It’s easy to mistake travel anxiety for a fear of flying, and while this can be a part of travel stress for many of us, holiday anxiety is far broader than this.

“Travel anxiety can cover a lot of different types of anxiety,” explains hypnotherapist Vic Paterson. “You might feel worried about flying or driving, anxious about being somewhere new where you don’t speak the language or concerned about being away from home and familiar places. You might even be worried about being away from work.”

Interestingly, travel anxiety can have little to do with the trip we’re taking. As we step away from the comfort and stability of our everyday routines, we can feel untethered, and this can trigger feelings of nervousness.

“Travel anxiety is often rooted in a fear of the unknown,” explains psychotherapist Gin Lalli. “If you’re going to a new place, you are really going into the unknown. You may have an idea of what the airport or trains will be like but because your mind doesn’t know the difference between imagination and reality, it’s easy to get caught up with negative thoughts of what might go wrong.”

Anxious about travelling this summer? 5 ways to cope, according to experts