Recent news about teen mental health may seem daunting, with studies indicating as many as one in three adolescents may battle with anxiety disorders. The growing recognition of the problem has sparked increased efforts to address the issue.
Travel programs are one tool that can make a big difference since they enable teens to learn how to manage new settings and new people while in a monitored environment. That can be a stepping stone to independent living in college and beyond. A number of Rustic alumni have shared how this certainly was the case with them.
This includes Victoria Hernandez Morales from Guadalajara, Mexico and Megan Gallagher from Los Angeles, California. Hernandez said she was really nervous when she first decided to do a service trip abroad, but her successful journey enabled her to overcome her self-doubts.
“We have so many fears that make us believe we won’t make any friends or that nobody will like us. Luckily, the worries don’t last long,” Hernandez said. “During my travels, there was a shift when I realized that I was actually being my most authentic self.”
Her success led her to catching the travel bug, taking part in eight other programs. Her barriers to success though may have been a bit smaller than Gallagher, who suffered from a challenging anxiety disorder in high school. In her Rustic blog, she shares how she was having more than ten panic attacks a day before she made her first student trip.
Megan, second from left, with other students from her group in New Orleans.
“It’s really hard to put into words the physical feeling of having that many panic attacks while trying to pay attention in class, having a social life, etc,” Gallagher said.
Despite her fears, Gallagher booked a Rustic trip in the U.S. While on the program, the activities kept her busy enough to distract her from her anxiety.
“For me, to travel to another state at 16 years old was a big deal. I constantly felt anxious, but it was a major breakthrough moment for me,” Gallagher said.
Gallagher learned so much from the experience she went on to be a motivational speaker who talks about overcoming anxiety. There are key reasons why travel can play a role in this growth.
Ways that teen travel can help with mental health
Taking a break from day-to-day struggles can go a long way towards easing anxiety. Among the reasons it helps are that students:
- Get away from sources of stress – While traveling there is no pressure to do homework or get good grades. It also takes teens away from peers who may be a source of stress for them in their everyday life
- Enjoy freedom from their social history – No one on a travel program will know if a teen is “popular” or has a certain image at school. Teenagers can reinvent themselves during a program to the person they want to be.
- Keep busy – Anxiety-related problems like racing thoughts can be worse when there is too much down time to ruminate.
- Get active and embrace nature – There are reams of studies on the mental health benefits of exercise and being outdoors. It provides Vitamin D, endorphins and so much more.
- Help others – A service-oriented project provides multiple benefits. We know helping others is good for mental health. Plus, service projects can give students perspective, enabling them to see the gifts they have in their lives.
- Laugh – This should hopefully be a given during a travel program, and as the cliché goes, “Laughter is the best medicine.”
- Increase confidence – Navigating through an independent trip allows teens to believe in themselves more. It enables them to see they can handle challenges on their own, despite their doubts.
None of this is to say the journey will be simple for a teen with an anxiety disorder. Therefore, it’s important to set realistic expectations. It’s also important to make proper preparations for any trip.
