Adventure Angst is my name for the anxiety that I most unexpectedly experienced when I set out to achieve my childhood ambition to travel to other parts of the world, learn about different cultures and enjoy new outdoor pursuits and activities.  Despite the abject terror which developed, I was determined to fulfil my dreams.  Through trial and error I began to develop a series of coping strategies that gradually helped to reduce my anxiety levels.

Many years after my initial anxiety became apparent, related professional training led me to recognise that my difficulties stemmed from the longstanding effect of generalised anxiety linked to social phobia.  I also learned that the approaches to coping with anxiety I had developed independently of any professional help closely mirrored tried and tested psychological methodology.

Fourteen years after my first panic attack in Austria, I realised my childhood dream of becoming a cowboy.  My experiences have proved over and over again that the step-by-step approach to desensitisation and achieving aims and objectives that I and many of my clients find helpful really works in practice.  The exploits described and the strategies developed are of course personal to me.  However many people experience anxiety at some time in their lives.  According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists website around 5 per cent of the UK population is affected at any one time.  I suspect that the true figure may be considerably higher as many people choose not to seek conventional medical help.

Sharing experiences and coping strategies can sometimes be of value to those struggling to deal with their own difficulties.  I make no crass claims that anxiety can be overcome by indulging in foreign travel.  I am very aware that I have been fortunate to be able to pursue my interests.  The opportunity and means to do so may well be beyond many people visiting this website.  Nor would I be so unrealistic as to suggest that these relatively straightforward steps are always easy to implement or that they are a magic solution for everyone experiencing anxiety.  Neither are the case.  What I hope will be apparent is that there are ways to manage, and, in some instances overcome, anxiety.  And that the basic principles described can be applied to a wide variety of situations and circumstances.

The articles included focus very specifically on travel and anxiety.  They are a personal perspective and are not intended as a comprehensive travel guide to any of the destinations mentioned.  Such information can be found in the wealth of travel publications available and also on the Internet.  Nor for one second have I attempted to emulate any of the outstanding travel writers of our time a number of whom have informed and inspired my trips.

Finally some encouragement and a caution.  If you are currently experiencing distress related to anxiety and have not done so already do consider seeking help of some kind.  Even if you do not want to go through conventional medical channels there are other options.  The links pages on this website may provide a place to start.  If you are already receiving any kind of help for anxiety or any other condition please do not vary that help in anyway without discussing this first with those who are providing the help.  To do so could be harmful.

If you are experiencing an immediate crisis or are in need of urgent help, please contact your family doctor service or the accident and emergency or similar department at your local hospital.  In England and Wales NHS Direct (see below) may also be able to help you.  If you do not want to access urgent help through the health services, a listening service is provided by the Samaritans (UK) or Befrienders International (other areas, subject to availability).

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