Welcome to this interview series with fellow autistic adults. Some will be guest posts, and others will be interviews on the highs and lows of autistic travel and everything in between. Guest Bio: It’s so hard to select what...
Welcome to this interview series with fellow autistic adults. Some will be guest posts, and others will be interviews on the highs and lows of autistic travel and everything in between.
Guest Bio: It’s so hard to select what aspects of myself I want to share concisely–I think this is due to being autistic and ADHD. In short, I’m a writer, artist, and art therapist who travels quite a bit. My private therapy practice specializes in late-identified autism.
1. Do you like to travel? What kind of travel do you like?
I used to crave travel. I dreamed of living abroad and exploring everywhere. I did that a lot in my 20’s. I didn’t know I was autistic then and just pushed myself very hard. Even though I got to live and travel all over the world, I wasn’t very happy.
Now that I’m in my late 30’s and know I’m autistic and ADHD, I have a different relationship with travel. I usually dread it a little. That’s because I’m so happy writing and creating in my peaceful home. I’ve worked hard to create a schedule and physical environment that I love. I love it so much that I don’t want to leave it.
However, there are still places I want to go—like anywhere in nature. I still plan trips. I find that once I am on them, I have a wonderful time. I just got back from Yellowstone National Park and had a glorious time exploring.
My trips are also far more centered around people now. For example, I’ll be traveling to Ohio to see family in a few weeks, then to Utah for a family reunion, and then to India for some weddings (including my own!).
I also love to travel with friends and family. One of the best vacations I ever had was with my family to Disneyland. Normally, that place sounds like a nightmare, given all of the people and sensory stimulation, but we had so much fun together.
Jackie also wrote more about this in her article on Medium: “The Insular Autistic Who Likes To Travel.”
2. My special interest is packing. Do you like to pack or have any packing tips for other autistic travelers?
I swear I am the slowest packer ever. I’m so meticulous about it that it takes me forever. However, I am proud that I always travel with just a carry-on. In the last year, I’ve gone to India, Scotland, back and forth across the US, and more with just my carry-on and backpack. It helps reduce the anxiety of losing a bag.
I also pack my backpack like I’m a pack mule venturing out into the desert. It has snacks, water, first aid, watercolor paints, a sketchbook, a journal, books, noise-canceling headphones, a blanket, and more. It helps me feel prepared for whatever may come.
© Jackie Schuld, 2023.3. If you like to travel, how do you deal with the uncertainty? Or anxiety?
I love traveling with someone who is a planner! It helps with the anxiety about where to go and how to spend time. For example, on my last trip, my cousin planned out all of our days. She loves doing that, and I just joined in on the activities that I wanted. It was heavenly.
If there isn’t a planner on the trip, I enjoy waking up and deciding what to explore that day. I love to just meander – and I definitely prefer places with fewer people. I also allow lots of breaks for myself.
If I start to get anxious while traveling, I take breaks away from people or nap. When flying, I make sure to have my noise-canceling headphones, art, and fun playlist to distract me from any anxiety.
© Jackie Schuld, 2023.4. Do you have any advice for other autistic travelers, especially those who are overwhelmed by the idea of it?
I suggest going to visit a friend or family member you know first. This reduces the unknown and provides you with some support. Furthermore, I find that when I’m open with my fellow travelers about any challenges I’m experiencing, they’re extremely supportive.
Another thing that has helped me is to give myself permission to not “see everything.” Some people like to dash around like mad to see all of the sites and absorb as much as possible. That is exhausting to me. I allow myself to take naps or miss out on some things when I need some quiet time. It makes it a far more enjoyable experience. Furthermore, I need less recovery time when I return home.
Rose’s Takeaways: 8 Practical Travel Anxiety Strategies
So many great travel tips from Jackie! You could even use them as positive affirmations for travel anxiety:
Carry-on-only travel can help with the fear of losing your bag. Carrying whatever you need (love the image of a mule) to be comfortable, such as snacks and sensory items also helps you feel prepared for what’s coming. Traveling with a planner is great if that’s an option. If you’re on your own, waking up and deciding what you want to do that day—and prioritizing breaks and places with fewer people (if that’s your thing) can make for a great day. If you’re anxious, try taking breaks from other people and/or taking a nap If you’re anxious while flying, have your noise-canceling headphones, a fun playlist, art, or whatever holds your attention to distract you from the anxiety. Traveling with people you know or visiting people you know can help reduce the unknown and also provide support. Give yourself permission to do whatever you want to do—you don’t have to “see” everything! Your future self will thank you.You can learn more about Jackie on Medium and through her website.
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