There are countless people who have never travelled, who have never left their homes to explore other areas and the condition they suffer from is called Hodophobia.
It is defined an an extreme irrational fear of travelling and in many cases is caused by a reaction to past situations that caused harm to the person, like an accident or a fire or trauma.
ALSO READ: Where to honeymoon in South Africa
Hodophobia sufferers are afraid of certain types of travel like trains, planes or ships – and others are more severe, they are afraid of all types of trips. Doctors in the United States recorded a higher number of cases after 9/11, and it took many years for passengers to gain trust in flying on a plane again.
Many patients have cases so severe it impedes their daily life and rationality. Heightened anxiety levels have a significant effect on people, even beyond their fear of traveling.
Medical treatment and therapy are the most effective ways of treating the symptoms and overcoming Hodophobia altogether.
Symptoms include
- heightened anxiety
- increased heart rate and blood pressure
- rapid breathing
- dizziness
- facial flushing
- sweating
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- nausea
- dry mouth
- muscle weakness and tension
- loss of appetite
- panic attacks
More serious symptoms include
- chills or hot flashes
- difficulty breathing
- feeling like you’re frozen in place
- trembling
- feeling like you’re losing control or dying
If you suffer from any of these symptoms you need to seek medical attention.