About

My mission is to help fellow anxiety sufferers who want to travel: by sharing my experiences, providing anxiety tips, and delivering travel inspiration as I re-discover the world – if I can do it, so can you! Discover new experiences with me!

The name “That Anxious Traveller” could apply to a lot of people (there’s more of us than you might think), but this particular one lives in the UK, and has always dreamed of journeying around the world.  I had a period of my life when I was fairly fearless about travel, but after a few setbacks, my anxiety increased at a rapid rate, knocking my confidence and ability to consider going far. I’ve cancelled more trips than I care to think about, and in each case I’ve regretted it immediately. This blog is to document my baby steps back into travel – with the ultimate aim of building up the confidence to go backpacking, preferably in Asia! – whilst sharing my tales of woe to inspire others into not cancelling, not letting anxiety control your dreams. Also photographic delights, tips, reviews, general travel chat, wistful dreaming, and the occasional funny.

There may be some who’ll read this, and think, “pfff, how can you be writing a travel blog when you’re not backpacking around the world? Lolz.” To these people, I say two things: firstly, who thinks the word ‘lolz’ to themselves? And stop making horse noises. Secondly, I think that can be a restrictive view to have of travel blogging. Yes, backpacking around the world is wonderful, and I’d love to do it, and I want to do it, and I have complete admiration for my fellow bloggers who do just that. They’re the ones who’ve inspired me to go on this course of weaning myself back into seeing the world, and I’m hugely grateful to them for sharing their experiences. But travel can also be small-scale. Building up the foundations through local travel – and remember, what is local and familiar to you, can be exotic and exciting to someone else – and gaining that confidence to go further out into unknown territory. Sometimes it’s not just about the journey; it’s the journey to get to the journey. That can be as big and scary as the backpacking.

So, who is this blog for?

• People who want to see an anxiety sufferer attempt to beat the nerves and the self-doubt. Probably also people who want to see said anxiety sufferer experience various panics in various locations.
• People who are in a similar position – anxiety sufferers, the shy, the dreamers, the new travellers, the people who cannot travel for whatever reason, and who want to live vicariously or gain inspiration.
• People who have beaten their nerves, and are now living the travel dream – please, come and share your experiences and tips with us!
• People who are experienced adventurers, who have never suffered from anxiety – your input is also valuable, and this will give you an insight into how those anxious travellers think. Next time you spot one in a hostel, you’ll know how to bring them out of their shell, and make a new travel friend.
• Basically, everyone. You’re all welcome. Enjoy!