiveminutes.
I talked with her.
I had a manager come over andtalked with her.
(05:43):
We ended up having to call twopolice officers up to come and
speak with her.
And they're like, ma'am, youknow, you need to pay, you need
to close your check.
And she just kept smiling andnodding and say, uh-huh.
Thank you.
As they're handcuffing her.
She's thanking the cops andeverything.
And the craziest thing was theysearched her, no wallet, no ID,
no credit card, no debit card,nothing on her.
(06:05):
I don't know how she got on theplane.
No idea.
But it was one of those things,you know, that I have to, as a
bartender, have to explain thisis what I served her, this is
the conversation we had.
They did find some medication inher bag.
So, like maybe she took somemedication and then came and
drank.
And now she's completelydisoriented.
Okay.
So she and as far as I know, shedid end up missing her flight.
(06:26):
Because you know, once thathappens, they take you down to
the drunk tank, etc.
And I'm so curious.
SPEAKER_01 (06:31):
I don't know how this lady got to the airport
with no ID, but maybe she leftit somewhere in the bathroom or
some shit.
SPEAKER_02 (06:38):
I don't know.
I don't know.
But see, and with that airport,she was coming from a plane and
connecting to another plane.
So uh anyway, we were all very,very confused.
But all that to say, guys, bevery, very careful in the
airport.
Definitely watch yourself, takeyour medication, let them know
you're on medication.
There's no embarrassment aboutit.
(06:59):
We don't judge you, but we justwant to be able to help you.
Okay.
And you know, we're happy toserve the alcohol.
No problem.
I totally get a travel, mimosa.
Just let us know, you know.
So, you know, if you pass out orsomething.
SPEAKER_01 (07:11):
One thing I will say, and then you said she was a
solo traveler.
One thing I will say when whenwe traveled with the kids, when
my when my kids were younger, Iwas like the mom, like I was in
charge.
I mean, I needed to make sureeverybody had their stuff, all
my kids were taken care of.
So I didn't really do the mimosaor whatever.
I was just more like rigid,like, okay, let's get the kids
(07:32):
from point A to point B andwe're here.
Right.
Now that I'm an empty nester,I'm like, I cannot wait to show
up at the airport and have amimosa.
Yes.
So a highlight of traveling.
There's different angs for me,different anxiety times.
The other thing is, I don't evenremember the last time I
traveled solo.
So I typically travel with otherpeople.
(07:54):
So there's always people aroundme that are could be like, hey,
Denise, maybe three mimosas toomuch.
I do never say that.
So quite funny.
Yeah, know your limits anddefinitely don't mix medication
with alcohol because thisabsolutely can be ramifications
to that as you witnessed.
Absolutely.
(08:15):
Yeah.
So so we're talking about theairport, but there are
definitely other travel anxietycategories.
So flying fears was our firstone.
Um another one I'm seeing isplanning overwhelm.
Too many choices, fear ofmissing out.
SPEAKER_02 (08:32):
Oh, yeah.
I feel like that's a big one.
That's a big one for me.
SPEAKER_01 (08:34):
You do have that?
Okay.
So so what are you saying?
Like if you want everythingstructured and if something goes
wrong and you don't have abackup plan, you kind of spiral,
or how does that work for you?
SPEAKER_02 (08:48):
I don't know if it's that I spiral.
I think sometimes I'm trying tofit so much into a time, or I
want to make sure that I seeeverything.
And I mean, like, even, youknow, for myself and even in
business, I've heard peoplelike, okay, we're traveling to
this destination.
We have 10 days, we're probablynever coming here again.
I want to do it all.
I want to see it all.
(09:08):
And you know, and if somethingdoesn't go wrong or doesn't go
right, you know, it's like, do Ihave a backup plan?
Can I go see something else?
Did I miss this?
Did I miss out on that?
So it's I get it.
I can kind of get those planningoverwhelmed.
So I wouldn't say I'd spiral oranything.
I'd be concerned and worriedthat I was wasting time, maybe.
SPEAKER_01 (09:29):
Right.
Now I get that too.
So for me, paranoid Patty.
I'm more like mine are more likesafety concerns, like if I'm
traveling to another country.
And my biggest concern, as y'allknow, is I feel like some at
some point somebody's gonna tryto human traffic me.
It's been a concern.
I know it's probably notrealistic.
SPEAKER_02 (09:48):
You're just so pretty.
I mean, you know.
SPEAKER_01 (09:54):
Mine is just like, I don't know.
Like, what if I don't know theprotocols or and this is why I
don't travel alone?
Because I am afraid, like, whatdo I I would not know how to
react if I was absconded bypeople in the airport and
they're like, we're coming withus outside of kicking and
screaming, I really and and thehand the hand gesture.
(10:14):
Listen, you and I, when we weredoing this, the hand gesture is
important for everybody to know.
So if you are in a situationwhere you have been taken by
somebody and they're forcefullytaking you and you can't scream
or you feel like you'rethreatened and you're not in a
position, the whole open, closedpalm and letting people know,
(10:35):
and then you can even do itbehind your back, and so that
your attacker's holding thisarm, you can still do that on
your back.
So it I would advise, andthere's one that's specifically
for human trafficking, and itgoes with the ASL.
SPEAKER_02 (10:48):
Yeah, that was gonna be the H and the T.
So if you don't know signlanguage, this is the letter H
and this is the letter T.
Okay, with your thumb right inbetween.
So and it stands for literallyhuman trafficking, okay.
And if you're ever confused, I Iknow there might be different
signs in each airport.
Ladies, if you're in thebathroom, they're pretty much on
every single bathroom stall.
Every single bathroom stall willtell you if you need help.
(11:10):
This is the hand signal.
Here's how you let people know.
So, you know, if you're walkingby someone, tap their shoulder
so that they turn around, do itbehind your back.
Or, you know, I'm not gonna lie,I would be the worst kidnap
victim because I'm just gonnasit there and start screaming
bloody murder, and I'm justgonna start screaming fire.
I'm gonna learn the word fire inany language I need to learn
(11:30):
because that's something thatgets everyone's attention for
sure.
I'd be the worst person tokidnap.
They would absolutely return me.
Absolutely return me.
SPEAKER_01 (11:40):
Well, I do think I do think it's good to know the
hand gestures though.
Um, and so anywhere and be onthe lookout because typically it
is younger, like not people thatprobably maybe can't be like
Jackie and like I'm gonna beatyou down.
You're not gonna get me.
Um, so I I think that that isabsolutely something to be aware
(12:04):
of.
There could be other issuesthough, too, not just like
you've been abducted or oranything like that.
It could even just be socialanxiety, like what if you're
going to a wedding?
Or what if you're like what ifyou're going to meet your
in-laws or your future in-laws?
Like, there's all kinds ofanxiety.
You can and if you're liketraveling abroad, or if you're
(12:27):
going, you know, being homesickor away from away from your
family or loved ones.
I know that I I know it's kindof lame, but I look at Riley
when I'm away.
I I'm looking, my kids are like,you care more about the dog than
us.
I'm looking at pictures of Rileywhen I'm away, and I'm just that
puppy.
He loves me so much.
(12:47):
Oh, that's funny.
SPEAKER_02 (12:49):
Your kids know you love them too.
It's okay.
SPEAKER_01 (12:51):
I do, and I'm gonna give a shout out to Mr.
Alex, who turns 18 today.
Happy birthday, Alex! Alex,you're officially an adult.
SPEAKER_02 (13:00):
Three more years so we can go get wasted.
unknown (13:02):
I'm just kidding.
SPEAKER_02 (13:03):
Just kidding.
Just kidding, mom.
He's not he's not a drinker atall.
He's not interested in any ofthat.
Thank you.
That's probably for the best.
Well, good, then he'll do greattraveling.
Excellent.
But again, guys, I mean, youknow, grab that drink.
Absolutely nothing against that.
You know, I know it helps.
It definitely, you know, canhelp.
SPEAKER_01 (13:22):
It takes the edge off for me.
SPEAKER_02 (13:24):
It does, absolutely.
And I've seen it.
The only thing I tell people,you know, I've I definitely had
this guy come in one time early,early morning, right?
Most places start servingusually around 7 a.m.
So it was like maybe 7.15.
He was taking a morning flight.
Came in, stood at the bar,ordered a double shot of
tequila.
I was like, okay, good morning.
(13:44):
You know, let's get the daystarted.
So gave him this double shot,slammed it down, said, okay, I
need another one.
Now, typically the rule is ifthey're having a double, it
needs to be at least, you know,like 20 minutes.
Let them have some food, have aconversation.
So, you know, immediately I'mlike, hey, where are we flying
to?
Where are we going?
SPEAKER_01 (14:02):
So you're trying to engage him in a conversation.
SPEAKER_02 (14:05):
I kind of want to know a little bit.
Well, he's about to hop on thisplane for this really big
meeting with all these bosses,and he was super, super nervous
about it.
I made him talk to me for like,you know, about five, six
minutes or so.
He seemed okay.
I did serve him.
You know, it's one of thosethings, bartender's judgment.
I stand behind everything Ipour.
I served him and he put down thesecond double.
(14:26):
He's like, Can I have anotherone?
And I said, We're gonna have totalk for about 15, 20 minutes
before I give you anything.
And I'm only gonna give you asingle at that.
So sat for a little bit, he atesome toast.
After a little while, I gave himone more shot, very briefly
after some food, and he was onhis way.
Perfectly fine.
And at that point, you know,being in the airport, I
definitely have that minute of,am I gonna see the cops walking
(14:48):
back with this guy who's wastedor anything?
SPEAKER_01 (14:51):
But everyone has a different type of alcohol to
drinking, you know.
SPEAKER_02 (14:56):
Everyone also has a different tolerance.
I I have a very, very hightolerance.
SPEAKER_01 (15:00):
I I would be on the floor if he heard me that.
I I wouldn't even have been ableto finish the first double shot.
SPEAKER_02 (15:07):
That's just no, see, and like that's how I drink.
Like you mean is double shot, noice, no mixer, no whatever.
I'll take it, no problem.
We're moving on.
Like, that's fine.
So I get it, but that's alsowhy, you know, if you're at the
bar and you're just like, I justwant to sit here quietly.
Why are these bartendersbothering me?
SPEAKER_01 (15:24):
It's kind of our job.
SPEAKER_02 (15:26):
Yeah, we do, we do.
I mean, we we should be beingnice as well.
SPEAKER_01 (15:30):
Well, so those are things that you're talking about
pre-travel, but then okay, sonow we're like, let's just go
back to the airport because thatto me, I think that's the
biggest fear of anybody isflying and getting up and
flying.
So there's things that you canabsolutely pack that are kind of
like your little securityblankets, your creature
(15:52):
comforts, right?
If you will.
So standard ones that are justoff the top of my head, I know a
lot of people do the beats orthe noise canceling headphones.
I think that could bebeneficial.
Some people do eye masks,although I'm so afraid of being
pickpocketed.
I mean, but that is some peoplejust like to block out the
light, and the the then I cannotget over how many people can
(16:16):
fall asleep on a plane.
Like, literally, I've seensomebody get into the seat and
sit next to me, and they weresnoring within five minutes.
And I'm just like, Oh, yeah,that's a superpower that I do
not possess, by the way.
I cannot do daytime napping, andI especially cannot do it on a
plane.
But some of the other things arelike, you know, the pillows, the
the whole pillows, the neckpillows, yeah.
(16:38):
So that or the weighted blanketsso that you feel like you're in
this little cushy nest.
I know some of the apps, some ofthe apps, I don't have the apps,
but I've heard some of the appsare really good to just listen
to, and then they just help youget into your zen spot.
Do you have apps on your phone?
SPEAKER_02 (16:57):
I do.
I have one that's called theWhite Noise app, which I highly
recommend.
It has a whole library of alldifferent types of sounds that
are relaxing, a good mix ofsounds.
So if you're someone who likesjust that background noise, it's
an excellent app and it's freeas far as I know.
The only other one that I'veheard of, and I think we've
talked about this, was that Calmapp, which I'm not a huge
(17:18):
advocate of.
I know that there's a cost toit.
SPEAKER_01 (17:21):
But nothing spicy.
I think it's like$7.99 a monthif you want to, if you want to
get access to all of themeditations, right?
SPEAKER_02 (17:29):
So maybe like just for the trip, you want to look
at something like that, or evencomfort movies and TV shows, you
know, make sure that you justdownload them.
I'm all I'm always that personwho forgets, and I'm like inline
boarding, like, oh crap, I'msupposed to download my episode.
So maybe just set a reminder anddownload it in the airport.
But yeah, those are definitelysome really good comforts for
(17:50):
you guys.
SPEAKER_01 (17:51):
Yeah, I like all about comfort and familiarity,
definitely.
Another thing I heard about isearseeds.
Have you heard of this?
SPEAKER_02 (17:59):
I haven't heard of those.
What exactly are those?
SPEAKER_01 (18:02):
So, earseeds, it's a small little adhesive pellets
that you put on your ear anddifferent, like so, like one
would go different pressurepoints.
It all comes down to like aChinese medicine of acupuncture.
I've not used them, but I heardthey are pretty good to help
calm people.
(18:23):
And you know, if you doacupuncture or you do any of
that, same with the tapping.
I've heard like tapping can besomething.
Breathing techniques, that'sdefinitely another one.
So I don't really have any.
We were talking about thisearlier.
I don't have any specificbreathing techniques, but for
(18:43):
me, I typically breathe inthrough my nose, like four
upbeats and out through mymouth.
But that's just like mypersonal, that does tend to calm
me.
Do you have any breathingtechniques or anything that you
know of that is your go-to?
SPEAKER_02 (19:00):
I don't know that I personally use them.
So the one you were talkingabout, you know, just kind of
counting in, counting out.
Slow breathing is definitelyhelpful.
There are some, I mean, theyhave names, so there's what they
call the box technique, which isbreathing in for four counts,
holding it for four counts,breathe out for four counts, and
no breath for four counts,right?
So it's like a box (19:20):
four, four, four, and four.
Okay, so you're just kind ofvery slowly breathing in
controlled.
And then there's also one that'scalled the triangle, which is
just three in, three, hold,breathe in for three, hold for
three, breathe out for three.
So really it's just calming andcontrolling yourself.
So whether you're counting tofour, five, six.
I mean, maybe try not countingto like 15 or 20, but you know,
(19:44):
pick a number, a few in, maybehold it for a few seconds.
SPEAKER_01 (19:48):
Don't don't don't even go for 15.
Like your goal should be likethree or four.
Let's just start simple people.
Don't we're not trying to holdour breath in the pool, we're
not going for Olympic medals.
SPEAKER_02 (20:00):
You said I had to hold my breath.
Everyone passing on the airport.
SPEAKER_01 (20:04):
No, that's not what we said.
SPEAKER_02 (20:07):
Like, I promise that's not what we said.
So please, please, pleasebreathe, guys.
Okay, breathe.
Few seconds in, few seconds out,okay?
SPEAKER_01 (20:13):
Breathe.
Be like Drew Barrymore inCinderella.
So, yes, breathing techniquescan be fabulous.
Now, if you are literally in apanic state, this is a new
technique to reset that I hadn'theard before before now.
It's the five four three twoone.
(20:36):
Have you heard of this method?
SPEAKER_02 (20:41):
I hadn't before we discussed it.
So yeah, let's talk about it.
SPEAKER_01 (20:46):
Yeah, so do you know what the five is?
Five things you can see.
So if you're like if you're solet's just say I'm kind of
hyperventilating.
I'm like I'm in a state whereI'm I'm not okay.
I'm definitely on the verge of apanic attack.
So these are things that I'mgonna try to do.
SPEAKER_02 (21:06):
Hold on, I'm gonna pause you because our whole
video just stopped for a minute.
Hold on.
SPEAKER_01 (21:11):
Oh, it didn't stop on my end.
SPEAKER_02 (21:14):
It stopped on my end, so just in case, uh we're
just gonna back up to thebeginning of you talking about
the 54321.
Okay.
Give it a second.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (21:29):
Okay.
So the other thing is we talkedabout like so the breathing is
good, the breathing is good, butif you actually are in a state
of or on the verge of an actualpanic attack or anxiety attack,
there is a method called the54321 that is supposed to ground
you, um, emergency grounding.
Have you heard of this?
SPEAKER_02 (21:50):
I haven't before we talked about it, so tell me
more.
SPEAKER_01 (21:54):
I think it's definitely beneficial.
So I I I hope to not have toimplement this, but at least I
know and I can help somebodyelse if need be.
So five, the first is five.
So five things that you can seeimmediately.
You just need to be looking forfive things that you can see
outside your window.
Whether I hope you're not atlike 3,000 feet because it's
(22:16):
mostly going to be clouds in theskies.
Then it's like outside yourwindow, and then it's gonna be
let's look for somebody with ahat, let's look with somebody
for glasses.
Like you're just resetting yourbutton to see five things that I
can see.
Let's move on to number four.
Number four is four things thatyou can feel.
(22:36):
So now we're looking we'relooking for tactile sensory,
we're moving through thesensory, so now we're paying
attention to the cloth thetexture of your clothing.
If I have if I have my bling,which I always will have, then
maybe I'm tech talking aboutfeeling my necklace or feeling
my bling or something like that.
So you're gonna touch fourdifferent things.
(22:57):
You can touch your boobs if youwant to, yeah, and maybe not
other people.
SPEAKER_02 (23:01):
I will just say that.
Please don't go around touchingeverybody in the airport.
SPEAKER_01 (23:05):
Touch your own boobs.
SPEAKER_02 (23:06):
They said I had to touch stuff.
SPEAKER_01 (23:09):
Miss D said that I could go for the double D's.
No, only touch stuff andwhatever, and let's just move on
from there.
SPEAKER_02 (23:19):
Okay, yes, just to clarify.
SPEAKER_01 (23:24):
Yes.
So now we're listening forsounds of you know, children
crying, or like, or a cock, abeverage pouring, or this is now
three things you can hear.
Okay.
We've already done the fivethings we can see, the four
things that we can feel, thethree things that we can hear.
(23:44):
So now we're listening, we're sowe're getting lower and lower,
and we're trying to containourselves.
Then we're looking for twothings that we can smell.
Because smells do take you someplaces, you know what I mean?
Hopefully, in a good way, ifyou're in this situation, I
would maybe, I mean, if you havelike I actually have in my
purse, I have a little, I havelike a little, it looks like a
(24:07):
big vapor rub, but it smellslike bergam bergamot and
something calming, like vanilla.
And and I bust it out, and itreally is like it really does
give me a reset.
Some people like peppermint.
Some people think peppermint islike if you're feeling uh
headache when people put ontheir temples.
(24:29):
Right, right, right.
So then you think of two thingsthat you can smell, and then it
comes down to one thing you cantaste.
So that might be trickier on aplane if you have a stick of
gum, if you have, you know,something like that, it or or
you know, if you really like thelittle biscottis, whatever tums,
(24:50):
an altoid.
Again, that mint.
I think alttoid, some peoplereally go for that mint flavor.
Yeah.
It kind of is like a just makesyou feel more relaxed or you've
gotten so the 54321 method.
I really have not had to use it,but it's supposed to be quite
effective.
(25:11):
And I think it's worth havingeverybody know that that is
something that you could try.
SPEAKER_02 (25:17):
Absolutely.
Yeah, no, I really like that.
And you're right, it is kind ofa definitely a grounding thing.
If you're starting to payattention to your surroundings,
you're kind of getting more andmore into yourself with it.
And I love that.
The only other thing that Iwould love to add is when we
talk about the smell, and youwere talking about, you know,
you do carry essential oilssometimes with you.
That was something that Ithought about when we were
(25:38):
talking about the neck pillow.
I know sometimes they have thosecalming sprays or like the
aerosol ones.
I've seen people spray theirpillow.
So when they're sleeping, youknow, they're smelling it, it's
a little more natural.
I've definitely seen, you know,when you're talking about the
roll-on, rolling it on yourwrists, rolling it on your neck.
They weren't talking aboutpeople putting peppermint on and
stuff.
So if you're into oils or youcarry anything like that, they
(26:00):
always have little travel sizesthat you guys are.
SPEAKER_01 (26:06):
Like if you have the small, small quantities, you
absolutely can take that withyou on your and in your bags, in
your purse.
SPEAKER_02 (26:12):
Or a little travel hack or a little travel tip.
I've seen ladies take like thoseempty little circle containers,
they'll put a little bit ofunscented lotion in it, and then
they'll squeeze either theirperfume, their essential oil
over it or whatever, and itbecomes a little container of
lotion.
If you're worried about takingthe actual liquid, mix with some
(26:33):
unscented lotion, then you canrub it anywhere and you still
get that smell without havingthe actual spray.
So it's all that on Facebook.
I was like, that's genius.
I the hack was mostly used forlike taking your favorite
perfumes.
You know, if you have a bigbottle of perfume, expensive,
right?
Yes, and they'll just throw itaway through TSA.
So unscented lotion ladies cantake you very, very far.
(26:57):
So yeah, just wanted to add.
SPEAKER_01 (27:00):
So even when we're so just going back through the
so we've talked a lot about likedifferent travel anxiety hacks
for um today, but just also Iwill say another one if you're
walking through the airport, orit's not like if you're not in a
panic, but you just feelanxiety, we're not at the 54321,
(27:21):
but you're just feeling a littlelike okay.
I feel the nerves.
Yeah, I'm feeling a little likeI feel like okay.
Another thing that I recentlylearned about is a color walk.
Do you know what a color walkis?
SPEAKER_02 (27:34):
I didn't know.
I'd never heard of a color walkbefore.
SPEAKER_01 (27:37):
This has become popular, and I think I think
that what happened when 2020,when COVID shut everything down,
people started going out moreand they started walking more
and they started looking intonature more, just doing things
that so I will say a color walkis designed to just help your
body focus on things that arenot anxiety.
(28:00):
So if I uh if my color walk, ifI was to pick yellow, like say
my color, so I would lookthrough the airport and I would
look for anybody wearing ayellow jacket or a yellow hat or
buggage that has yellow on it.
Same thing with if you're out innature too, a simple walk can
reset you and you're justlooking for a color that means
(28:20):
something to you.
My mom's favorite color ispurple.
I love purple, so I might choosepurple and I might just go out
and look for everything purplethat I could find in the
airport, in nature, wherever Iam, just to kind of be more
grounded and refocus my shift tofinding something rather than
worrying about something.
So I think that could be a verycolor walks, it are become
(28:44):
really popular in the last fewyears.
And I I've been doing it alittle more, and I really enjoy
color walks.
I do think that it they'redefinitely something to get your
mind focused on something else,other than worrying about what
your current worry is, whateverthat means.
SPEAKER_02 (29:00):
Right, right, right.
No, I absolutely love that, andeven with that, something using
a technique like that isobviously really great for you
and yourself.
If part of your anxiety isbecause you're traveling with
little ones or traveling withkids, and maybe you're concerned
about how they're going to behandling it all, you know, maybe
that's the anxiety.
Something like a color walkcould be a fun game.
(29:21):
Um, you can modify it, right?
How many yellow shoes can wefind?
Any type of suitcases, right?
It can be any object, anythinglike that.
So whether you're playing agame, you know, to distract your
mind or distract your kids'minds or something, it's just a
great little thing to play,right?
SPEAKER_01 (29:38):
So I love that.
Any type, any type ofanti-anxiety method that we can
throw out there and help yougoing forward, we absolutely
would love to do that.
So we'd also like to hear likeif you've had like a horrible or
a really good experience andwhat you did to overcome that
anxiety and that worked for you.
(30:00):
That maybe we have notmentioned.
We're always up to hear morefrom our listeners as to what we
could do to improve.
And absolutely, we'd love tohear from our listeners about
that.
If you have suggestions.
SPEAKER_02 (30:13):
Absolutely.
Yeah.
And always, guys, you know, withtravel, I know we mentioned this
earlier when they asked about,you know, how I feel about
travel planning or if I'msomeone who kind of gets
anxious.
And I am.
So I'm definitely someone who'slike, you know, I know we know
park and what I know, right?
I know.
It's just it's a thing.
But you know, I know where topark.
I know if I walk throughsecurity, I gotta figure out
(30:35):
where the gate is and find whereI'm at and just take it one step
at a time.
Okay.
You don't have to think fromeverything, right?
Right now, drive to the airport,find a parking spot, get inside,
find security, right?
Take it step by step.
Go get your drink.
Because that's a very importantpart of the list that we do
before we get on a flight.
(30:55):
Okay.
Very important.
If you drink, right?
Um don't go around saying Jackiemade me drink.
I promise.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (31:02):
That's not what we're advocating.
But you know, however, you doyou in whatever way that you
keep it.
But I would say also giveyourself extra time.
If you're an anxious person, youdon't know if you find the
parking right away.
Maybe you have to circle backaround and that takes an extra
five minutes.
And now you're already like, ohshit, I'm behind.
(31:24):
I'm gonna miss my flight.
I'm gonna miss my flight.
So always give yourself extratime.
I would say that is definitely ahack for if you're an anxious
traveler, whether it's whetherit's going to an airport, which
can be also because those planeswill not wait for you, people.
You might think you'reimportant, but you're not.
You're not when they take off,they take off, and you're gonna
(31:46):
be fine if you did not haveadequate timing.
SPEAKER_02 (31:49):
Not care.
SPEAKER_01 (31:50):
You can be a CEO, you can be whoever.
You can they will leave withouttrends.
So I'm just saying, giveyourself extra time and and and
same with driving.
If you know you've got a longday, wake up a little earlier,
get you a cup of coffee, getthat little bit of food, and
whether you need to do ameditation or a little bit of
(32:10):
breathing, just make sure you'regiving yourself the time and
you're not setting yourself upfor a disaster.
Because once you're in thatanxious moment, it's definitely
harder to bring yourself backthan if you don't let yourself
spiral in the first place.
So today we're trying to set youup with these just really
helpful tips on how to traveland be less anxious.
(32:33):
So I mean, I think I think forme, my next anxious thing is
gonna be solo traveling.
I'm not ready to do that, but Ithink that would probably be my
most anxious is to do a solotrip.
But I'm to not have to do a solotrip.
But what would you what do youthink yours is?
SPEAKER_02 (32:54):
I'm a little on the opposite of that for you, and
probably because I've done a lotof traveling by myself,
honestly.
I think I get I get a little bitmore anxious when I'm traveling
with people because you know,for me, when I'm by myself, I
can just do things my way, youknow, I can do whatever I want,
pack however I want.
Right.
It's all kind of like on my owntiming and everything.
(33:15):
When I travel with other people,I'm a very empathetic person
too.
So I'm like, what are theydoing?
Are they on schedule?
Do they have what they need?
Is everyone good?
Are they happy?
Do I need to move this?
And it makes me a little bitmore anxious, especially if I'm
you know sharing a room withthem or something, you know,
like was that weird?
Should I move that out of theirway?
Like it it actually raises thebar a little bit for me.
SPEAKER_01 (33:36):
Yeah, so that's so interesting.
SPEAKER_02 (33:38):
Yeah, that's very which is also why you can't
travel with everybody.
I do feel like traveling is abig determination on
relationships, friendship,whatever it is.
If you can travel with them,that's a good thing.
SPEAKER_01 (33:51):
That is a those are facts.
Those are facts.
SPEAKER_02 (33:54):
Absolutely.
But I definitely hope thishelped everybody.
I definitely hope there are sometechniques that we were able to
talk about.
And coming from two somewhatanxious travelers, you know, we
might know a thing or two.
So please, please let us knowyour anxieties too, because I
know we're not the only ones,right?
It can't just be us two.
Not just us.
SPEAKER_01 (34:14):
More people than we think.
But yeah, right.
I think that'll wrap up today.
So thanks for hanging with us,and we'll see you next episode.
Safe travels as always.
Bye guys.
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